The morning call., 1891-01-05
THE BUNKO KING.
Notorious Frank Pine Dies in New York
City

Notorious Frank Pine Dies in New York
City.
Chief Deitsch yesterday received informa-
ton, says the Cincinnati Enquirer, that
Frank Pine, the notorious bunko man and
mining shark, who in his time pulled the
wool over the eyes of the Prince of Wales.
is dead Pine died recently insNew York
under the name of belmont, and while en-
gineering $50, 0GO deal in Colorado mines
in district where no ore had ever been
produced. He almost had the first $4,000
IN his hand when the disease which baffled
the physicians, enlargement of the spleen,
CARRIED HIM AWAY.
Pine, said Colonel Deitsch last evening,
was the smoothest confidence man that this
country ever produced. Sixteen years ago
In Denver, he disposed of over dozen gold
bricks for various sums inside of eight
months. The biggest deal he ever entered
into. and the boldest, was the planning and
carrying out of the S21. coo robbery of Presi-
dent M0tfat, a Denver banker.
He obtained the money in manner that
has just come 10 light After Muifat had
given the money to the thief. which be de-
posted In his overcoat pocket, he had hardly
stepped outside the door when The oyercoat
was passed to another man who abstracted
the money. He in turn passed the coat to
a thlTd party. The money was then done
up ID jewelry box and expressed to Kan
sas CITY. The money was divided there
among four men.
PINE GETTING THE LIONS SHARE
Pine then came TO Cincinnati, where he
met two or three people whom he took to
Baltimore, and then turned few small
tricks. There being no conspiracy law in
Mary land he was safe in doing this. He
came to Cincinnati the first time about eight
years ago. after fleeing an old Connecticut
banker out of $500 on gold-brck fake.
Cincinnati was his headquarters under an
assumed name, and all his mail came to this
city until he sold William w. Brewster of
Kansas City, an imaginary gold mine in
Arizona for $4,000 last May. The trick
having been turned in Maryland, however,
nothing was done with HIM.
Frank Pine has sold more carloads of
worthless rock for valuable ore than any
man living. He made sale twelve wears
ago To al EngiShman, and in order to do so
HE WENT TO LONDON,
Became acquainted with the Prince of
Wales, hobuobbed with him at fashionable
club and fieeced his victim out of h20OO. He
knew more than any man about Moffat's
Bank robbery, but died with a secret on his
lips.
A detective agency got hold of him cnce
about six or eight months ago, but dropped
him IKE hot brick. When he left Denver
five months ago lat the time when his physi-
clan said he could not live, he arose from his
bed, walked to the Markham Hotel and sold
5000 worth Of real estate in West Denver.
which he never owned or expected to own.
be was king of confidence men, beside
whom Doc Baggs sinks into insignifi-
cance. When he died in New York he was
in company with men named Shay and
Weston. Weston was one OF his old-tme
partners, and is presumed to be the man
who accompanied him on his trip to London
twelve years ago.
Now that Pine is dead and bis terrifying
influence buried with him, that woman in
Kansas City, who is supposed to have re-
celved the money, may confess. Ithas been
squandered anyhow. and there is S250o in it
for her II She openS her mnnth