The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-17

I've KasestIy Land Leessors SKIP q
City.


City.
J. Campbell and J. ID. Cosenor. two real
estats sharks. until yesterday located At
sos Front street, decampsi from their old
quarters yesterday morning and have now
probably left the city 10 avoid arrest
The firm il. or rather was, . branch Of
the company which was broken up by the
police ~ Tacoma . few days ago. the de-
tails Of which wers- given IN the PosT-Is-
rELLIsEscEx AZ the timc.
Campbell a Cosenor came to Seattle
shout six weeks ago. and for the further
ancs Of their nefarious schemes opened not
only one Office, but two or three, 30 that
they could handle their dupes with more
ease and less chance OF detection Their
chief scheme wAs 20 advertise - timber To-
Gators for men looking for claims, and
kindly consented to give information lead
ing 10 the location Of the best homestead.
timber or presumption claims In Washing
ton, at e65 per location
Campbell Was also purchasing agent OF
the Detroit Lumber Company. . purely
imaginary coacern. which he represented
- having unlimited capital This va not
used % much for direct swindie Is It was
70 impress whoever called upon them with
the idea al their commercial reliability.
Thar victims numbered from seven 70 ten
day. and for . time Ill went well. But
pretty soon the horizon Of tneif speculative
scheme began TO daykcn. Several Of those
whom they had located ON claims found
ous thas they had bsen swtndIed. Many
claims located b. Campbell 4 Coseaor were
found eith@ 70 have been prsysously hied
upon or else were In actual possession Of
bona fde claimants. Strange 70 say. many
Of the Victims who afterwards ascertained
that they had been swindlsd were either
intimidated or else were ashamed to own
that they had been taken In.
About week or ten days ago . con-
tractor named George Bars and A. o.
johnson were located by Campbell on .
timber claim. They were charged the
usual price and paid $50 down. A day or
two later they started out 70 look for the
land. They found that IL had been
previously located upon, and considerably
wrought up. returned 70 the city 70 re-
cover, IL possible. the money which they
had paid out Thursday afternoon John
son went into Campbeil's Office in the
Richardson house on Front street and
demanded his $50. Campbell refused 10
give il up, and then Mr.. johnson an
nounced his intsntion OF thrashing
him $50 worth unless he paid
the money over at once. Just ai
that instant Johns on's attention Was di-
verted by light which was started In an
adjoining room. He stepped into the hall
way. and a. he did Campbell sprang for
ward and locked the door In his face. Mr..
johnson then saw Why the tight had teen
started. bat not TO be baf1ed In that man
ner. quickly kicked the door open by
smashing in the panel and hreaking in the
lock. He demanded the money again. and
without further pariey il Was turned over
TO him.
Just After the trouble had been started
ofzecf Haxgerty appeared. but made no
arrest. ~ no complaint WAS made
Il Was said that during the preceding
day, man Who VAS swindisd In . similar
manner, entered tho ofiice and ~ the nasxr
rae OF q revolver compelled the swsndiers
10 ray over ytss. which they bad vrougtuily
taken from him.
Saturday morning number OF men
called 20 see about their Sos land claims,
but foand the once locked. The two
swsndIers had taken fright al their Thurs
Days experience and decamped- The ON
cers are looking for them, eui ss they
eannos he found. IL Is supposed thai they
have lefs for some Canadian point.