The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-19

steamer Midway. He acknowledged him
self duped. 4 message had been received
by him exposing Mitchell. so be decided
to lose DO time in getting back to Bath.
1t was several months ago that Alfred
Mitchell made his appearance in England.
He left San Francisco years ago. but is re-
membered by a number of the old time
sporting men, many OF whom associated
freely with him. He went to the Old Bank
al Bath. transacted a large amount of bust
ness through it, and thus led Mr.. Purdy to
believe that the institutions new customer
was wealthy mining man with large in
teres.s in North America.
Purdy was much Impressed by Mitch
ellis suave manners and clever business
ways. He became better and better ac-
quainted with the alleged miner. and
finally invited him to visit at bis home.
Mitchell told wonderful stories of the
great wealth of Mexico, and said that he
was part owner in the famous San Ber-
tOlO copper mines at Santa Argueda.
Purdy spoke of hard times In Epgland,
and remarked that he would like to secure
some property In the New World, as he
had a son, promising lad of 20, whom he
would like TO have become mining ex-
pert.
Several days later the smooth Califor-
MAN made Purdy proposition.
II think" said he, with an air of SINGER
ity, that l can arrange it so that if you
dRIt6 w luNSSb lew UuDUTGu
pounds in the stock of the San Bertolo I
can get you a position with the company
as its manager. You can agree to take
$4,000 worth of stock. depositing $500 with
me as security"
Mitchell was apparently such a solid
citizen financially. and man of integrity
presumably, that Purdy agreed to 90 in on
the scheme, and was shortly afterward ap-
pointed by forged cablegram to the POSI-
ton of manager Of the vast estates of the
San Bertolo.
The steamer Orinoea was about to sail
from Southampton for Colon, SO il was
arranged that Purdy should resign his
position in the bank. settle up his business
at Bath and join Mitchell on the vessel on
the day that she was billed to sail.
Legal papers were drawn ND by a
lawyer. and Mitchell was paid over $500 in
gold.
Purdy, his wife and son went on board
OF the Orinoca, and watched vainly for the
smooth miner, put-he failed to appear. The
vessel steamed away from port, but still
no Mitchell put in an appearance.
Ihe suspicion that he had been duped
dawned upon the banker after he was
we'll out to sea. On May 30 the Orinoca
arrived at Colon, and Purdy lost no time
ca ding about the country to see whether
Mitchell really had victimized him or lot.
In the meanwhile arrangements were
made to take his family to Santa Argueda,
but the teiegrams soon put stop to his
proposed trip. Mitchell was expos ed, the
San Bertolo did not need a manager, and
the man Mitchell was identified as an old
Western bunko man with a reputation
that stretched from the Golden Gate to
London.
While in San Francisco Mitchell lived
on Fourth street, and again on Stockton,
near Geary. He was considered a clever
card sharp, and was at one time in Interested
In hHrzn ~ IL.
was run in the back room of local hotel.
Alfred James Purdy is described as aa
elderly man. He has a wife and an only
son, both of whom accompanied him to
/ Colon and Panama ard intended living
with him at the mines. The "Old Bank
Is one of the best-known Institutions in
Bath, England, and has been established
for nearly sixty years