The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-12-24
THREE CARD MONTE.
Two Sharpprs Fleece Har-
mon Schrivtr Ot Massillon
Out Of $500 by a Very Old
Game.
The Trick Worked on the Msssil-
lon Road at Genoa.

lon Road at Genoa.
Harmon Schiivrr, one of the wealthiest
men in Stark county, was yesterday ileeC.
Ell out of $500 10y two buukO men ou the
road between Canton and Massillon, The
manner in which the scheme was worked
shows clearly that the operators are well
up in the business, and fully understand
the work in hand. Tue particulars in the
case again illustrate the fact that itwouid
pay wealthy men to read the newspapers
and keep posted on what is going on. In
this case IL would have ueen Impossible
for the victim 70 have read the newspa-
pers, as he can neither read or write, yet
he could have hired a private secretary
TO attend to his business, and even by
paying the secret ,ry a far salary, sttIi
had "A nice sum sGt out Of the $500.
The victim is well knowu iu H&s5iliOn
and in fact in all parts Of the comfy. His
wealth is estimated at Si5JOJO, and the
$500 will uUJ make much Of h mole III his
pile. MIR. Schriver ~ nearlysJ years OF age
aud lives with MS wife and family just in.
side Of the Mass.Uon corporations, in
South Erie street, While pcs ssing great
wealth he is very Close, and looks car,-
fully after every penny. Il Is surprise
to his friends mat uv sDulG be 'uGGut ny
such u game, and all who kuC" him say
that lie must have Cuueiuercu tuat he had
u
speculation.
HOW 1T WAS WORKED.
Mr.. Schriver lives just inside of the
MassillOn corporation on south Erie
street. His place contains about 10 acres
Yesterday morning young man, with
smooth face and a little taller than the
general run OF people. drove up 10 his
house and inquired for Ne. Schriver. The
man who visited Mr.. Schriver was we'll
dressed and said he WAS cashier of an
Alliance bank, and that his father.
in-law was president Of the bank.
The young man desired TO purchase
farm, and looked over Mr..
Schriver's premises. He was we'll
pleased with tho location and said he de-.
sired to pay cash for the place that he
purchased. This Just suited Mr.. SChriver
and he was auX Gus TO please the young
man, The iuteuded purchaser gave his
name, but Mr.. SCbrivcr does not now Rp.
pear to remember 1t. The only fault that
he found with the place was luat 1t was
too small. The stranger suggested that
perhaps he could purchase q piece OIL OF
some of the adjoiutug fGrms and thus
make the place as large as he desired.
This idea struck Mr., SChrIver very for
chilly and he suggested that they visit
Mr.. Jarvis, who lived pear 10y and see
if he could be induced to dispose of a por-
tion OF his farm. The stranger was willing
20 do this. Mr.. Schrivsr aud the pur-
chaser got into the stranger buggy aud
started for MIR. Jarvis place.
On the road they met "A young man,
with a smooth face, who was walking.
The man on the road Inquired the way TO
Canton, Mr.. Schrver inquired where he
had came from, and the man said that he
started TO walk from Navarro to Canton.
Mr.. Schriver told him that he should
have turned off quite a way back on the
road but that now it would ne best for
him to go on to Massillon, and then turn
to the right, taking the straight road to
Canton. Tne place where the meeting
took place was near the cemetery.
The stranger who was walking entered
dnte a general conversation with the peo.
pile in the buggy and finally displayed a
big roH OF bills. Shortly afterwards he
produced three cards and proceeded to
explain the mysteries of three
card monte. The bank cashier
told Mr.. Schrivsr that he did not
believe in gambling, but the old gentle
man was deeply Interested and wanted to
watch the game. The stranger wanted to
bet any amount that neither ofthe people
in the buggy could pick out certain card.
The occupants OF the buggy thought they
had sure thing on picking the card as
there was a corner turned up on the par
ticular card. This is what is called a
t'sure thing and Mr.. Schriyer thought he
saw an excellent chance to add 5000 TO
his already large bank account. lie told
the cashier that he did not believe in
gambling, but as the young man
was so anxious to lose his
money he thought he might as well learn
the fresh youngster dear lesson, win his
money and then give it to the poor.
Mr.. Shriver and his friend, the bank
cashier started for Massillon, to get the
money. 1t is not known just how the
place of meeting was arranged, but it is
evident that such an arrangement was
made. At.Massillon II was impossible 10
get the money. The people At the banks
thought all was not right and accordingly
said they did not have the money.
A. the Frs: National bank
Mr.. Schriver received certificate OF
deposit for 5000 and at the Merchants
National certificate for $500. Armed
with these documents and accompanied
by his friend, the Alliance bank cashier,
he started for Canton to get them cashed.
of Geo. D. Harter & Bro, in East Tuscar-
awas street. There was some trouble in
g Ting his paper cashed and Mr.. Schriver
t,eoame highly indignant. He knew he
'"rS worth large sum OF money and was
: rprised he could not get $500
v.'tuOut so much trouble. He finally OBJ
famed the money and started out TO find
h ! Alliance friend. He didn't have much
trouble in finding him, and together they
started for Massillon.
When near Genoa, which is about half
way between Canton and Massillon, they
again met the young man with the cards
and the big roll of money. This was just
what they wanted and the game waa
resumed. Finally il came time 10
put up the money and Mr.. Schriver
counted out his $500. The young
man who was on foot did the same. Both
put their money in tin box which was
closed and secured with a spring lock. II
was agreed that whoever won was to TAX e
the box. This was held by the bank
cashier. The cards were turned and MIR.
Schriver won. he then made some ex-
cuse, saying he had to return to Canton.
Mr.. Schrivcr got out Of the buggy and the
cashier started toward Canton. This did
not worry Mr.. Schriver, as he had the
box which contained the 81 900. He had
made clean S., 800 and started to walk t.
Massillon. He became tired and finally
concluded that as he had made so much
money he would hire a farmer to take
him home. This he did, keeping care
full watch all the time on his little tin boXi
which as he supposed contained the Sll,-
900. On reaching home he con
cluded TO invite in some OF Lis
friends, to see him open the
would display when they discovered how
much money he had made in one day,
When told Of the transaction some of
his friends were fearful that the box
might contain dynamite. 1t was decided
20 call in Marshal Thomas Hagan for
protection, in case there should
0e dynamite in the box. That official
readily consented to be present as he bad
no fears of dynamite, and was positive
that there was no money in the little tin
box.
The box was opened by II. Edward Sny.
der, q relative, and It was found to con-
tain a Jumping jack such as
greatly amuses the children about
Christmas time, dime novel and a
lot OF old papers. Old Mr.. SchriYeris face