Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-08-23
swindled Out of $4,000.

lives near Sherwood, on the Northern
Central Railway, was the victim ashort
time ago of what is known as the
"aim-fam" game, by which he lost
$1,000.
A well-dressed man called several
times on Mr.. Rider, from whom he pre-
tended that he wanted to buy some
land. Finally he called in q buggy
and invited Mr.. Rider to take trip
with him to inspect the property
whose purchase he said he was con-
sidering.
The stranger and Mr.. Rider got in
the buggy and had not got far before
they were accosted by another man.
who afterward turned out to bea pal
of the would-be purchaser. The sec.
ond stranger displayed large rolls OF
what seemed to be greenbacks, when
he carried in basket. He asked the
persons in the buggy if they knew any,
one living in the neighborhood named
Dix. He said he had bought a piece
of property from Mr.. Dix and had
come to pay for it. He was told that
no such person lived in the neighbor-
hood.
SPY the way" said the second
stranger, ''let me show you little
game | learned in Havre de Grace. ="
The man with the basket presented
four pieces of white paper, one OF
which had mark or spot on one side,
He offered to bet so that neither man
in the buggy could tell which one of
the papers contained the spot. The
first stranger said he could do so and
turned up the right piece OF paper.
The SO was readily handed over by
the man with the basket. who said he
was from the bluegrass country and
had plenty of money.
Mr.. Rider was then asked to take a
chance.
mo" said Mr.. Rider, II don't en-
gage in such games"
HJust take one chance for fun the
strangers urged.
Mr.. Rider ventured guess, won and
was handed $40.
81 will bet S5,O00," said the second
stranger to the man who was in the
buggy with Mr.. Rider, that you can't
pick out the right piece of paper next
time"
The first stranger took the bet and
won. Five thousand dollars in the
supposed greenbacks were handed
over to him.
By this time Mr.. Rider became very
much interested. The man with the
basket bet Mr.. Rider again that he could
not pick out the piece of paper contain
ing the spot. The stranger in the bug
gy said to Mr.. Rider;
"Try your luck. We might as well
get this mans money as not. five
don't get it somebody else will. |
know how'to Go it. Turn up the corner
of the piece OF paper containing the
spot"
Mr.. Rider tried ard won and $1,000
were handed over to him from the con-
tents of the basket.
The second stranger seemed to be
growing tired of losing and said
You Yankees up here haven't got
any money. Ii you want to bet any
more show me that you have some
money!
The man with Mr.. Rider seemed
offended at this and put the $1,000 be
had won and large roll Of other bills
in a box which he had with him, to-
gether with the $1,000 Mr.. Rider had
won, but which Mr. Rider said he did
not like to take Mr.. Rider stated that
people in the neighborhood did not car
~ large sums of money with them, but
that they generally had enough to pay
their bills. He added that he would
60 to bank and get some money.
Then the stranger in the buggy drove
Mr.. Rider to Towson, where Mr.. Rider
secured So, 900 from the Towson Bank.
Mr.. Rider had 81 900 in bank and the
other $1,000 he raised by having his
note discounted. He and his compan-
ion rode back and met the second
stranger.
"Now," said the stranger in the bug
gy to Mr.. Rider, ''put your S3,O00in the
box along with what we have won and
I will drive this man we have met to
town and send him home, for he ought
not to be travelling around the country
with so much money"
Mr.. Rider consented to the proposal.
1t was agreed that he should keep the
box until o'clock in the evening, when
the stranger in the buggy said he would
return and complete his negotiations for
Mr.. Riders property. He stated that
he would lock the box and keep the
KEY and that Mr.. Rider could take
home the box, with its contents.
This Mr.. Rider concluded to do and
climbed out of the buggy about half
mile from his home. He took the box
home with him. The man who was to
divide with him the contents of the box
and purchase his property did not re-
turn, as promised.
Mr.. Rider kept the box about two
weeks and then forced it open. 1t was
found to contain nothing but piece OF
wood wrapped up in papar.
He believes that the two strangers alb
stracted the money from the box while
he was getting out of the buggy. He
has heard nothing since from either Of
the strangers.-Bdlt. Sun.
China Will Retaliatc.