Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-19
PAINTERS FAIRY STORY.
HOW HE MADE A GOLD DOLLAR SHOW
THREE TIMES ITS VALUE.

Baltimore History of the Man Who Is Sup
posed to Have Swindled Many Prominent
Englishmen-The Way He Took in Sew
sraI Business Men.
BALTIMORE May ls.-Edward Painter, alias
'Sheeney AL" who was arrested in London
for attempting to swindle q jeweler in that
city by means of the philadelphia stone,"
through which he claimed to increase the
bulk of gold is supposed to be the fellow
who played the same game in Baltimore,
swindling five well-to-do merchants out of
s100, 900.
About five years ago man came to Balti-
more and engaged a suite of rooms in
boarding house on North Charles street.
He called at the office of a real estate agent
named Brigham and introduced himself as
Mr.. Gephart. He said that the agent had
been recommended to him as discreet and
enterprising man, and he desired to secure
his aid in developing a matter that would
surely bring fortune to both of them. He
then unfolded his scheme of increasing the
bulk of gold, and assured the agent that he
did not wish him to invest dollar until all
doubt had been removed from his mind of
the ability of Gephart to do all he claimed.
He invited the agent to call at his rooms on
Charles street, when he would substantiate
his claim by practical tests. The agent ac-
companied him and gave Gephart gold
dollar with which to make the first expert
ment.
This dollar was placed in small crucible,
and white powder was added by Gephart.
The two men took turns at blowpipe, in
creasing the heat in the crucible until the
gold was melted and mixed with the chemi-
cal. 1t was then allowed to cool after which
Gephart took it out and gave it to the agent
and told him to send it to the United States
Mint to be assayed and recoined The mint
officials returned q report showing three
times the amount of gold that was put into
the crucible. The same tests with larger
amounts we're continued and always with
the same result. The result was that Brig
ham was convinced of the value of Gepharts
secret and introduced Gephart to several
wealthy citizens with the view of enlisting
them in the enterprise. The same tests were
made before them and they too became con-
vinced of Gephart's ability to increase the
bulk of gold.
A stock company was formed and the
basement of the house of one of the men in
terested was selected as the place of opera.
tion. This was fitted up with furnace and
iron vats about the size of an ordinary bath
tub One of the gold increasing company
furnished about $50, 900 in gold, and the other
four about $1,000 each. They were to share
ence of the whole party Gephart apparently
put all this gold into one of the watts and
placed 1t on the fire. He then put in
quantity of the powder and other chemicals.
In doing this, however, he declined to per-
nit any of the party to approach the vat,
saying that the fumes of the chemicals would
overpower anyone not prepared to resist
them. A top was put on the vat, and at the
suggestion of Gephart extra strong locks
were fastened on the watts. The same pre-.
cautions were taken with the door of the
basement The keys were given to the gen
tleman in whose house the experiment
was being tried. Gephart said that the vats
must not be opened for three weeks.
After remaining about the city for several
days Gephart said he was called to a distant
city on business, but would return on the
day appointed for taking out the gold. He
did not come as promised. The real estate
agent became suspicious and persuaded the
to the cellar and upon opening the vat found
the gold had all disappeared, while in its
place was lot of rocks and scrap iron. The
me- were dumbfounded. The cellar had
been entered surreptitiously and the gold
removed,