Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-07-30
A BOLD BUNCO GAME.
A French Prairie Farmer Robbed Of
Five Thousand Dollars Right
Before His Eyes.

S. w. r. Jones is a wealthy farmer
and land owner north of Brooks
but he is 5000 poorer and wiser to.
day than he was day or two ago
having been burcoed out of that
amount by well laid scheme.
Last Sunday a well dressed man
aud woman, the latter full of beauty
and coDtidence-breedIug manner,
drove up to the residence of Mr.
Jones in search of desirable farm
in which to invest surplus wealth.
The man gave his name as Martin,
irom Tacoma. and the lady was his
sister, widow of 3e years old, OF
I whose estate and children he was
I guardian. He had been in this
, country some years ago, knew its ad.
vautages and knew this was the
place TO buy. His sister had
beeu one Of the lucky ones in Taco
ma speculation and had unloaded
with $4,000 profit. Further talk
was had and negotiations were
started for part Of Mr.. Jones's
farm, but the parties went away,
promising to return. He was
around again yesterday but he said
his sister was sick here in Salem at
the home Of a man named Walker.
He invited Mr. Jones to ride
around with him and when in the
road few miles north of Brooks
they met another man in buggy
and stopped TO talk with him. This
one soon made his business known
rs a representative of the Louisiana
lottery and by specious arguments
induced Mr. Jones to try his luck,
as the man had all the parapherna-
liza with him and was ready TO pay
all draws.
Mr.. Jones bit and had good luck.
His first draw was S., which was
promptly paid and in a little while
bis luck was even better, this draw
being five tho usand dollars. Such
large amount the fellow said he
couldn't pay until Jones would
satisfy him that he (Jones) was
worth that amount. Mr.. J. could
easily do this, so he came right to
Salem, accompanied by the Gland |
looker," drew $4,000 from the bank
and took the amount back. On the |
way they met his man coming to-
ward Brooks, and at once Jones
pulled out his $4,000 and showed it
to him. "All right" said the lot
terry man; "my principal is not here
now; he has gone to Wheatland and
won't be back until tomorrow, 50 /
nave not the money in full to pay
you; but have $1,000 in gold and
EN- thousand in bonds, which |
will deposit with your $4,000 in this
tin box and leave all with you until
tomorrow, when you can drive up
o Salem and get your money"
With this he drew forth tin box
about ten inches long, six inches
vide and six deep, into which he
poured his own thousand dollars
n gold, then folded the Bonds
IN top of that, then put
n Mr.. Jones $4,000 on top
# all, closed the box, put on lock,
Ocked it and handed it to Mr.. Jones
to all appearances).
Mr., j. took the box home and took
edulous care of it last night, com |
lg to Salem with 1t this forenoon.
ie could not find his man anywhere,
he went to Capt. Martins jewelry !
.ore and had the thing opened, l
hen, behold ! he found a roll of ,
aste paper, under which were stor- i
l two good sized, hard headed rocks
ld-nothing more. ?
The feelings Of Mr.. Jones can be .
nagined. He proceeded to the
leritf's office where he presented c
lie facts as best he could tell them 4
his ruffled and nervous condition, 7
e above being an abstract of them, =
I'd he then returned to Brooks
alton, where it is said one of the
lows took the afternoon train -
'rth yesterday. +
He was not able to give in his ex-
tement any accurate description of
e parties, SO this will have to be =
'ferred, nor did he tell what be-
me of the fellow who was riding n
ith him.
1t is difficult to zee how man
ho, by sagacity, industry and close
'aling, has accumulated so much
has Mr.. Jones, could be taken in
such a manner, but it appears +,
ose chaps know their men and n
ldom miscalculate. They are II
road in the land, as it is only II
lort time since some such a game p
ms PLAYED near Walla Walla. ~