Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-20
HISTORY OF THE GANG.

Il~l lbltl or ilii HANh.
This is the old familiar racket. and
will be recognized by the readers of the
REGIsrER as the course pursued in the
New MartinSville case. and also in this
county.
The gentlemen engaged IN this bunkO
business are suspected of being George
Post, famous confidence man, and
Lous Ludlum. equally celebrated as Il
crook, and something about the history
of the pair will be OF interest in this
connection.
On April 93, 1859, after having swim
died Luke Palmer, Sr., Of Burlington.
Iowa. out of $1,000. the bunko men APP
pearcd In jacksonville, ILL.,, where
they selected as their next victim Vim
cent ). Richardson. a wealthy old farm
er living near that place. Mr.. Rich
ardson is an Englishman who settled
near jacksonville when il was almost a
wilderness, and who, by hard work. had
accumulated fortune of about 5000. 600.
He is ger orally beloved In the cOmmu-
nifty, being a kind-hoarted. generous old
man. As usual, Post appeared as the
"handshallcr. and, giving his name as
w. II. Baker. represented to Mr.. Rich
ardson that he was seeking % buy
farm The old farmer was conducting
Post about the country. showing him
desirable locations. when they were en-
countered by a strange man who APP
pearcd to be slightly intoxicated.
He had learned To play
new game with cards. and insisted on
explaining il 10 Mr.. Richardson and his
guest The latter seemed 10 be inter-
cstcd. and when a bet was offered took
it. declaring that If he won Mr. Rich
ardson should get half The stranger
appeared 10 have plenty Of money, but
did the trick so clumsily that Baker fOr
POST won 5000. He refused 10 pay.
however. until he was satisfied that his
opponents could show q similar amount
as an evidence OF good faith. He gave
his name rs w. c. Gray, and promised
to wait until Mr.. Richardson's return
from jacksonville. the poor dupe being
induced TO 90 to that place and with
draw $1,000 In cash upon the promise Of
getting 3. 500 for nothing. When he
returned with the cash revolver was
placed to his head and the wallet was
taken from him by the two thieves. who
bound him and drove hastily of.
COMING THIS WAY.
Coming further East. the adycutur-
ous pair reached Washington C.. H..
Ohio. where they came to grief. Sc-
lecting Samuel Coffman, one OF the
richest men in that community, as
victim worthy Of plucking, Post, under
the name of Black, opened mp precisely
the same Swindlc that had been worked
on Richardson. and. with the assistance
OF Ludlum. who was known as Buzzard
and Carter. succeeded in getting away
with $4,000. This occurred on May 4,
1890. Although CofTman was 50 years
old he was spry enough 10 begin an inn
mediate pursuit. with the result OF
capturing both men between Lcesburg
and New Vienna. Marshal Duley. Of the
former town, making the arrest They
were landed IN Jail safely, but az once
desperate efforts were made 20 effect
their release. This was finally accom-
pliShed 40 cost of not less than $40,
900. Codman was given back his
money and the amount $4,000 he had
paid as a reward. A like sum was
paid for a bond. their attorneys were
given Il 900. and a rumor had IL that
several officers got $500 apiece. \
third member Of the gang, Tom
O'Brien. appeared in the guise Of a
Pinkerton detective with a warrant
osteusihly issued az Bear Gap, Pa. De
suite the fact that Detective Norris had
a warrant for the jacksonville and Bur
lnrton cases. sheriff Patton allowed
him to take the prisoners, who made
good their escape, although hotly pur-
sued by Norris. The latter caused the
Sherid's arrest for malfeasance in Office,