Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-09-14
CATTLE TRADE swINDLEs.
Small Herds Made to Bring the Prices
of Large Ones

of Large Ones.
An Eastern exchange has the following
story, which is probably slightly exag-
gerated:
Yes, there have been great many
horse and cattle swindlers in the West re-
GENTLY" said well-known citizen Of DEN
yer, Colorado, In the St. James Hotel. re-
Gently. "But l don't think there is any
such glorious career before the young fell
lows who are going into the business as old
Tom Mendenhall has enjoyed.
lie is the man who used to run the to-
mahawk brand up in Wyoming, and is
now big ranchman in Montana. Tom
had streak of back luck some years ago
and had hardly dollar in ready money
left. His herd numbered about / 900 or
1900 head, and he did some deep thinking
as to how he could turn them at profit
BY and by some men came along wanting
to buy ranch and cattle. Mendenhall
got hold Of them. They asked him how
many cattle he had. He pulled out his
books and the figures showed 10000 head.
about ten times as many rs he really
owned. Tom had set down every head he
had ever bought or raised, but he had
off or been sold
The Eastern men were a little back
ward on accepting book figures and wanted
to count the stock. This Tom represented
as impossible; the herd was too large but
if they so desired, he would round them
up and drive them by certain spot, othe
purchasers could view them. This idea
suited, and the day was fixed for the show.
A little way back of the ranch were a
couple of hogbacks with a narrow cut be-
tween them. Mendenhall got his men to-
gether, told them what he wanted and
| promised them each a big sum if the
scheme worked all right. He got his
l,20O head rounded up behind the hog
backs and then took his purchasers out in
wagon to the mouth of the cut. The
boys started the cattle through the gap,
and as soon as they had passed the wagon
| turned them around and run them in be-
hind the hogback again.
There was just enough stock to make a
complete circle of six or sever abreast
round the hill, and they kept running
round that hill all the forenoon, and the
Eastern fellows thought they were getting
all the stock In the country, and couldn't
close the deal quick enough. Tom gave
them a bill of sale Of his herd and brand
didn't specify any particular number-took
his pay, $4,000 cash, and went to Mon
tana, where his home is now.
In the spring of 1885 two brothers
named McWatty came over from Scotland
with the intention of engaging in cattle
ranching.
"They had been warned by fellow
countryman who had paid dearly for his
| experience not to buy cattle by 'book
statement but to personally count every
head they purchased. Among the many
acquaintance they made was that Of
Charlie Williams, who owned small ranch
and 500 head of cattle out on Sand creek.
Charlie was pretty smooth taiker and
would sell anything he had, foreigners be-
ing his favorite buyers Soon after meet
ing the McWattys, Williams told them
that, as the high altitude of Wyoming did
not agree with him, he would have to sell
his ranch and go away, and if they wanted
| to buy ranch here was good chance.
| For a stated sum of money he would sell
them his ranch and 1900 head of cattle,
and count out every head, and also make
them present of his ten saddle horses.
The McWattys thought nothing could be
fairer than this, and that they had found
a bargain.
A day or two passed and the brothers
told Williams they would accept his offer
and would be out to the ranch on a certain
day to count the stock and take possession.
Charlie at once went home to arrange mat
tiers. He only owned 500 head of cattle
and he had agreed to count out 1900 head
There was ranchman living further up
Sand creek, who owned lots of cattle, and
whose brand, to the eye of novice, was
the same as Williams. 70 this man Will
Jams went and borrowed a thousand head
for a few days. He drove them to his
ranch and put them in big corral, and in
an adjoining smaller corral he placed his
own five hundred. The Scotchmen arrived
on time, and taking a seat on the fence
near the corral gate proceeded to count the
cattle as they passed out.
Charlie took good care to keep the cat
tie moving and plenty of dust fl wing, and
along with his 500 head the borrowed
stock went through the gate and were
counted without suspicion of the differ
ence in the brands.
Soon the whole herd had passed out on
the prairie and were scattered everywhere.
The Scotchmen, after an inspection OF the
buildings and horses, expressed themselves
well satisfied, paid over their money and
took receipts"