Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-12
CONFIDENCE MEN
Badly Fooled by Humboldt
County Banker.

SVAMty kpHAACAS
Mr.. j. w. Henderson, President OF the
Humboldt County Bank, at Eureka, will
leave Los Angeles this morning, but be
will bear with him the memory of an ad-
venture which is not of the most pleasant
nature. Mr.. Henderson has been stop
ping at the Nadeau, and as he Is man
of wealth he has been carrying out the
object of his visit here by inspecting the
city. Yesterday morning he left the
hotel and while strolling along the street
he was somewhat surprised to see a
young, we'll dressed man come toward
him with smile on bis face and an out
stretched hand.
"Why, Mr.. Henderson, ,''said the young
man, "are you down here? Did you
come on visit to see how we looked ?
When did you arrive?"
lir. Henderson replied rather coldly,
for he did not remember ever having
seen the man before, and asked in del
icate manner the name of the young
man.
"Don't you recognize me?" said the
young man. "Why, my name is Smith,
and | was connected with the bank at
Weaverviile, Trinity County" He then
went on to describe the coun-
try, the towns, and mentioned
the names of so many people
whom Mr.. Henderson knew, that Mr..
Henderson began to think that he really
had met Smith before. The conversation
then turned upon Los Angeles and South
ern California, and after short time
Smith asked Mr.. Henderson if he would
not like to have copy of a map and
description of Southern California. Me-.
Henderson said that he would like q
copy. and Smith invited him to "step
around to the library" and get one. He
lodging house, on Main street, where
they went upstairs and entered room
where man was sitting at table en-
gagged in writing.
"Giye Mr.. Henderson one of those
books with the map in,' said Smith.
'I've just sent the last one away by
mail" said the Office man, "but if you
will leave Mr.. Hendersons' address with
me will send him one, for Pm having
some more copies bound in San Fran
CISCO"
Smith gave Mr.. Henderson's address,
which was written in notebook, and
then he turned to leave. AS he did SO,
he said: "By the way, there's differ
ence of accounts between us, isn' there ?"
EYES," replied the Office man.
"Well," said Smith, 1--WE might as we'll
settle it now."
The Office man then produced pack
of cards and a marked cloth. The two
men then manipulated the cards, and it
appeared that Smith won 500. He was
about to take this when the office man
told him that, according to the rules, he
would have to advance $40 and try again.
If he won that time he could take the
whole pile. Smith turned to Mr.. Hen
derson and asked him if he didn't want
to go in partnership and advance 500.
Mr.. Henderson thought that the game
was rather thin" and said he did not
care to invest, 80 Smith advanced the
$40 and in few minutes later it was an
nounced that he had won 81 900. The
money was counted out and he was about
to take it when he was informed that he
would have to put in another $40 and he
could take the whole pile. Smith again
asked Henderson if he didn't want to
take chance of carrying off half of
the money, but by this time he had
came to the conclusion that he was
being operated upon by confidence men
and he replied curtly that he didn't care
to invest his money that way and
walked out, leaving the men, who looked
rather sheepish. Mr.. Henderson thinks
that the city ought to be relieved of this
class of people, and he carries away with
him very unpleasant opinion of the
city's inhabitants.