Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-27
BOGUS BURIED GOLD.
A BunkO Scheme Is Too Finely
Worked to Succeed on q Farmer.
HE TALE OF A SHAM DETECTIVE.
He Unearths Shining Metal Before the
COuntryman's Eyes.
TRIES TO SECURE HIS VICTIMS NOTE

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.I
LIMA, June 26.-LeYi DeLong, one Of
the wealthiest farmers in this county, was
the victim chosen for sleek bunko scheme.
A few days ago a stranger representing
himself as being a detective from Cincin-
natl called at farmer belongs in Showner
township and asked for his supper. He
was accommodated, and during the meal the
stranger unfolded tale that would make
the author of the Arabian Nights turn over
in his grave
The substance of his story was that he was
detective employed in the United States
Secret Service, with headquarters in Gin
einnati. Several years ago thieves had
stolen a lot of molten gold in New York
and made their escape West Detectives
were put upon their track, and they were
chased to near Hume. There they discoy-
cred the detectives were close at their heels,
so they decided to bury their stolen treasure
and separate.
A Tale of Troubled Conscience.
He was assigned to the case, and after
years hunt he had discovered that two of
the men were murdered in a saloon row and
two had been drowned. The fifth one he
had followed, and, finally locating him, had
been compelled to shoot him in order to
save his own life. The thief lived few
hours after the encounter, and during that
time his conscience troubled him, so he sent
for the detective and Just before his death
gave to him a copper plate upon which was
engraved, "Levi DeLong, Hume and
lot of figures, and said the plate would tell
where the stolen gold was hidden, near
cross road running by Mr.. belongs
The alleged detective left and returned
in few days with the mysterious figures
solved. He then took DeLong to point
on his farm several hundred feet from the
road. The directions were followed, and
after several inches of dirt had been turned
aside, mass of gold was disclosed to view.
The gold was carefully gathered up and
taken to Mr.. belongs and weighed with
the steelyards. There were 13 pounds of
the precious metal
.Now," said the detective, eve have got
the elephant, what will we do with him?''
The Farmer Refuses.
Then he began reducing pounds to penny
weights, and soon announced that the find
was worth 50, 900, but that he would sell his
part of the days work for 81 ,0OO DeLong
was about to agree to the proposition when
the stranger spoke up and said that he was
afraid to carry 50 much wealth on his per-
son, and that he would take Mr.. De
Longs note for $1,000 on long
time This made DeLong sus-
picious. He. informed the detective that
he guessed" he didn't care to invest.
Though invited to stay for dinner, the de-
tective refused to remain longer, and tax
ing his half of the 13 pounds started toward
Hume, where he had hired horse, which
has not yet been returned.
This morning Mr.. DeLong came to Lima
and took samples of the "gold'' left him
six pounds-to the different jewellers, all of
whom tested it and pronounced it spurious,
though an excellent imitation, and one apt
to deceive those unfamiliar with the gen.
uine.