Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-05-23
RECOVERED HIS MONEY.
Benjamin Hartley Robbed Of $500
by Confidence Men-Gus Dill
larfs Experience.

iAoASS'
1t was an old game that wal
played. on Mr.. Hartley. He was a
the circus Wednesday afternoon
when he was approached by mar
who desired to show him a scheme
by which money could fairly be
coined. The man himself had NJ
money wherewith to proceed, ane
therefore applied to Mr.. Hartley
for assistance. The old gentleman
whs is quite unsophisticated, &C.
companied the man to a small tent
where another fellow met them
The man who was with Hartley ap.
peared to be total stranger to the
man in the tent. The latter invited
the two prospective customers TO
draw ticket out of a lottery he had
before him, "just for fun" The
strange man drew, and the ticket
called for $500.
"See what you've womb exclaim-
ed the proprietor of the game. "Ii
that had been for keeps, l would
have been in the hole"
Hartley's companion suggested
that they 60 into the lottery and
try their luck. At this suggestion
the lottery-keeper protested that
he would allow no drawing unless
his customers could show as much
as $500, to be forfeited in case they
lost. Of course Hartley's COM
panion had no money, So the old
gentleman was appealed to. After
some hesitation, he agreed to fur
nish $500 and came down town for
the money. He had several notes
cashed, paying IS for the money.
The largest portion of the amount
belonged to his daughter, and rep
resented years of hard work and eco
nomical living. Returning to the
show ground, Mr.. Hartley risked
the money on the game and of
course lost. The stranger who led
the old gentleman into the trap ex-
pressed his regret and his express
sions of sympathy had every ap-
pearance of sincerity, His victim
was staying with him pretty close
ly, however, and in order to shake
him off, the confidence man, appa-
rently in burst of sympathetic re-
morse, gave the old man a slip of
paper containing these words:
"Postofice, IL a. M, June IL
"That," said he, sis simply a
memorandum of an appointment.
I will meet you then and give you
the money l caused you to lose."
This satisfied Mr.. Hartley and
he came down town, where he met
his son, Leslie Hartley. He related
his experience. The younger Hart
ley at once saw through the scheme
and explained to his father that he
had been robbed at an old game.
THE MONEY RECOVERED.
AS the money last was all the
old gentleman, as well as his
daughter, had, the loss almost
drove him crazy. The victim
could not give an intelligent ac-
count Of how he was robbed, and
he was unable to describe the con-
fidence men. Officers were given
the case early and by eight O'Clock
six horses belonging to the circus
were attached. Two side-show
men, Richard Weddin and John
Baynton, were placed under arrest
and warrants issued for others.
Shortly before midnight, one OF
the prisoners, Weddin, agreed to
pay s525 and let the matter drop.
His offer was accepted and the
money was paid into the hands OF
George Robertson, attorney for
Mr.. Hartley. 1t was subsequently
learned that Mr.. Hartley had lost
$500 instead of $500, but it was too
late to recover the balance. The
extra $25 went to defray officers
expenses.
Miss Hartley, to whom the larg-
er part of the money belonged,
threatened self-destruction that
evening, so wrought up was she
over the loss of her earnings.
ANOTHER MANS EXPERIENCE.
The same afternoon Gus Dill.
lard, prominent farmer who lives
north of Mexico, called at the
First National Bank and asked
Mr.. Buckner for $1,000. At the
same time he said he had drawn a
large prize In a lottery at the show,
but could not get his money until
he could show an equal amount III
cash. Mr.. Buckner at once saw
through the game and told Mr..
billiard that if he ever took the
money to the circus grounds be
would never see it again. Mr.. Dill
lard was easily convinced and with
drew to the street, u much wiser,
though not poorer man. When
he entered the bank, MIR. billiard
stepped in lightly and with much
confidence. He got before the
window in hurry and with q
flourish announced his success in
winning, together with friend, "
the sum of s2400. IN his anxiety
for the money, Mr.. billiard left his
horse standing unhitched at the
curb. He rushed into the bank a: