New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-07-08
CLEVER CONFIDENCE GAME.
Three Strangers Try Sharp Scheme on a
New Ulm man, but Fail of their
Purpose. ......
The Gold Brick Figures Largely in the At
tempted Confidence Deal.

AAo S,oAN oA1Sh usao p1ayou oil ILL upOI u
ant part in the history Of confidence
games, but not many days ago it was
made the instrument in the hands of
three men of as cleYer scheme as has
ever come to our notice. A New Ulm
business man is connected with the
story, and his recital of the facts are
wonderfully interesting.
AS the business man referred to was
behind the counter of bis store one af-
ternoon, a stranger entered who had ev-
cry appearance of being Mexican.
His dress WAS true to the costumes of
our southern nelghbors, and the accent
of his language was typical of one who
had only learned enough of the English
tongue to make himself fairly we'll un-
derstood. Asking the merchant his
name, he stated that he had worked for
person Of the same name who owned
large mines in New Mexico. He then
added that his employer had died sud-
denly, and, as he himself was left in
trust of much of his property and some
important secrets, he was anxious to
find out the whereabouts of his employ.
er's relatives. He had gone first to st.
Louis, where he had learned that man
of the same name lived, but being
convinced that the St. Louis fellow was
not the right Individual, he had come
on to New Ulm. Producing a pocket
book containing a good deal of money
and some gold nuggets, he handed the
business man a sealed letter, addressed
to the latter. Opening the letter at the
Mexican's S request, the interested, yet
suspecting, New Ulmite, read the con-
tents, which were to the effect that the
bearer had valuable secrets to tell to
the brother of his dead employer. The
note was signed by the St. Louis man,
who further stated that he had endeav-
ored to get the Mexican 10 reveal the
secrets but without success, adding that
he thought, that, if the one to whom the
letter was addressed was shrewd, he
might obtain soAe important informa-
ton. The peculiar tone of the letter
gave rise to suspicion with the business
man, but he was determined to learn
what he could at all events. He there
fore told the Mexican that he could be
trusted, and desired to know what he
should do. The Mexican hesitated at
first, but later on consented to tell the
New Ulmite all, if he would accompany
him to Mankato, where he said he had
something in charge of an Indian which
would constitute an important revela-
lation. The New Ulm man was loath
to do this, but, impressed somewhat
with the Mexican's earnest manner,
finally yielded and took the train for
the designated station. Arriving there
he was met by the Mexican, and was
taken by him two or three miles from
the city into secreted place in the
country. There the Mexican said the
Indian had hid the treasures, and as
the red-skin was nowhere in sight he
began to call aloud for him in the In
dian language. In very short time,
the desired party appeared over the
brow of low hill, but halted at con.
siderable distance from the Mexican
and his companion. The former ap-
preached him, and after short con-
versation in the Indians native tongue,
the Mexican returned and pointed out
the place where the treasure was COM
cealed. Digging up the earth, the gre
was revealed what appeared to De a
gold brick, which the Mexican said was
worth at least $4,000.
After stating that the brick was owned
partly by the Indian who might perhaps
be induced to part with it, the Mexican
urged his companion to endeavor to buy
out the Indians share, if possible, and
together they would take it to the
government mint and dispose of it
with immense profit. He then drilled
into the brick and extracted enough
dust to make good-sized nugget
which they decided to take to Mankato
to have it tested as tc quality. By queer
arrangement of circumstances a govern
ment assayer happened to be at the
Clifton Hotel that day, and by him the
gold was pronounced of the finest quail
ity.
Then came the New Ulm mans turn.
He arranged with the Mexican to re-
turn to New Ulm to secure the necess.
ary money, but upon meeting him the
next day said that he had made the mis-
take Of getting draft instead of cash,
and as the Indian would not be apt to