New-York tribune., 1889-12-25
COULD NOT FOOL THE ELDER.
HOW THE GOLD BRICK SwlNDLE CAME TO
GRIEF N ITHACA.

GRIEF IN ITHACA.
Ithaca. Dec "a tspeciaD.- Elder Hiram Gee Is a
man widely known IN the Interior Of New-forh sta'o'
both as a clergyman and a. a publc-spriiea n'a''
HIS frequent efts to public Institutions. particularly
the gf. Of S25 600 TO Syracuse University maze h"i
we'll known through the press as a result, his hAmo
csueht the eye OF gang Of gold.brIck swindlers'
and they paid him a call staying week In Ithaca
trying work their little racket with him to the
tune of 81 600 but they In this unsuccessful
Elder Gee has kept this little episode pretty much "
himself, and II was not until this week that no
concluded 10 tell the story, he diskes notoriety'
But from the fact that since lie visited not Ions
since by these rogues unsuspecng persons in various
States have been swindled Of thousands of dollars
he consented to give The Trtbune's correspondents
sketch Of the way they tried 70 do but didn't
One of the gang boldly vent to Mr. Gee residence
noon, and on being invited in asked the Elder IL
his name was Gee. on receiving affirmative reply
look Of disappointment came over the face OF the
man. and he said You then not the man
want am so sorry.' His look Of despair touched
the heart OF the Elder and he asked he could help
him, If It money Pie needed. what NO
said the man. you cannot help me. II Is not money
/ want" For a long time he sat with the EIoef,
and after frequent ques ons the was induced 10
tell his story. which he did as follows He had been
at work in Arizona for a named Gee. who had
moved six years ago to New-York state He had tod
him If he needed help to hunt him UP and he
would assist him. For such help he had come 10
Ithaca hoping to find him. he had learned that a
man OF that name lived here. He had at one time
bcfriended a Mexican Indian. This Indian had found
gold mine. and had alone excavated enough to be
worth $4,000. He had taken the gold 10 a military
camp in Arizona in order TO sell II. The capita IN
tried to extract from him the secret of the mine, put
when he could not he struck the Indian over the
head with sabre left him for dead and carried OH
the gold. The Indian had recovered, then remember
ing his kindness, had come TO him. they two had
returned to the mine. and had taken out enough 10
make three gold bricks valued at $4,000. This they
kept with them. The Indian was watching II in the
woods but since he struck by the sabre he could
not be persuaded to come into town. What they
wanted who could read and write. as they
could not 10 fix the claim for the mine for they we're
afraid OF the Arizona men, that they would jump tho
claim. Hence he looking for his old friend, who
knew written" TO do that for them.
The then withdrew, but next day called again,
detected than ne before. If he could only
find man he could trust he said, just to establish
the claim for the mine they would divide the $4,000
in gold and the mine into three parts and that
man could have third He said he half felt he
could trust Nj. Gee and asked him If he " knew
written" Mr. Gee now asked him what proof he
could give that he had that gold and that they had
mine, and that he had an Indian with him. The man
would come back for him and they would go to the
Indians camp and he would show him the gold The
next day he came back and told Mr. Gee the Indian
had ted. lie took Mr. Gee 70 point near
the Pennsy vana line. train the G., and S
road They left the train at bystatlon. went about
mile by the highway and then turned into the deep
forest and climbed 10 the top OF high hill where was
small cleared spot The man whisded and called
for the Indian but he did not come. Surprised at this
h leff Mr. Cea ind nut Uh haf fhe and
soon came back reporting the Indian sick. bat be
would try and get there and show where the gold
buried. Mr.. Gee soon saw standing few rods of
an Indian in all the glory Of paint He pointed
to a pile of brush, and went away. The man took
from the pile three bars or bricks Of gold the weight
being not far from forty pounds - Tell me where
bore and I will take out chips from three places IN
each brick said the Mr. Gee pointed them
out. He took BIT from his pool ket, bored out the
chips but asked Mr.. Gee 10 watch TO that they
were not observed. lie handed Mr.. Gee the gold
chips, told MIN to take them to he chemist Of Coresn
Gee goodbye and Mr.. Gee returned TO Ithaca. One
Of the leading al & chemists In the university 6ecard bac 6 6
asked Mr. Gee for for The The report & he said it was gold
would help him sell the gold and then If all right
he would see about going on to fix the claim on the
mine; This was apparently satisfactory 70 the man.
and he said he would 60 back and tell the Indian.
Up TO this date not word had been said to Mr.. Gee
The man left on his errand. The next day he
returned and rang the bell OF Mr. Gees residence vo-
% ahd E e b9nd Ss % ne go bnm was S coHd ana dn
with him. He willing to sell out the whole
900 900 work OF gold brick for 81 600. or he thought
the Indian would sell his for $1,000 and home, and
they might go and develop the mine. Then MIR.
Gee said II you wish 70 take your bars TO the mint
man" d" Let me see the gold chips J lei you have, >
said the man. Mr. Gee handed over the pieces when
he reached out TO the Elder shook his hand opened the
door slid out to the street and the Elder has not
him since