, 1891-05-27
GEPHART'S BOLD GAME
ULI INIT UUEU UH Z.
Pretends That He Can Make
Gold From Chemicals.
BaltimOreans Beaten Out of
About 100000.
Burial, in New York, of a
$50 Pound Woman.

BALTIMORE. May 2b.-lhe cable de-
spatches which have recently announced
that several noted people had been swim
died by a fellow named Pinter, who pre-
tended that he could take a certain
amount of gold and, by the addition of
certain cheap chemicals and a hot fire,
produce three times the original amount
OF gold, recall the operations OF the same
pretender in this country. This city was
the scene of one of Pinter's most success
full confidence games. He conducted his
game here under the name Of Gephart,
and his net gains while here were in the
near neighborhOod OF 100000. nccame
here about three years ago and enlisted
the interest OF five well TODD and well
known business men. BY agreement be-
tween the victims the story has until now
keen kept a secret. Yesterday one Of
the BaltimorCans told the story to your
correspondent with the understanding
that the names OF those concerned should
not be mentioned. Gephart first called
upon a well known real estate man. and.
introducing himself, said that he desired
his aid in developing a matter which
WIN hAAtA bAAhEa AbAAulE " luEm NlIn.
He then unfolded his scheme Of lncreas
ing the bulk OF gold, aud assured the
agent that he did not wish him to invest
a dollar in the enterprise until all doubt
had been 0 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 sub
stantiate his claim by practical tests. The
agent accompanied BIN, and gave Gen
hart a gold dollar with which to make the
first experiment This dollar was placed
in a small crucible and a white powder
was added by Gepbart. The two men
took turns at a blOwpipe ia increasing the
heat in the crucible until the gold was
melted and mixed with the chemical. 1t
was then allowed to cool, after which Gen.
hart took 1t out, gave it to the agent and
told him to send 1t to the United States
mint TO be assayed aud recoined. The
mint officials returned a report showing
three tunes the amount OF gold that was
put into the cruciblc. The same tests
with larger amounts were continued. and
always with the same result. The real es-
tate agent became convinced of the value
OF Gephart S secret and. lured on by the
prospect Of an easy and early fortune, he
introduced GeDhart to several wealthy
NAN'1NeNs "ANH ~ Nith u NullElauE IUGm
in the enterprise. The same tests were
made before them. and they. too. became
convinced Of Gephart's ability to increase
the bulk of gold. So certain were they
OF the truth and value of Gephart's dis
cOvery that they decided to invest $780,
900 in the scheme as a starter"
One OF the gold increasing company
furnished about $4,000 in gold and the
other four abolt $4,000 each. They
were 10 share propoTtionately in the
profits. In the presence of the whole
party Gephart apparently put all this gold
into one Of the watts and put il on the
fire. He theD put in a quantity of the
powder and other chemicals. In doing
this, however, he declined to permit any
Of the party to approach the vat, saying
that the fumes of the chemicals would
overcome anyone not prepared to resist
them. Il top was put on the vat. and at
the suggestion of Gephart extra strong
locks were procured and the vat was
securely fastened with them. The same
precautions were taken with the door Of
the basement. The keys were given to
the gentleman in whose house the expert.
ment was being tried. Gcphart said the
vat must not be opened for three weeks.
After remaining about the city for sew
cral days Gephart said he was called TO a
distant city on business. but would return
on the day appointed for taking out the
gold. The party OF investors still had no
suspicion, and Gephart left. When the
time elapsed he did not return, still none
OF the party went near the vat. Three
DAYS more passed aud he did not come. as
promised. The real estate agent then be-
came suspicious. and finally persuaded the
party to make an investigation. They
went to the cellar. and upon opening the
vat found the gold had all disappeared.
while in its place was a lot of rocks and
old scrap iron. The men were dumb
founded.
A consultation between the swindled
ones. resulted in the placing Of detectives
upon the trail of the swindler, but he was
never captured.