The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-31
HE WAS 4 RRIiE-

t'-Sh1d-l I. -. 6RANT.
HE WAS A BRICK.
An Old Trick Takes $1,000 From the
Pocket OF the Proprietor Of the
Southern Hotel ana Transfers It TO
the Pocket of Three Confidence
Men.
One of the sharpest confidence
games ever played in this city is that
played by three sharpers last Saturday
upon AlT. Mcintyre, the genial pro-
prltor Of the Southern Hotel.
1t is the well-known gold
bFlck trick that was worked so
successfully in the North q few
years ago. Two strangers came to
Austin last week; one was q man
with gray beard and past middle age
and whose name no one seems to
know, the other was younger man
who gave his name in some places as
W aterSon and in others as Lewis.
This last gentleman appeared to be
very friendly with Frank Mooney,
who for some time tended bar for Mr..
SlmonS in the Sample Room. Mooney
together considerably, but beyond that
nothing particular was noticeable in
their conduct. Whether Mooney was
ii pal OF the two sharpers or fell into
trap laid by them is not yet known,
but the detectives Will develop the
whole affair probably to-day. How
ever this may be, Mooney went to
Mr.. Mcintyre and said to him that if
he had a few thousand dollars which
he could invest he could double his
money in short time, lie in this
manner aroused Mr.. McIntyre's curl
osity, and the latter gentleman sug
gested that IL it was really q good
thing he could raise few thousand
dollars to put into the scheme. Mr..
Mcintyre was well acquainted with
Mr.. Mooney, and had the fullest con-
tidence IN his honesty. He then told
MIR. Mcintyre that there was a gen.
tleman in the city who had some gold
| bricks which he was forced to sell to
meet certain financial troubles, and
that it he could get the cash for them
they could be bought much below
their value. Mr.. Mcintyre replied
that he would buy them provided
they were all right and he could get
them at a figure so he
could make something on the
transaction. Mooney thereupon
introduced Mr.. Mcintyre to the
owner of the bricks, and also referred
him to gentleman who was guest
at the Southern Hotel-Mr. Lewis.
The latter gentleman, of course, knew
the owner of the bricks perfectly, and
he was a very reliable gentleman and
whatever he said could be strictly re-
lied upon. Mr. Mcintyre, however,
who, by the way, is very careful
business man, to make assurance
doubly sure, bored into the bricks and
took the behring's to Mr.. Balm, the
well-known jeweler, to be tested.
This Mr.. Balm did and found them
to be Is karat gold. Mr.. Balm
also instructed Mcintyre as to the
value per weight of bullion, and thus
armed, the shrewd proprietor Of the
Southern Hotel was ready to drive q
close bargain with the owner Of the
gold. The bricks were weighed and
according to the information received
from Mr.. Balm, they would be worth
$1,000. Mcintyre offered the man
$1,000 cash, and after some bantering
he agreed to take that on account OF
his financial difficulty. Mcintyre
paid the $1,000 in cash and the gold
bricks were delivered. Mr.. Iatyre tc
prevent any possible chance for fraud
put a private mark upon the bullion
| when he took the borings out, anG
when the bricks were delivered after
his purchase he found the marks still
upon them. He deposited his wealth
without suspicion that anything
was wrong. He, however, told of his
good luck TO certain parties and this
came to the ears of Capt. Chenevillt
and he suspicioned that something
| was wrong and at once set about max.
ing an investigation. Detectives fol
lowed the tracks of Mooney and yester.
day Mr.. Mcintyre was surprised to
receive a telegram that Mooney
had been arrested in Fort Worth foI
swlndling him-the very first intima.
ton he had that he had been cheated
He had his bricks tested, and to his
amaZement not karat of gold die
they contain. The sWindlers ha6
changed the gold bricks without thu
knowledge Of Mr.. Mcintyre, and haC
discovered his marks and so initiated
them that he did not discover th'
cheat Wnen the bricks were delivered
at the time he paid for them.
It is thought from what car bt
learned that Mooney was also vic
tim of the two sharpers. 1t is saiG
they approached him for the purpose
OF selling him the bricks, and con
WINGED him of their genuineness aftel
the manner they did Mir. Mcintyre
but he not having the money to buy
them, they proposed to give him 3
good per centoge If he would find 8
purchaser for them. 1t is thought
that he had no doubt of their geuine'
ness, and importuned Mr.. Mcintyre
with no knowledge OF the bogus part
of the transaction. 1t is at least
hoped that this will prove to be the
case. Yesterday, officers started for
Fort Worth to bring Mooney to Aus
| tin. The other men have not been ar
rested and probable will not be found