The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-21
THE SQUIRE ROBBED.
A Slaughter Farmer Relieved
Of $1,000 in Gold.
WORKED BY A Capitalist"
A Smooth Bunco Man Enticed Him Into
the Woods With . Pocket.
full Of Coin.

Jason J. Corbin, an old, wealthy and
well-known farmer of this county. is the
victim of brace robbers cleverly-played
scheme. He was ove--poweredby two men.
about two miles north OF Stuck Junction.
yesterday forenoon at IL o'clock, and was
robbed of 81 800 in cash. The story OF the
crime is the same old one of simple, con.
fding farmer and q designing villains
game successfully played.
The first link in the chain of circum-
stances that wove the binding web of con-
fidencs around the unfortunate old gentle
man was effected one day ABOUT week
ago when large, portiy, handsomely kept
and weil-dressed man came to Slaughter
and, putting up at the best hotel, passed
himself of as travelling capitalist lately
from Seattle. He said he had heard
good deal about Slaughter and the country
around and was looking for investments.
In the town was Mr.. Corbin, typical
farmer. about 20 years of age, and who,
the villagers said, was very wealthy. The
stranger found that the farmer had large
deposits in C. II. French's bank, and also
that he not only owned property in the
vicinity, but that he had valuable lands in
the White river valley and at Stuck juno
ton.
The affable stranger made himself known
to some of the people of the town, and
quickly, and in the natural channel, Sc
cured an introduction to the farmer, who
was doomed to be his victim. Corbin said
he had property for sale near Stuck juno
ton, and thither the two men drove in
buggy. and for the next four days the
farmer and the stranger were rarely seen
apart while the sun was mp. Corbin drove
the man to almost every piece of property
he owned in the neighborhood of Stuck
and Slaughter, but the heavy stranger was
hard man to suit, and had not yet m ade a
purchase. Instead of losing confidence the
farmer grew all the more interested and
determined not to allow the moneyed trav-
eler 70 slip through his fingers without first
securing q trade of some kind. The
climax came yesterday morning when the
gay aud designing stranger succeeded in
getting the farmer TO draw on his Slaughter
bank account for 81, 800. Just how he &C
complished this is not known, as the vic
tim is very reticent about the matter. The
general supposition is. however, that the
man represented to the farmer that he had
some land in q certain locality, and that if
he woald take it in trade, with 81, 800 ito
boot" he would agree to another trade by
which the confiding farmer figured he
would come out away ahead.
About 1880 o'clock yesterday morning
the country folk" standing around were
furnished food for conjectures when
Farmer Corbin, with an old-fashioned
gait. came out of the bank with his two
coat pockets bullying out with their weight
of coin. The gold pieces, hard pressed
against the stretched pockets made known
only too quickly the nature of the contents.
do you see the squire?" and Wonder
how much he's got" were among the re-
marks that came from the gathering of
loungers; but one lank fellow in jeans lit
tie knew how closely he guessed when he
took his corn-cob pipe from between his
teeth and said, am bet any Teller half
bushel of oats that the squire's robbed afore
candle4ight."
The esquire" was seen to get into two
horse buggy with the stranger who had
been the talk of the town, and the vehicle
disappeared from view in a cloud of dust
up the road, the men having gone in q
northerly direction. About q mile and a
half from town the capitalist and the
farmer were seen driving along, talking,
by Mr.. Terence o Brien. of this city Mr..
O'Brien, accompanied by Mr.. Howard
Lewis, were down in the Stuck country
looking after property owned and to the
purchase of hops, and the gentlemen were
in q field at the time the buggy with its
occupants was noticed to pass on the pike.
The buggy passed from view in clump
of timber, and nothing was thought of the
matter until about twenty minutes later,
when the old gentleman was seen walking
up the road, returning alone to the town.
They thought this strange, and more so
when the old man passed without speak.
ing. When Mr.. Corbin returned home he
said he had been robbed, and Immediately
the whole town of Slaughter was in fever
of excitement. The farmers donned their
chapeaus, saddled their cayuses and
brought out their rusty rifles ready to run
down the outlaws.
Mr.. Corbin's story was simple but effect
i've. After passing from view of the hop
field the buggy was driven through lone
~ neck of woods, and when the most fore.
boding spot was reached the driver brought
the team to q sudden stop. Giving low.
shrill whistle. powerful, bronzed
and villainous looking middle
aged fellow sprang from concealment
in the bushes, and IN an instant, before the
astonished and terrified farmer could
recover himself, he was seized, his money
taken from him, and he was dumped in a
dazed condition on the ground. He looked
in amazement at the buggy as it ratified
around q clump of trees with the two men,
and the farmer started back to town on
foot.
Deputy Sheriff James Woolery left on
horseback for the scene of the crime, and q
deputy sheriff from Tacoma also came the
other way. Deputy Crabtree, of Seattle,
telephoned to Deputy Sheriff w. 81. Ward
at Slaughter to organize posse and start
in pursuit Immediately. They already
have clue TO the robbers, and before the
day is gone Farmer Corbin may recover q
part of his money of which he was so