Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-10
A CLEVER SWINDLFR.
How aiBogus Widow Disposed Of a Beautifu
Saddle-HOrse.

How aiBogus Widow Disposed of Beautifu
Saddle Horse.
Horsemen know Maude Miller. SAYS the
Philadelphia Times, and a good many
men who are not, strictly speaking, horse
men have made the bogus widows &C.
quaintance at their cost. She swindled
three weH-known men of this city, within
three months by selling them worthless
horses.
Not long ago there was an advertise
ment In one of the daily papers which
read:
On account of the death of my husband
I will part with beautiful black horse, Z
years old, Is hands high; sound, gentle.
and not afraid of steam-cars. Call at pri-
Vate residence, No.-NOrth Thirteenth
street.
A well-known society man answered
this advertisement. The house advertised
was on the east side of the street, between
Filbert and Arch. There were no carpets
on the floors, no pictures on the walls, and
two or three chairs sat about in the empty
parlor. The society man was shown in
the parlor by colored man. In a few
moments pretty young widow entered
the parlor, and apologized for the appear
| ance of the room, and said everything had
been packed up and sent away. Then she
referred to the death of her husband and
how happy their married life had been,
and what blow it was. The widow wasn't
sure whether she could ever recover from
the loss. Then she took out dainty
little handkerchief with a black border,
and wiped away two or three tears that
trickled down her face. Then there was a
sigh from the bottom of her heart,
and the society man, who is a prominent
member of the Riding Club was complete
| ly under her influence. He felt sorry for
her, and almost wished he could take the
place of the departed head of the family.
| The widow hadn't mentioned the horse,
nor had she given the society man a chance
to say what his errand was.
When the society man got chance to
ask about the beautiful black horse that
she would part with the bogus widow
said:
ooh, yes, to be sure; you came in answer
| tOmy advertisement. I hated to put my
| address in the paper, but I'm going away
| in day or two SO [ don't care. I hate to
part with that horse. Lovely animal,
| splehdid saddle horse"
| Here the society man said he wanted a
saddle horse, and the widow didn't say
no more. The society man inquired the
| price of the horse, and after learning of
all its good qualities and what the woman s
husband paid for it and what the husband
died of, child not more than five years
old came down stairs and, walking into
| the parlor threw its head coyly into its
supposed mothers lap and said with a
whimper:
Mamma, you mustn't sell our horse.
Papa told me when he died was to have
the horse for myself, and I won't let any
bad man come here and take our horse
| away"
"Hush darling" said the widow suppress
sing another sigh and blowing her nose
until it was properly red for a person who
had been weeping, mamma knows what
is best to do
The society man bought the horse. He
paid $3.50 for it. He sent it to the bazaar
in less than week and got $67 for it.
The woman and her confederates had
rented vacant house for a month and
put two or three chairs in it. When the
society man finally admitted to himself
that he had been swindled by a clever
woman he went back to the house four
days after his meeting with the widow.
The house was vacant and no colored man
answered the bell.