Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-24
LOOKS LIKE FRAUD.
ATTEMPT TO FILCH MONEY FROM A
YOUNG TEXAN,
On a Pretsxt of Having Found His Long
Lost Father WHO Knows
j. b. Doane?

expense of others are oftentimes remark
able. The world is full of men as unprin-
cipled as the meanest bunko thief, who
lack only opportunity for fleeing their
fellow-citizens. Occasionally one bolder
than the others comes to the front in des
perate attempt to cheat or rob his neigh
Dor.
A case has Just come to light in this vi
cinity which reveals what appears 10 be
despicable attempt of somebody in Butte
county to fitch few dollars from young
man in Texas who is seeking to find his
aged and long-lost father.
On the 22d of May last, W. Keesey, of
Fort Davis, Texas, inserted the following
advertisement in the RECORD UNION:
Information wanted of the whereabouts of
George Keesey, who left Steubenvile, o., for
California in 1883. Lived in Sacramento in
early times, and moved into Calaveras county
Was in San Andreas when las; heard from, in
1859, and reported TO be there in 1867. Was
known by Syl. Treadway, Samuel Henry and
John Parrish, former sacramentans. his son,
W. keesey, now prosperous merchant of Fort
Davis, Texas, is anxious to get information of
his father, and, If necessary, will come to Cali
fornia TO me him. Three brothers and three
sisters OF the missing man are sill living in
steu6enville, o, His son viii pay $50 reward to
any one giving positive information concerning
him Address w. Keesey, Fort Davis, Texas. or
this Office
Shortly afterward this Office received
letter from Mr.. Keesey, inclosing the fol-
lowing epistle, which he requested to have
verified and to have the RECORD UNION see
that the writer thereof was q reliable and
responsible person, before he (Keesey)
should go to any expense in the matter
The inclosed letter reads:
CHICO, Butte county, May 50. 1880.
Mr. ". heeseg. Fort Darts, Ttras-SIR write
to inform you that on the Sth of January of this
year met i'll this place an old acquaintance of
mine, whom had not seen Tor great many
years and who supposed was long since dead
gentleman, who, - years ago, was g partner
of mine at a mining camp in Caiaveras county
known as San Andreas, and who had been
partner OF mine TOR about four years. The old
gentleman to whom l refer, named George
keesey (Uncle George we used to call him), told
me that he had lived for a number of years in
the state OF Nevada, at Virginia City. When l
met him he was quite feeble, and entirely desti-
tute of money. AS have small ranch in this
county, invited him 70 make my ranch his
home, and he has been with me ever since and
viii provide for him as long as be wishes to
stay. A few days ago l was in oroYille our
county seat, and met John Ward an old resi-
dent of this county. MIR. Ward was engaged in
mining at the same place where your father and
myself worked, and was well acquainted with
him. told him Mr.. Keesey was at my place
and yesterday he called to see him, and had
told your father that he had read an account in
Sacramento paper that he had SOP living in
Fort Davis. Texas, and he was anxious to OBJ
tam some information in regard to him. Your
father says, until Mr. Ward told him what he
had read, he was not aware that he had any
relations still alive. He supposed that his
brothers ana sisters, who Mr.. Ward told him
the article stated We're living in Steubenville
o., were all dead.a Your father desires me to say
to you that he would like to go 10 Fort Davis if
he had the money to do so with. am quite
poor myself otherwise it would give me much
pleasure to give the old gentleman the means to
bring him to YOU He requests me to inform
you II upon the receipt of this letter YOU will
write to him and inclose in your letter $50 in
bills. As soon as 1t is received, he viii purchase
his ticket aud start for Fort Davis Fifty dollars
Will De all that viii be required to pay his
fare and provide him with money to purchase
his meals on the way. If you send him
the money ! will make it my business to
see that he is comfortably fixed for
the trip, and that he will leave as soon as he re-
ceives the money. Mr. Ward tells me the arti-
eie he read stated you would pay $50 ior inforna-
non concerning your father ! ask nothing for
the information have given you, and would
under no circumstances ask nor accent any,
thing l am only too happy that by mere ac-
clcent ala able to inform you of the present
location OF your father, and hope before long to
hear from you that he has reached your place
IN the matter as soon as he receives your letter
containing the money. l viii see that he gets
l ms ticket t and starts on his journey. remain
yours, ETC., JAMES Z. DoANE
Address the letter to your father, Mr.. George
keesey, Chico, Butte county, Cal.
P. S. If you should write to me- please in
close 1t in the letter to your father. write this
letter at the request of the old gentleman, as he
is quite feeble and his sight is very poor
JAMES L. DoANE.
In accordance with Mr.. Keesey's request,
the publishers of the RECORD UNION ad-
dressed communication to Mr.. Doane, at
Chico, requesting that the old gentleman
referred 10 as being under his (Doane's)
n nif 6cta ~ J.;
son IN Texas would no doubt settle for ex-
penses that might be entailed.
No answer was received 10 this CON-
municatlon, and the publishers then wrote
to their agent at Chico, requesting him to
make inquiry and ascertain whether or not
any such person as Doane resided in that
vicinity. The agents reply was that per-
son named Doane had resided there. but
had lately removed to Bloomfield, Sonoma
county.
A letter addressed to Doane was then
sent to the latter place, and response was
received from one G.. W. Doane, 10 the
effect that he had a relative named J.
Doane, but was in ignorance as to his
whereabouts.
The suspicion at first aroused, that an at
tempt had been made to swindle the
Texan, was now considerably strengthened.
and the RECORD. UNION determined to
tree the rascal, if possible. Hence let.
ter was sent to the Mr.. Ward, of Oroville
who had been referred to in Doane's letter
to Keesey as having been mining partner
of the latter's father, and who had "a pleas
ant chat with the old gentleman at
Doanes house, where they talked over
the incidents of their lives as god. diegers.n
etc.
A few days ago reply came from Mr..
Ward, stating that he knew nothing of
either Doane or keesey.
1t now looks as if there could be no
doubt that some scamp, who had read the
advertisement in the RECORD. UNION. had
attempted bold swindle upon the Young
Texan who is seeking to find his aged
father, that the latter may end his davs
with his children in comfort The request
made by the fellow, that the money So
licited from the son with which to pur-
chase railroad ticket for his father be
sent IN bills through the postoffice, and in
the name of the old gentleman, shows-in
the light of later developments-th the
alleged Doane believed he had hit upon an
easy scheme for obtaining fifty dollars in a
dishonest way.
Tne matter is one that should be INQUIRED
into by the Butte county officials.