The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-15
.4RHD!YHE BUNCO GAME,
Two Pittsburgh Sports Select
the Wrong Man to Work.
THEY NARROWLY ESCAPE,
AwelI Known Gas Works oflielal is
Selected by the two sharpers,,
who have Probably met with
Better Success Before.

1t is not often that anybody Is bold
enough to attempt the bunco game in
Wheeling, The town is too small to
make the game safe, When a man does
want to try 1t, he Is foolish to select q
citizen Of the town to work it on. Two
men attempted to buuco prominent
citizen on Wednesday, They are appar-
emily amateurs, orcontinued success and
IMMUNITY in operating had made them
reckless.
Mr., S, +, Faris, Assistant Secretary OF
the city gas works, was approached on
the street Wednesday Just after Roop by
neatly dressed stranger, who asked
him II he had not house no wanted to
sell. Mr.. Faris said he had house he
would sell II he could get his price for
lit, Being asked to fix price, he did so,
The man said his name was Flanagan
and he had 100000 to invest for u family
OF orphans, whose widowed mother de
sired 10 purchase q residence In Wheel
ing, Securing Mr., Faris's name, he left
promising to meet him Saturday,
His story was so gauzy that II amused
Mr., Farls, who did not give 1t a serious
thought,
A little further down street another
we'll dressed stranger greeted Mr., Farii
cordially, calling him by name anc
claiming to have known him and hIi
family several years ago. He said hi
was q nephew OF Mr.. ]. N. Vance, ant
his name was Howard,
About this time Mr.. Fahs began L
: "smell a mice" He let "Mr. Howard
talk on, which he did glibly, and finally
he said he had two copies OF book O
some value, Bancroit's History Of Wiz
ginia, and rs he had no use for more
than one, no would make q presen
OF the other to his old friend, II he haC
time to accompany him 10 bis room
Mr.. Faris had time, and went with him
Instead OF taking him 10 one Of thu
dens on Market square, as he expected
"Howard" led the way to respectable
boarding house ON Eleventh street
where In the parlor sat man with green
gIaSseg on. He and Howard had some
Conversation about the book, and finally
the man said Howard was entitled tC
a draw with each book, Howard drew
once. and the ticket drew S5l, which
was counted out to him. He drew again
and won another prize, which was also
paid over.
So fur Mr.. Faris was an entertained
locker on. Now the man with the GLASSES
offered Howard another draw for Q dol,
lar, suggestiug that Towards friend
draw for him. Mr.. Faris wanted TO see
what the game was, and 90 be drew,
The man announced with well gImgla.
ted establishment that the ticket had
drawn 5000, and that Howard and his
friend were each entitled to $500.
Howard said he would like to have IN
explanation.
"Yes," said Mr.. Faris, ~ think this
demands IN explanation"
The operator said each OF them must
have $500 before he could pay them the
$500. The moment he was satisfied
that they were possessed Of that sum he
would pay over the prize money,
Howard seemed 10 think this was o,
X. Mr., Faris, however, thought the
matter had gone far enough, aud declin'
ing to answer any further questions, he
departed.
lie went at once to police headquar.
tiers and informed Chief DelbruggU Of
the affair. The Chief went 10 the board
ing house where the men had alopped,
but they were notin. Neither did they
return that evening nor yesterday. They
had evidently taken fright at Mr., Fariss
course and left the city.
The men are known Us Pittsburgh
sharpers. They have been here Jme
time, ostensibly doing business as insur.
anco agents. From the fact that they
were 80 flush with money on Wednes-
day, it Ia suspected that they met with
better success In some OF their swindling
operations than in this bunco attempt,
There are anumber OF their type OF men
In the city now, and 1t will behOove
people TO be on their guard against any
sort OF confidence sChe lie.
Last evening Officers Shorts and West
picked up three "hy people" on the
street. Chief Delbrugge cateChized
them, and they said they were from
Pittsburgh, but gave q poor excuse for
living. The Chief gave them To under.
stand that Wheeling was too small a
town for men Of their talent, and that
they and all OF their ilk must leave
quick. They promised to leave.
n