The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-04-03
THE BITTER BITTEN.
How youthful sharp ..Done" Corvallis;

Jim Lewis, the gentlemanly stock dealer,
has recently had narrow escape from being
victinlized by cunningly devised fraud.
The circumstances as we are able to gather
is as follows. Six weeks ago youth named
Frank Davis, II or Is years of age, arrived
from the old country with a letter from his
father to an English resident of Corvallis,
who gave Davis an introduction to some
friends having ranch near Corvallis. Here
he stayed about three weeks and in the
meantime made the acquaintance of Mr.
Lewis, which he cultivated with view to
making profitable use of it. Three weeks
ago he left the ranch for Corvallis and threw
himself as much as possible into Lewis COM
pany. He informed Lewis that his father
was wealthy Liverpool merchant, and that
he had come to Oregon to learn the stock
business with the intention of going into it
on a large scale. Strange to say however
just at that time he was little short OF
ready money, as remittances seemed to be
delayed and he was compelled to borrow a
dollar or two from Lewis. This process of
borrowing was repeated at judicious inter-
vale during the week until tile money loan
ed exceeded $50. He also took fancy to a
valuable gold watch belonging to Lewis,
which he insisted on buying. Lew is did not
at all wish to part with the watch, but as
Davis seemed so anxious to possess it, he let
him have it as matter of friendship ter $50,
considerably below its value. Sunday week
Davis conclude that he had gone as far as
possible with Lewis and prepared to seek
| other fields of conquest. He obtained a tel
egraph blank and wrote on it message pur.
porting to come from u Portland bank to the
effect that they had draft in his favor for
$4,000, and requested his presence i'll Port
land to receive the money. This he showed
to Lewis and also wrote a copy of it in Lew
picion as to his departure. The next day,
Monday, March %, he left Corvallis by the
boat. Some rcumstances came to Lewis
knowledge which led him ito think that
Davis was not strictly correct in his state
ments, and he therefore set the wires in mo-
tion with the result of Davis being met by
an officer at Salem and returned to Corvallis
Davis now found that bis game was up, and
appealed for mercy, saying that it was his
first offense and promising never again tc
dsviate from the path of rectitude. Mr.
| Lewis was placed in difficult position, fol
thouL unwilling that such an offense against
society saould so unpuuished, yet he was
reluctant to consign the youth to imprison
ment. In parenthesls we would remark
| that in our opinion the proper medicine fu
the youngster would be thorough cours'
in school of corr ection.
Considering all the points Mr.. Lewis de
cided not to prosecute, and Davis fathe
being informed of the matter by telegraph
sent sufficient money to recoup Lewis fo
his loss.
It appears that the lesson has not been o
any benefit to Davis. as the very mornin.
ne left Corvallis he attempted to carry ava,
gun belonging to Mr.. Hodes, under Pre-
tense that he was going ont for week
shooting and would return the gun, but for
tunately Mr.. Hodes regained possession o
his gun. We understand that Davis ha
started for st. Thomas, in the West Indie
to take the position of cashier in stor
there belonging to a relative, which will N
doubt suit him admirably.