The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-19
THE GOLD BRICK SWJNDLE.
Bill Parker Run Down by His Victims
and Caught in Atlanta.
TSnecial to News and Courier.

lSpeclal 10 news anu SOuilel.
AUGUsTA, Ga. February l4.-Bill
Parker, the bunco man who defraHded
Messrs J. r. Easterling and r. a.
Weathersbee. of Wiiliston, S. c., out of
S5,DOO by selling them bar of gilded
copper for pure gold, has been arrested.
! He is the man who was arrested Ill
Atlanta yesterday,
The news comes direct from Atlanta,
from Messrs EasterliDg and Weathers-
bee, who went to Atlanta last night to
see if they could identify the man, who
was arrested on the Richmond and
DanviIle train. They wired Chief
Hood, of the Augusta police force,
early this morning: 1--WE have got Bill
Parker" Parker when arrested in At
lanta yesterday, was searched, and he
only had $50 and Smith & NesSon
pistol on him. He was first arrested
on the Air Line train by the conductor,
aud when the train reached thesuburbs
of Atlanta he made an attempt to jump
of. 1t is not known here if Messr-.
Easterling and Weathersbee had got
their 5000 back yet, and what they
propose to do with the bunco man. \
reward of 500 was offered by the inno-
cent gentlemen of Williston, who al
lowed the fakir to play the old gold bug
game off on them, for the arrest OF the
right man.
1t is now question, who is entitled
to the reward, the conductor who made
the arrest on the train, or the Atlanta
police who arrested the man upon the
arrival of the train in Atlanta?
Messrs. r. a. Weathershee and J. r.
Easterling, of Williston. S. c., arrived
tonight from Atlanta with Sergt. Og-
burn, of the Atlanta police force, who
had in charge Bill Parker. He was
identified as the right man on first
sight, but he stoutly defend his identity
until be got on the train this afternoon.
After leaving Atlanta he made clean
sweep to Mr.. Easterling. He admitted
having perpertrated the fake game
with the aid Of four confederates, and
expressed his regret at having con-
nected himself with the imposition. He
saws at Aiken, before the money was
paid him, he hesitated whether to carry
The fake out or end it, and tossed heads
and tails to see which he should do,
and the eagle bird fell, which decided
that he should carry out his fake game.
He told Mr.. Easterling that if he was
allowed to telegraph his confederates
he would have the money brought back
by one of his pals. That opportunity
has not been given Parker yet. He was
committed to jail here to night and
will remain there until Monday, or
later. until Sergt. Ogburn is paid his
s., 900 reward. Then he will be carried
to Barnwell, where he will be prose
cuted. The Williston gentlemen feel
greatly relieved. They are satisfied
that they will get their money back.
Parker is a man about six feet: heavy
built with curly hair, full sandy beard,
and wears a new slouch hat. He looks
like simple farmer, unsuspecting in
appearance, but he is a consulnmate vii
lian, sharp as briar, and an old hand
at the game.
HOPE TO RECOVER THEIR MONEY.
AUGUSTA, February 15.-Wm Par
ker, the bunco man, is still in Jail. This
morning a warrant charging him with
grand larceny and receiving money
Under false pretences was issued against
1llIl ny lTldl y uCllCc 11Clil oStHSid VI
Aiken County, in Hamburg, and was
served on the prisoner in Jail.
Messrs. Weathersbee and Kennedy,
of Williston, have not yet got their
$1,000 back, but they are greatly re-
lieved at having captured the right
man, and are satisfied that they will
recover their loss. Parker is not very
communicative, He will be kept in
Augusta a day or two in hopes Of
getting that $1,000 back before he is
carried to Barnwel, where he will be
prosecuted in the Courts.
THE BUNCo MANTAKEN TO AIKEN.
AUGUSTA, Feb. 14.-Sherif Turner
came to Augusta to-day and carried
VIM. Parker, the bunco man, who de-
frauded Messrs Weathersbee and Ken
nedy, of Williston, out of $1,000 by the
gold brick scheme, to Aiken this after
noon under arequisition. Before taking
the prisoner Sheriff Turner paid Sergt.
Osburn, of Atlanta, the $500 reward
offered for Parker's capture.