Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-08-04

plays the part Of a relative or long ab-
sent friend Of the victim. A stranger
comes to the house Of the unsuspecting
farmer and inquiries about various peo-
pie in the neighbOrhood- He seems to
know everybody and a casual remark
that he formerly lived there makes a
strong impression on the farmer. The
stranger asks to stay over night and IL
accommodated. He makes himselfcOn-
genial by telling stories OF his adven-
lures in the gold region of the West
aud reviving memories OF former days
which gradually let him into the con-
fidence Of the farmer. The next day,
perhaps the stranger talks about the
brick. There IL an Indian who
ACCOMPANIED him from the
far West who has in his possession
brick of gold which the stranger he
lieves the farmer might get for a song,
as the Indian does not appreciate its
value aud Is anxious to turn 1t into
cash. The stranger has no money him
self, but has-been waiting a long time
for an opportunity to let someone into
the secret into the secret that he might
be able to get something out of it. The
stranger says he left the Indian at q
certain place, perhaps ten or fifteen
miles away. They will drive over aud
see the redskin anyway.
Sure enough the farmer finds the In
dian at the spot indicated by the
stranger. They strike up a conversation
with the Indian who pretends to be
very ignorant and talks very little
English. He is asked about the brick
and points out spotin field where
he has buried it for safe keeping. The
stranger claims the brick is worth $685.
000 and offers the Indian $4,000 or S6OO0
for it. The stranger relieves all fears
AS to the genuinss of the metal by
stating they will take the brick to
U. S. assayer in a neighboring town
who is buying up gold bullion for the
mint. The assayer of course pronounce
it pure gold and gives the exact value
of the brick, which is far gre ter than
the sum which the Indian agrees to
take for it. To test the brick holes are
drilled into it and particles of the metal
are placed in q vial. The confidence
men have a second vial containing
small amount of pure gold which is
adroitly exchanged for the first. AS
the quantity of the genuine metal is
limited the drill is usually broken off
after it has gone so far into the brick
that the quantity of boring will not eX-
ceed the amount of pure gold. The
manipulation of the bottles would he
readily discovered ifthere was any ap-
preciable difference in the bulk of the
article. If the victim chooses he can
have the gold tested by jeweler. AS
a matter of course he is satisfied HIM
self that there is no mistake and he
closes the deal, congratulating himself
that he has done good thing. The
confidence men never accept anything
but cash.
The gold brick operators work eau
tiously and each man plays his part to
perfection, Peter Conlisk Is gentle
manly dressed and would hardly be
taken for a crook. Red Austin, who
worked with him, played the role of
the Indian and is said by those who
have seen him to resemble closely the
swarthv redskin. Red Adams assum-
ed the part of the government assayer.
These gangs always have man WORK
the territory in advance. Usually he
is book agent or commission sales
man. He picks out the suckers and
learns all about his antecedents and
family history, then posts the gang.
Detective John T. Norris has spent
a great deal of time trying to run down
professional confidence men, but with
Door success. There are only limited
number of them and they stick togeth-
er. 1t is said SIS eco was spent in get
, ting Lew Ludlum, alias Carter, out o.
iaiI at Washington c.. Fl. He was taken
to West Virginia. on q bogus warrant
by man who is now employed as
moter man on the Columbus street
t railway. There are twelve confidence
men who represent the cream OF the
profession and for whose arrest they
are altered rewards amounting to $40,
900. The men are Tom O'Brian. Lew
Ludlum, George Post, A. 0. Wood
, Red Adams, Frank Smith, Peter Con
lisk, Red Austin, Johnnie Green
Charles LinneI, Billy Atkins and Clay
Wilson. In the last three years they
are known to have obtained over $500,
900 in various states. Detective Norri
alleges they are under the protection o
the New Police, with whom they
divided.
Tom o. 'Brien is the king ofconfidenc'
men. He is the man who worked th'
land racket on farmer near Circlevill'
in 1887. The land racket is a yer,
clever thing. A man comes along on
; day and offers thefarmer certain pric'
, for his land. After the sale is CLOSED
another man comes along and offers
much larger sum for the land. Th'
farmer asks the first man to release hin
from his bargain. This he does OF
condition that so much cash, $4,000 o.
$4,000 is paid over to him. In his anxi
ETY. to get fabulous price for his land
< the farmer bites. O'Brien with George
! Post and Clay Wilson obtained $1,000
from Ex-Governor Peck, of Wisconsin
on the sale of mythical book concern
in the East. Post is in Jail at Madison
} Wis, awaiting trial. O'Brien was cap
, tured at Albany, N. Y, but forfeited
, SIC, 900 bond and fled to France. There
he was reeaptured, but two gendarme'
, who were left to guard him got drum
ouJ H. o,oonol 70 Su,itgarIanI uhars