The herald., 1893-01-31
THE CONTENTS Of A TIN BOX,
Rancher Weibking Pays $500
for Three Pebbles.
Three Smart Bunco Men Work an
Old Dodge to Perfection.
The Louisiana Lottery swIndle Fools
Gullible Man in the Old Fash-
ion-The swindlers Esoape
with the Money.

For more than year past three
thieves have been plying a confidence
game in this state and in the northwest
known as the Louisiana lottery drawing.
1t has been played in all the princiual
towns throughout the coast, and so
thoroughly exposed that it ia almost in
credible that man with ordinary busi-
ness capacity should be swindled bv r..
Two men call upon farmer for this
purpose of purchasing his land. Whila
seeing how the land lays, third man
ls meta confederate of the two, He
incidentally mentions that he is lot.
terry agent, and finally an impromptu
drawing is had. One of the confederates
wins small amount of money; then
the farmer wins small amount-for the
purpose OF encouraging him. Another
ticket ls drawn, and the farmer wins
$lO0O-according to the ticket. The
farmer is told that the $1,000 will not be
paid to him unless he shows that he
possesses an equal amount. This ia
ridiculous, as under no circumstances
could the farmer lose more than the
price OF his lottery ticket-if it were
really lottery. The bunco man puts
$1,000, which the farmer has won. in the
tin box, called his lottery bank. If the
victim has not $1,000, one of the confeder-
atef accompanies him to bank, where
he gets the money. The granger puts it
in the box. The box is given him to
hold securely, and at stated time they
are to meet the dealer, show that he has
an amount equal to that won, when it
will be paid to him. The 'scspper" also
has won $500 or $1,000, and is told by the
dealer that he must also put up an equal
amount. He also puts his money into
the box.
They have duplicate boxes, and the
capper hands to the rancher box con-
tanning brown paper, and sometimes
single slip of paper on which is written
what the victim has just learned, "you
are fool"
The ''cspper" has the box containing
all of the money.
When the hour arrives for the meet
ing, the verdant man is the only one
present.
On last Tuesday three confidence
thieves arrived in the city. They had
been at Barstow for about a week, play
ing numerous swindling games upon
wise men from the east, and had thus
stolen about $4,000.
On Wednesday last man who gave
the name of Martin drove out to the
ranch of William Weibking in Univer-
sity township. He gave to the rancher
the usual song and dance about liking
the climate, and finally stated that he
wanted to buy ranch for his sister,
who was coming out for the benefit of
her health.
On last Saturday the two confidence
men drove out, and the fellow calling
himself Martin introduced his compan-
ion as DR.. Wilson.
His sister. however, seemed to be in
good health, as he did not offer to buy
ranch. In few minutes they met
man driving along slowly, admiring the
beautiful scenery, and evidently in
search of his health also.
A conversation followed, and the man
etated that he was agent for the Lcuis-
lana lottery; that he was introducing
the game in this section, but preferred
showing the scheme only to leading
men, 60 that if any prizes were won they
would be in the hands of men of stand
ing.
The hattering remarks took immedi-
ate effect.
The eale Of the ranch and the sisters
health were forgotten in the discussion
of the lottery scheme.
The capper, Martin, purchaseda ticket
which drew SIS. Weibking also drew So,
which was paid him.
The dealer flashed up $1,000 in his tin
lottery box for the next drawing. The
capper and Webbing took another
chance, and the dealer declared that
each had won $500-and burst the
bank.
The rancher's pulse was now at very
high temperature, but he was told that
he must put up $500 before he could
draw down the $500 he had won.
The capper covered the 5000 he had
won with what he called government
bonds.
The rancher did not have the money
Unit him." but would come into town
and get it. The money and bonds were
put in the box, and the capper, Martin
and Wiebking drove into town-.the cap
per carrying the tin box. Fearing that
the rancher would not be able to raise
the $500 very readily, the capper told
him he would lend him 5000, and &C.
cordingly placed 5000 in the box.
Webbing rushed into the First Ma |
tional bank and borrowed $500, which
was placed in the box with the other
money ard bonds.
The capper then handed to the
rancher the other box, saying, keep
this box and money and will keep the
key. We will all meet at room A, up
stairs in this building, at 10 o'clock
Monday, and the money will be paid to
us. Don't lose the box, for you have
my money in it, too"
The rancher spent Sunday in rather
excited state OF mind over the money
he thought he had won and the large
amount entrusted to his keeping. He
guarded the box very closely, and
promptly at 10 O'Clock yesterday he
walked into room No. 4. National Bank
building, with the box under his arm.
He was surprised to find that it was
lawyers Office, and was further sur
prised on being told that no such men
as he described had ever been seen or
heard of in that office.
Believing that some accident had be-
fallen his new acqusintances, and being
anxious to have look at his posses
sions, and thinking that witnesses were
necessary 30 make it an official act, he
took himself and his box to the office of
Chief Glass.
Webbing stated his case, and asked
that the box be opened, as he wished to
take out his own money.
"There is no money in that box," re-
piled the chief.
Detective Bosaui broke open the box
by means of small chisel and counted