The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-05

1t sometimes happens in the lives of
the most skilled of swindlers that they
mistake their men. Such a thing hap
penned in a spider and fly game at
tempted at the American house Friday
afternoon about 5 o'clock. At that hour
the people in the hotel lobby were
startled by two men running down the
stairs and out into the street, one in
rapid pursuit of the other II was an
uncommon occurrence for this quiet ho-
tel. and thereby hangs a tale.
Not very long ago a farmer living
near Brooklyn village corresponded with
a green goods man of New York City.
The latter came to Cleveland and the
farmer paid him $500 for what he sup
posed was $500 counterfeit money. The
swindle is an old one. The green goods"
man counted out $500 in good new
bank notes, which the farmer supposed
were the counterfeits that would defy
detection. The money was then put in
a box, the attention of the farmer was
diverted and a simple trick substituted
a box containing a wad OF green paper
for the precious bank notes. When the
farmer reached home and examined the
package he Of course discovered the
swindle. Owing to the fact that he at
tempted TO buy counterfeit money he
and his frihds are studiously concealing
his name.
The farmer was enraged and resolved
to be revenged. He told his friends, and
two men who heard of it-Edward Gates
and Mr.. Ord of Brooklyn village
planned to trap the green goods" sharp
ers. They entered into correspondence
with the green goods agent. and it
was arranged that they would meet him
a { the American house on Friday. With
the green goods" agent came a bunco
companion and one of them registered
at the hotel as William Jackson. Gates
and Ord met the men at the hotel. One
Of the agents remained on the sidewalk
in front of the hotel with Ord to prevent
him from engaging in conversation with
any one, and the other accompanied
Gates to a room in the hotel. AS they
started up stairs the bunco man asked
Gates:
Have you got your $5OG?''
Gates said yes, and showed the agent
a roll of bills which he held in his hand.
Here's the $780, too replied the
agent, and he let Gates peep into a box
that he carried.
The two men entered the room and
Gates received his instructions. The
counterfeit money would be left in the
boz, and taken to a place of safety, from
where, at a safe and convenient hour,
Gates could get il.
you had better count the money
here on the table" said Gates.
The agent counted cut $500 of as
good money as the eyes of man ever
rested upon. AS the last bill was
stretched on the tempting pile Gates
suddenly drew a revolver from his hip
pocket, levelled it at the head of the
green goods" agent. and, grasping him
with his left hand, exclaimed: L ain a
L. S. detective, and you are my pris-
oner."
There was wild stare in the eyes of
the swindler. Then, with a suddenness
and force that almost threw Gates of
his feet the agent jerked himself loose
and dashed out Of the door. leaving his
$500 lying on the table. Gates went in
pursuit, and the two men tore through
the Railways, down the stairs, into the
lobby below and out on the street The
lady guests were frightened, and the
gentlemen stood looking on in amaze
ment and wonder. The bunco agent
made good his escape, and Gates re-
turned TO the hotel.
In the meantime the companion Of the
agent had disappeared But later in the
evening a man giving the name Of
Mathew Nicholson was arrested at the
hotel on the charge of being a suspicious
person. Ii is thought possible that
Nicholson is the man who registered as
William Jackson. The 81, 500 in money
was locked up in the hotel safe, and will
probably remain there for some time.
Patrolman Bleasdale arrested Nicholson.
The officer refused TO give any infor-
nation. Gates and Ord are highly re-
spected gentlemen, and their only OBJ
ject was TO thwart the swindlers.