The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-28
AN OFT TOLD YAIBAGAIN.
The Three Card Monte Bunko
Racket Tried on
A BELMONT COUNTY FARMER
And only Fails Bccauscan obscrvant
Citizen gives tho Snap Dead Away
and n Bank Official Rcscucs
the Victim just In Time.

Walden Morley, an aged and well
known farmer living out the st, Glars
vile pike, about four miles beyond
Bridgeport, while in this city yesterday,
narrowly escaped being fleeCed OF robbed
OF several hundred dollars by 1.-TWO sharp.
ers. According to Mr.. Worley's story,
he had driven into the city with some
members OF his family who were going
to Pittsburgh, and had seen them of on
the Panhandle train, leaving here at
las o'clock. Soon after the departure
OF the train, and while he was standing
by his team on Water street, he
was approached by a short, well.dressed,
smooth, round.faced man, who called
him Familiarity by name. Mr.. Morley
shook hands with the stranger, looked
him we'll over, and said, merely as a
matter OF form, that his face was familiar
and that he ought TO know him, but
that he could not place him. The
stranger responded with an engaging
smile, that he was a son OF Mr.. Henry X,
List. Mr.. Morley replied that he was
we'll acquainted with the Lists; that II
he didn't know this particular young
man, he ought To; that he was glad To
meet him, etc.
The stranger was very agreeable, and
chatted for q few minutes about the
weather and crops, and then introduced
the subject OF horses. He said he was
buying some horges for a friend Of his
from Texas, and he was anxious TO
secure a fine blooded animal to match
one he had already purchased. Did Mr..
Worley know where he could purchase
q fine young black horse? Mr.. Morley
did; his son had an animal that answer
ed that description, and would probably
sell 1t for $500.
1.-THE stranger suddenly took a fancy To
Mr.. Worley's mare, and wanted 10 know
what sum would purchase that animal.
Mr.. Morley prizes his mare very highly
and did not care about selling, but the
stranger urged him 10 set a price, and he
finally named $500.
Some further talk was had, and then,
as Mr.. Morley tells the story, the
stranger proposed that they take a short
walk up street, and look at the black
horse he had, and for which he wanted
q mate. He wanted TO know II MI. Wor.
Icy would find 1t a good match for his
sons horse. They went up Main street
and turned down what is known as
Schambra's alley, toward the river bluff.
The stranger tried the door Of the stable,
which appeared TO be locked. He re.
marked that this was strange, and then
looked around the corner Of the shed.
AS he did so, he spoke 10 some one In an
apparently surprised tone. Mr.. Morley
looked around and saw stretched out on
a bench a tall, dark Completed man
with a small mustache. He had q dus-
ter with him. Mr.. Worley's first stran-
ger, "Mr. List" as he called himself,
proiessed 10 he very glad 10 see the tall
man, whom he told Mr.. Worley was the
Texas man he was buying the
horses for. He asked his Texas friend
what luck he had had In Pittsburgh,
and he replied that he had had - poor
luck; that some Yankees had beat him
out OF $500 with three cards; and he
pulled three monkey" cards from his
pocket, remarking bitterly that those
were the bits OF paateboard used, and
that he was going 10 take them 10 Texas
as souvenirs. He volunteered 10 explain
how tho cards had been manipulated,
and "Mr. List and Mr.. Morley looked
on i%ntorostedly while the man from
Texas tossed the cards about. Then the
balance Of tho. old game was gone
through. While the Texas man was
momentarily admirlng the beauties Of
the river scenery, "Mr. List" with q
wink to Mr.. Morley, tilted up the cards
Till ho found the right one, and slyly
bent one OF its corners.
According 10 Mi. Worley, "any TOOL
could have picked out that card after
that"
The Texas man returning his atten.
ton 10 the cards, "Mtf. List laughed at
the way he had been taken In, said any
one could pick out tho card, and offered
10 bet $50 no could lind H. The offer
was accepted, the card picked out, aud
"Texas" passed over $50 Ia bills,
From this point on Mi. Worley'sB story
Ia somewhat dlslointed. He says he
was invited 10 Try 10 find the card, but
declined, Then the matter Of putChas.
Ing his mare was brought UP again, and
''NIr. List" finally decided 70 take her al
$500. He pulled out a big roll Of bills,
aud rendered one Of $1,000 dpnqtnlna'
lion, saying that II was. tho smallest hp
had, Mt. Morley said he would have
10 20 10 the bank for change. The
strangers wanted 10 know II lie had
In tic bank, and hp replied that