Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-11

the forenoon, and them eastern fellows
Thought they was getting all the stock IN
the country and couldn't close the deal
ouick enough. Tom give them bill OF
sale OF his herd and brand-didn't specify
any particular number-took his. pay,
one Hundred and ten thousand dollars
cash, and went to Montana. where his
home Is now. OF course the jays that
bought the outfit found they were beat,
but Tom was gone with the stun, and they
found the wheels Of Justice 10 that coun-
try pretty rusty Just then, so after httie
upTOar the matter was dropped.
scoTcHMKS TAKEN IN.
Another transaction | was witness to
took the cake for unlimited gall ana
open-faccd swindling In the spring OF
1885 two brothers named McNatty came
over from Scotland with the intention OF
engaging in cattle-ranching..
"Ihey had been warned by follow
countryman who had paid dearly LOT ms
experience not 10 buy cattle by DOCK
statement but 20 personally count every
head they purchased. Having received
this advice, and priding themselves on
their native shrewdncss. they thought they
were capable of seeing through any scheme
tho land-sharks might spring on them.
Among the many acquaintance they
made was that of Charlie Williams,
who owned small ranch anu 10J
head of cattle out on Sand creek;
Charlie was pretty smooth talker anu
would sell anything he had, foreigners
being his favOrite BUYERS. Soon after
meeting the McWattys Williams told them
that as the high altitude of Wyoming
didn't agree with him he would have 10
sell his ranch and 90 away. ana II they
wanted to buy a ranch here was good
chance. He would Ike to see them nicely
settled, &c. and TO prove how much ne
was Interested IN their welfare he MADE
this offer: For a stated sum of money he
would sell them his ranch and fifteen nun
dred head Of cattle. and count out every
head. and also make them present OF ms
ten saddle-hOrses. The McNattys thought
nothing could be fairer than this, ana that
they had found bargain.
BORROWED CATTLE.
"A dav or two passed and the brothers
told Williams they would accept his oher
and would be out TO the ranch on certain
day 10 count the stock and take possession.
Charlie nj once went home 30 arrange mat
tiers. He only owned five hundred head OF
cattle and he had agreed TO count out H.
teen hundred head. There was ranchman
living farther up Sand Creek who owned
lots Of cattle and whose brand, TO the eye
of a novice, was the same a. Williams S;
To this man Williams went and borrowed
thousand head for few days. He drove
them to his ranch and put them III
big corral and IN an adjoining
smaller corral he placed his own
five hundred. The Scotchmen arrived on
time. and taking q seat on the fence near
the corral gate proceeded TO count the cat;
tie as they passed out. Fifteen hundred
cattle running about in n corral raise a ire;
mendous dust, and before two hundred
head had passed through the gate the Nc
Wattys, coughing and sneezlng, with
throats and eyes full Of dust, paid no more
attention 10 the brands, but contented
themselves with counting the numbers
only. Charlie took good care 10 keep the
cattle moving and plenty Of dust flying,
and along with his five hundred head OF
borrowed stock went through the gate and
were counted without "A suspicion OF the
difference in the brands.
"Soon the whole nerd had passed ont 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. Charlie gave his neighbor
good sum for the use of his cattle, set up
the drinks for every man round town, and
then took the train for Oregon, his sick
ness leaving him as fast as the train did
Chyenne."