Huntsville gazette., 1885-09-05
BADLY BUNKOED.

A Solid Merchant of the City of Brotherly
Love Taken In and Done For to the Tune
of 80, 800 BY q Gang Of Bunko Sharps at
Atlantic City, New Jersey.
NEW YORK, August 31.-Charlea
Fields, senior, one Of the oldest mer-
chants in Philadelphia, who is cottager
at Atlantic City, was fleeced yesterday
by brace of bunkomen, to whom he
gave check for $500, made payable to
his own order and indorsed by himself.
While promenading along the board
walk, snufflng the ocean breeze, the
old gentleman, who bears up well
under the weight of eighty five
winters, was accosted by a young man
with xaxed mustache and checked suit,
who addressed him familiarity as Mr..
Fields, and referred to his business in
Philadelphia, and also the affairs of the
Pennsylvania National Bank, where he
said he was clerk. Mr.. Fields, who is
agent for Clark's spool cotton and
does business at No. 242 Market street,
Philadelphia, has been depositor in the
above mentioned bank for over fifty
years. The young man said that he had
just returned from Europe, where he had
purchased number Of pictures, and
which he would be pleased to show Mr..
Fields and have him express an opinion
on them. European matters were SO
nicely discussed by the young man that
old Mr.. Fields did not observe just how
many corners he turned during the
walk, but brought up at cot
tage where he was introduced to
two other young men, one an alleged
New York agent. A sweat board was
produced and the three gentlemen played
game, each winning about 81, ,000 The
old gentleman was willing spectator
and was finally induced to try his luck,
coming out 800 loser. During the
progress of the game the young man
kept Mr.. Fields interested by talking
over the affairs of the bank, its
earnings and investments. After play
ing some time, the bunko man coolly
asked the gentleman for his check for
$4,000, drawn to himself, as the collat-
eral for the grand prize he had drawn on
the sweat-board. Thinking that the
bunko man was really his friend, he told
him to fill out check and he would sign
it, which he did, drawing it to the order
Of Charles Fields, Sr., and indorsed by
him. The check was, of course, on the
Pennsylvania National Bank. As re-
ceipt for the amount 'siuvested," he was
given piece of paper about the size OF
a physicians prescription blank, on
which was written the following:
atlantic City, August 80, 1885. No. %
b." The young man made profuse apol-
ogies for his connection with the little
scheme, declaring he had never played at
games of chance before. He begged Mr..
Fields not to mention the matter to any
one and he would not use the check until
he got the grand prize. Mr.. Fields,
later in the day, made search for the
man who had his check, but found him not.
About five O'Clock in the afternoon he came
into the reading room of the United States
Hotel, with tears trickling down his
cheeks. When asked the cause Of his
grief he related the above particulars,
and said that he believed he had been
swindled. When your correspondent &C
costed the victimized man he said: "I
can not understand how l could have
been induced to give check
for such large amount on the
mere recommendation of talka-
tive young man. was OF the opinion
that had seen the young man In the
bank, and that he was protecting me In
the matter. 1 have not yet informed my
family of the loss, for | feel ashamed OF
it. I will 60 to Philadelphia tomorrow
morning early to see what can be done"
1t is thought that the bunko men carried
the check to New York last night and
negotiated it there.