Middletown transcript., 1888-09-06
The swindIers at Work.

The Swindlers at Work.
A few days ago two men came to Mid.
dletown and registered at the National
Hotel. They claimed to be looking
around for land in which to invest and
in casual way one of them made the &C
quaintance of Mr.. Nehemiah Burris OF
this place, who owns some very fine pro-
perty near town. The stranger told Mr..
Burris that he would like him to ride out
in the country with him and tell him
something about the price OF land, etc.,
in this section as he was stranger here.
Accordingly he hired double team from
Mr.. Alex. Maxwell at the hotel and
Monday noon drove up to Mr.. Burris'
residence and inquired for Mr.. Burris,
and on being told that he was out, came
up town to look for him. Mr.. Burris had
been to the bank to make small deposit
and on coming out met the stranger
snort distance up the street. He invi-
ted Mr.. Burris to take ride out in the
country with him and tell him some-
thing about some land which he was try.
ing to purchase for two children whose
parents were dead and who were left in
his care. Mr.. Burris consented and to-
gether they rode out towards Armstrong;
Corner, all the while the stranger keep
ing up the conversation by talking OF diff
ferent lands and their value. At Arm
strong's they turned and drove toward
Chesapeake City. While driving along
the woods a short distance above the
Corner they met man walking down
the road. He was well-dressed and pre-
tended to be intoxicated and when Mr..
Burris and the stranger drove up, threw
up his hands as signal tor them to stop.
To begin with, he told them that his
father who had owned extensive lands in
Virginia had died and left him every
thing. He had sold the land and was
travelling over the country look ing for
his sister /" Sal" He said he wanted to
divide the money with her, because If ne
kept it himself he would have more than
he knew what to do with. He drew
several rolls of notes from his pocket and
claimed to have $4,000 with him. Mr..
Burris, his suspicion not having been
aroused, told him that he should be more
careful with his money. After some
more talk the man who claimed TO be look |
ing for " Sister Sal' threw down pack |
of cards and offored to play game for |
$40. Mr.. Burris of course refused, but |
the man in the carriage with him con.
sented to play, ,and won, as is usually the |
case in such games. The man on foot
then wanted to play for higher
stakes, and said as he had SO |
much money he would play for $4,000.
At about this point Mr.. Burris, suspic. |
ions were aroused, and it flashed upon
him that the men were trying to swindIe |
him. He therefore readily agreed to |
come to town and draw $500 from hank.
Of course this suited the strangers and ac. |
after telling the man on foot |
that they would be back to the same snor |
as soon as the money could be drawn. |
Mr.. Burris and one of the men came to |
town to get the money. The stranger
to drive around to the bank, but |
let Mr.. Burris out of the carriage at the |
corner OF Broad and Pennington streets. |
wanted to see her and get enough money |
10 make up $4,000. After leaving the
stranger Mr.. Burris looked around for
Ohicer Craddock, and upon finding him
uuietly told him all. Craddock took off |
bis uniform and dressed in citizens
clothes, and procuring a team, Mr.. Bur
ris and the officer drove to within a short |
distance of the place where the party had |
agreed to meet, when Craddock got out |
of the wagon and hid and Mr.. Burris |
drove on alone. He waited for them
some time but they never came back. |
It is supposed they found out that Mr..
Burris was fully aware of their game and |
made away as soon as possible. Two |
strangers answering their description
were seen rapidly driving in the direc-
ion of Elkton.
Mr.. Maxwell telegraphed to several
points concerning his team, and on
Tuesday afternoon he received telegram |
from the swindlers, dated PHILADELPHIA, |
,aying hts team was In Elkt on, and they |
would send the money in payment for
he use of it in short time. Mr.. Max
we'll sent to Elkton aud got his te am all |
,afe, but he has never got paid tor the |
1se of 1t and robably never will.