The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-04-02
A SLICK ARTIST.
AN AUSTIN CONTRACTOR SKINS HIS
wORKMEN AND FRIENDS.
A Double Deal in Real Estate and
Matters of Financial Import That
May be of Interest.

| >'NS' 5AeAN JUAy hSUuihOu " tAuO
bill against one j. F. Pate, contrac-
tor in the city, charging that he had
obtained money under false pretenses.
He was arrested, a note of which
was made in The STATESMAN at the
time, and was placed under $500
bond, wi III Mr.. Billie Sutor as security
for his appearance at the next term Of
the county court.
A DOUBLE LAND DEAL,
A few days after that Mr.. Sutor pur-
chased from Pate o certain piece of
property which Pate represented to be
all right and in good shape, except
that there were two vendors lien
notes against it yet unss tisfed.
This deed was placed On record in the
county clerks Office March IL and the
property described is lot No. 7, subdi-
vision of block No. SO, in division E,
46 by 128 feet, on Brazos street. The
pay ment was $500 cash and the as
sumption of two vendors lieu notes
for $475.
A few days after this, Pate disap-
peared and some rumors getting ahoat
not at all complimentary to the willy
Pate Mr.. Sutor proceeded to investi-
gate his purchase when it developed
that Pate had sold the identical piece
OF property transferred to Mr.. Sutor
some time in February.
An examination of the records in
the county clerks Office showed that
on February II, 1891, there had been
recorded deed from Pate to John
Greathouse transferring lot No. 7, sub
division of block 50, division E, 46x12S
feet on Brazos street for the sum of
500 cash, note for $500 and the a.
of two vendors lien notes
for $475.
A glance will show that the two
transfers noted above call for the same
and it does not require an
of legal talent to see that
somebody is in the soup.
HE RAISES THE WIND.
1t has also developed that Mr.. Pate.
is guilty OF other transactions that
are going to cause much trouble.
Some time ago he built house for
4 gentleman south of town, and az
part payment received note for
$40 secured by mechanics lien.
He took the note to bank and had
It discounted. He informed the gem
eman and his wife of this and thew
nave been paying up the amount to
'he bank and made final settlement
some weeks ago, the note being due
On about the 18th of March.
Along about that time the gentle
man and his wife were astonis6ed to
receive a notification from another
bank that they held Their note given
to Pate for $448 and that it was due.
They at once investig gated, and GO
ng to the bank were shown the note
md they very promptly declared, it g
'aid, that their names were forgeries.
BOGUS CHECKS.
1t also develops that Pate had been
n the habit of paying his laborers by
checks upon a bank, and number
If them were never honored and the
aborers are still without their paw.
Many of them were given after bank
ng hours, and in some instances the
holders lave gone and secured money
IN them or paid small bills to owing
merchants, receiving change when the
dill did not amount to the face value
IF the check.
Altogether j. F. Pate has been do
ng some slick work in this city, and
here are a number of persons who
would like to learn OF his where