The Republican journal., 1892-02-11
Encounters with Confidence Men.

The Boston Globe of Thursday last con
tanned the following:
Another stranger was taken in in this city
by the festive bunco steerer and confidence
man. Daniel w. Thomas, of Belfast, Me-,
left his native heath few days ago to visit
the Club" Mr.. Thomas, who, by the way,
is 60 years of age, brought with him we'll
filled wallet, but it is lighter now by many
dollars. At $50 last night Mr.. Thomas
tered the Eastern depot, on Causeway ST.,
for the purpose of taking the Pullman for
his home in the Pine Tree State. In the
station he met a well-dressed man, who had
every appearance of gentleman, and was
soon in a confidential frame of mind with
him. Just previous to the starting of the
train Mr.. Thomas new-found friend said
that he had bill to pay and a small pur-
chase to make. Could not Mr.. Thomas
oblige him with the loan of 800? He could
give him a check for $3.50 as security until
they could get it cashed. Mr. Thomas could
and did advance the 500. Now he wishes
he had not been so hasty in giving money to
a stranger, even on so large, apparently, Sc
curity. The man left the station, and he
failed to return to redeem his check or to
take the train. Mr.. Thomas wendell his
way sorrowfully to station 3, where he m
folded his tale of Woe to sympathetic ears.
He declined to 90 out with an officer to
search for his whilom friend but retraced
his steps to the depot to take IA later train
loi his nome. ne carried WlCl MN the tHeck
for $3.50 as a souvenir Of his trip to the Mod
ern Athens.
No such a person as Daniel w. Thomas
lives in Belfast. Possibly he may be a resi-
dent of one Of the neighhoring towns and
have bought ticket for Belfast
The above story will 20 well with an ex-
perience Henry O. Dodge, of Belfast, had
with two sharpers recently in New York. A
man refined up alongside the walk as Dodge
was trudging along with heavy vaise, and
said; "You are from the country" eyes,"
replied Dodge. "You are just the man l am
looking for, said the stranger ''Get in
here"
Henry got into the team and was driven
to stable. The man explained that he had
horse belonging to a rich lady who wanted
the animal boarded in the country, and
would pay handsome sum for the same.
eff you can sell the horse, said the stranger,
"do so; tie price is $500, and it is bargain"
While they We're talking stranger number
two came along and wanted to buy the
horse, but No, l would not sell to him. No.
took Mr.. Dodge one side and said: "Now
l want that horse, but he will not sell him.
to me. Here $500: go and buy the horse
and [ Will meet you at corner below and
will give YOU SIS for doing the business
Henry would buy the horse, but stranger
No. | said: 81 heard your conversations
now don't want that mans money | don't
want anything to do with him. If Won have
500 | will sell the horse to yuu." No.
then advised Henry to buy and he would
meet him at the corner below and take the
anmal and give him $50 for tile bargain.
Dodge did not have the money with linn,
and would not have taken thu halt for he
caught ON to the racket
When he left them it was with the Under
standing that he would return the next
week with the money and would telegraph
his departure.
This horse trick is as old as the check
game by which Thomas was victilnzed, and
botf have been ventilated in the newspapers
hundreds of times.