Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-04-19
IN THEIR OWN TRAP.
DID NOT VISIT NEW YORK TO BE
SWINDLED BY SHARPERS.

in Which the Bunco Men Lost S@5-A
Team That Was Sold to the Mayor of
Boston, but Which Ee Did Not Get.
A fine looking gentleman strolled into The
Times office and said that he wanted to see
the ''horse editor" The visitors card bore
a name which is very familiar to horse deal
ers and horse lovers.
For some years past his stock farms In
northern Montana have been a leading source
of supply for the horse marts of the country.
The man was unknown, having loved, we'd
ded and always lived in the fastness of his
adopted state, but his name and his horses
were famous.
Good morning, sir. I kinder thought
I'd call in an see you for a minute or two and
tell you about a little fun had in this metro
polls of yours this morning.
After few preliminary remarks concern
ing horsey matters he, in half amused, half
earnest sort of way, related the following tale
of his adventure during the morning with q
quartet of horse sharpers.
''You see, I've been out in Montana SO long
thought I'd like to come east, so came and
here l am l put up at @ hotel, and this
morning, feeling sort er lonely, strolled
around to Van Tassell & Kearney's horse
sale stables on West Thirteenth street
had partial reason for going there, as l.
wanted to buy pretty team for a relative OF
mine down in Pennsylvania. | staid around
there for while, and finally couple of bay
mares were offered that struck my fancy and
bid $500 on them. | was outbid, and was
walking away from the stable when slick,
neat looking individual touched my arm and
said
THE TEAM HE DIDN'T SEE.
"sDo you want to buy teamg
~ told him | was not over particular, but
was always ready to snap up good bargain,
SO says he:
"'Well, have got just what you want A
pair of beautiful young bays owned by
widow lady who's going to Europe. Come
down to the stable and the coachman will
show them to you
'That expression, widow lady, kinder set
me to thinking I'd heard through the papers
of widow ladies who were going to Europe
and wanted to sell their horses, and was sus-
picious; but, thinks l, I'll see it through, and
I'm glad l did The fellow led me down
Thirteenth street to Third avenue and up
Third avenue. l told him l was not used to
and did not enjoy long walks, and he said we
were most there. He took me up an alley
way and into one of the shabbiest private
Then he sung out john John did not show
up. I suppose he was the coachman; but
a minute later there came in fine look
ing old gentleman, who looked as swell as
the president of a European syndicate in
western farm lands. l was introduced to
him as possible customer for that pair of
horses The old chap greeted me very af-
fectionately, patted me on the shoulder and
said he was the executor of the widows
estate. He explained that the team was a
couple of fine trotting mares, cost So, 500, but
he would sell one for $500 to a country ge1l-
tleman. Did l belong in the country9 oh,
yes replied, thinking I'd humor him, 4
come from way up in Vermont The old
cove gave q sort of a satisfied grunt and said
he would go and get the coachman to bring
in the team. He had no sooner gone out
than in bobbed horsey looking individual,
who said to me in an excited way:
"'Say, I'm horse dealer, I am, from Bos-
ton. l want that pair of mares, but the
widow won't sell 'em to dealer. You buy
'em for me and I'll give you $50 It's an
easy way to make half hundred. Here's
my card
''He handed me card A look at it con-
WINGED me that I had struck pretty crowd
of swindlers, for it was the card of O. cele-
DRAFTED horse dealer in Springfield Mass. whom
had known for many years. did not let on,
though, but entered into his scheme. was
to buy the team for $500 and turn them over
TO MIN, gettlng sou commission. just then
the respectable looking Old gentleman came
IN and says TO the Boston dealer: Hello, what
90 you want heres Dldn,b tell you my SIS
ter would not sell her horses to o dealerF
Then turning to me ne said: 1 am very
sorry sir but the coachman has taken the
team OUT for exercise
lnat exclted inc =, Boston CHAP, and, calling
me ASIDE, ne SAID: Say, must close bar
gain tor that team now. I've sold 'em In adj
vance to the mayor OF Boston. I've seen the
mares ana 1ney are summers. NOW III tell
you what Wen do. You close the bargain
with nm and deposit Slo0, the balance to be
PAID when the team Is delivered
MONTANA GOT SOLEMN.
linen caught onto his little game. sort
OF hesltated and looked solemn like. He
urged me to accept the proposition, SO finally
says IN an innocent sort OF way: L tell you
W WI III ao Il you want that team SO bad
IN deposl6 Uhe Sloo Win tne executor there,
pu5 you must give me SO as security that
you are all flgnG 1hat IDEA Old notseem to
tickle MN: Inc sWlndlers wanted clean
sloo' 10 nelp 1ne scnefne along pulled OUT
my pocKe1oook. 1naI seG1iea II. Inc Fellow
handed me $40 ana then, turning to the ex-
ecu1or, SAID:
say, mister th1s gentleman Will BUY the
team without looking at 'em. He'll give you
$loo deposit and the rest when the team IS
denVeIed. Ihats SATISFACTORY, eng
Oh, yes, SAID the executor OF the estate,
with a broad smile, that Is entirely satisfac-
tory.
linen my turn came IN. Oh, Is It'll! said l.
- -'y e--i1i
run M against a gentleman from Montana
this time who knows a THING or two about
horses. and who is more than a match for
Won. Good morning, and | started for fine
door
"yye1l. there was y. circ,7s in that stable fo,.
q minnte or two The borsev man demanded
his s25. The executor called me a swindle,.
and a thief Just then the fellow 7 met first