The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-03-31
A BIG SWINDLE.
Wood Brothers, Commission Mer-
chants, of Chicago, Cleverly
Taken In.

Chicago, arrived in Sedalia Yesterday,
to unearth a swindler who obtained
SIS, $50 from The First National bank
here on the 10Th inst. on a bogus bill
of lading, and for which the Chicago
firm is responsible. A few days ago
a man who claimed to be Thomas F.
Silbey, of Windsor, Henry county,
Mo-, contracted TO ship Wood Bros. :,
eleven cars of cattle, the average
weight to be 1900 pounds per head.
The cattle were to be paid for here
by the First National bank at the re-
quest of the Live Stock National bank
of Chicago. The cattle were alleged
to have been shipped from Windsor
on the 18th inst. and on the 18th
inst. Sibley presented to the bank
here forged bill of lading, which set
forth the alleged number Of cattle
shipped and their wei-ht. He was
paid So, $50 and departed, since which
time he his never been heard of. The
bank here drew on the Live Stock
National bank, of Chicago, for the
amount, and the draft was promptly
honored. The cattle failing to reach
Chicago, K. A. Wood came here to
investigate, but obtained no clew
whatever to the swindler.
"My friend, my hands are tied and
| am afraid cannot tell you much"
ssid the gentleman. Il arrived in
Sedalia yesterday afternoon and con-
cluded to 90 to Windsor, at once, as
being the fountain head of the swim
die. L suspected for time that pos
sibly there was an inside party con-
nectej with the railway company, who
helped to work the swindle, but upon
c'ose investigation at Windsor | found
that nothing of The kind existed"
Mr.. Wood then pulled from his
pocket the forged bill of fading. On
1t, as witness, was written the name,
X. j. Thomas. This handwriting
compared favorably with the signature
John I. Lyman, Nevada, Mo, on
Hotel Kaiser register under date of
March 10. Lyman, therefore, is be.
lieved TO have been an accompIice of
Sibley's.
Sibley and this MN Lyman were
together at Hotel Ksiser on March 10. |
Sibley was small man, probably 80
years old. Lyman was rather large. |
They were both we'll dressed and
seemed to be on familiar terms. |
They drank wine freely together at
the bar. In the afternoon Sibi ey |
came into the hotel and threw down a |
large package of bank bills, saving to
the clerk, A. j. Wright, "here is
fifty-two hundred dollars | wish you
would take care of until evening"
He said that he was travelling man
standing near by and who had asked |
him why he carried so much cash |
with him, that "these country grays
sre afraid to take checks and drafts
and | have to carry the money with
me-"
In the evening Sibley received his
which bad been deposited in
the hotel safe, and he and bis friend,
Lyman left ostenslbIy for Texas,
fOur firm does not know either
man." said Mr.. Wood. ave never
saw, heard or read of Sibley before
this transaction. l propose to put
the matter in the hands of the proper
and run down the fellow,
if possible"
The following telegram from Wind
sor, Mo-, appeared in this mornings
Globe Democrat:
The Missouri. Kansas and Texas
Railroad Company is investigating a
Ease of forgery which has cleverly
Wood Bros Commission
Company, of Chicago, pretty heavily, !,
he amount of which is as yet un-
known. Some time since March 10,
homas +. Sibley was advanced a
'um of money by Wood Bros. on a
Dill of lading for 165 hogs and 152
,attle, dated March 10 and signed by
J. f. Rea, agent for the Missouri, ,
Kansas and Texas, of this place.
'ibley claimed this amount of mosey
vas due the railroad, which would not :
hip the stock until it was paid. !
Wood Bros. ordered the First Ma ;
ional Bank, of Sedalia, to pay Sib-
e,'s draft, which they promptly did,
nd drew on Wood in Chicago. Yes
erday Wood telegraphed Agent Rea
hat they held his bill of lading for I,
leven cars of stock and asked where =
hey were. Rea Immediately wired
hem that it was a forgery. General 6
Manager j. j. Frey came through J
rom the South this morning and {
topped and interviewed Agent Rec, :
,ut did not disclose the amount of the >
oroary Mora dafpife no, tioulor. :