The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-21
ELLIS CONFIDENCE GAME
BY WHICH SAMUEL SUFFERED MUCH.
President Harrison's Timber Agent Discov-
ers an Alleged Relative and Causes
Him TO Mortgage His Farm
Confidence Misplaced.

Eli c. Hornaday was recently appointed
timber agent under the Harrison administra-
ton In his official capacity it will be his duty
to prevent punish frauds Some people
who have read the disclosures of Hornaday's
character recently published in THE SENTINEL
may think that he is not extraordinarily well
qualified TO perform these duties, forgetting,
for the moment, that the old maxim is to set a
certain kind of man to catch another man
with the same birthmarks.
Up at louisville a pretty little town in the
extreme southeastern corner of Boone county,
there are a great many people who think that
when Hornaday was set to watch thieves
the administration was adhering closely TO the
old maxim.
In louisville, Eli G. Hornaday has very few
admirers, and the reason thereof is plain.
Hornaday was very little known in the town
until last summer although he had occasion
ally visited the place in the capacity of a live
stock buyer During the long days in the
summer of IS, however, he put in an appear
ance with his long gray beard and sanctimoni-
Gus air. and from that day dates the antipathy
of the good people of louisville to the man
whom President Harrison has selected as the
guardian of the peoples woodlands.
On the day in question HOrnaday was in
town until late in the evening-till darkness
began 10 settle over the hills Then he drove
TO the nicely-kept, carefnlly-tilled farm OF Sam
uel Hornaday, two miles south OF the town.
Allghting from his buggy, Eli asked of the ven-
cradle proprietor of the farm to be accommO-
dated with nights lodging. Samuel Horna-
day was an old man, guileess and cOnfding,
hut he didn't like 10 entertain strangers, so
be told Mr.. Harrison's friend that he'd better
go TO the town. where there was good hotel
NO" said Eli, "Td rather stay here. My
How frn nd | a
Hornaday who wasn't the embodiment of hon.
esty and honor, and think, maybe, you and L
are relatives / want TO talk with you, any
how"
Thus almost forced to act as a host, Samuel
Hornaday took in Eli of the same name. He
would now have been several thousand dollars
richer would have been much happier and
would have had more confidence in man In
general if he hadn't exercised this hospitality.
But Eli was taken IN, fed and sheltered.
After a supper 10 which he did ample justice,
and the courses of which he punctuated with
elaborate dissertations on the integrity OF the
HOrnaday family In general and OF Iii IN Partl-
cular he told the old farmer that he was the
owner Of a mammoth plantation in the south
ern part of the state, that he raiser of
and dealer in live stock at indianapolis, and
that the chances for making money in the
business were never so great as at that mo-
ment- Then he began to examine the HOrna-
day genealogical tree and soon convinced his
host that they were bound together by close
ties OF consanguinity.
When old Samuel Hornaday went to bed
that night he was convinced that his guest wasa
relative; that he q wonderful business
man; that there was millions in dealing in live
stock.
For several days Eli Hornaday remained
with Samuel Hornaday. Then, late one after
noon, the two appeared at the Farmers bank
in louisville. Samuel Hornaday explained
that Eli Hornaday had his money all tied mp,
that the two were going into partnership in the
live stock business and that money was needed.
Banker Afford didn't like the manner OF Eli
Hornaday and told Samuel that he didn't know
him and didn't want any dealings with him,
but if he Samuel Hornaday) wanted any
money he could have it.
The old farmer confident OF his new
found friends honesty and drew from the bank
$1,000, giving notes jointly with Eli for the
amount.
Eli departed with the money. He reported
shortly that be had purchased cattle and put
them on mis- plantation. Soon afterward
Eli appeared in louisville and reported
that $500 worth of corn was needed to
feed the cattle. Samuel Hornaday Dor
rowed the money of the bank and gave il
10 him. Later Eli represented that the cattle
were wasting lots of corn and that if they pur-
chased drove of hogs they would save money,
as the hogs would get fat on the corn wasted
by the cattle Samuel Hornaday furnished the
money To purchase the hogs.
After the purchase of the hogs, more money
was needed for corn. and Samuel furnished it
10 Eli. Thus matters went on until winter,
and until, with interest, Samuel Hornaday had
advanced TO the slippery Eli nearly s., 500 and
had his farm, on the improvement of which he
had spent the best years of his life, incumbered
almost beyond hope of redemption. Still Eli
made no return Of profits on the live stock in
vestnent.
While for months his friends had been warn
ing Samuel Hornaday against his quondom
relative the old farmer never for a moment al
lowed his faith in the artful Eli to be shaken.
At last however, Eli ceased to write to him,
even to ask for more money, and he induced
Banker Afford TO go to Daviess county to inves-
tigate Mr. Affords visit was fruitful of disap-
pOintment 10 the confding farmer. He visited
discouraged1Ookngw woman living in a tumble
down house. She said she was Mrs. Hornaday.
Her husband had sold all the cattle and had
gone away She didn't know where he'd gone,
and was doubtful if he would ever return.
Banker Afford returned TO louisville and
convinced the old farmer that he had been
svindled.
Samuel Hornaday still lives on his pretty
farm south of louisville. He is getting old and
gray and can scarcely hope ever TO lift the
mortgage which rests upon it. His dream of
sudden fortune from investments in live stock
is dspelled. He has lost confidence in hui
manity.
Eli Hornaday is preparing to assume the fat
Office 70 which he has been appointed by
the administration of many prayers. But in
Zionsville Eli reported powerful in
prayer"