Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-26
LOST $500.
INV Two Maine Men Were SwindIed by New
York Counterfeiters.

Several men were talking about counter
feit money AMI coucterfeiters, yesterday,
.nd one related story about as follows ::
.u knew two Maine men, I will not say
where they lived, for believe one is still
On Mother Earth, that were very neatly
rslieved of 5000 by New York counterfeit
ers. They somehow received communi
c,tion from this bogus money firm and
answered it. Then personal letter was
sent to them, portraying what golden
opporiunity' was presented for their immed-
.ate wealth and ending with the statement
that if they would come to New York fur
tber arrangements would be perfected. By
d.posing of some collateral they were able
+, raise sufficient funds to pay their ex-
nanses to the American metropolis and re-
mrn, leaving enough to invest 5000 10 the
b,2us money. In the mean time, they had
receiyed letter from the New Workers,
explaining il detail various circumstances,
and in the letter were two blue ribbons,
which they were to attach to the button
holes of their coats when the city was
reached. The hotel at which they were to
stop was specified in the letter.
Complete arrangements had been
made and on bright Sept mber
morning they left the Pine Tree
State for the abode Of the
swinders. Arriving in New York they
went to the hotel named, and, after having
rooms assigned, went to the smoking room
to enjoy cigar, and chat about what had
been seen on their initial visit to Americas
great city. They had been there but short
time when in came a man, wearing silk
hat and in fact fashionably dressed. In
the buttonhole of his coat was little blue
ribbon. lie approached them AMI made
himself acquainted by calling their atten-
ton to it. After short conversation an
invitation was extended to them to go to
his office, and they did SO. When this was
reached they had specimens of the money
displayed to them, which they readily agreed
was exactly similar to the genuine A close
bargain was driven and they were to receive
$4,000 for the $500. After returning to the
hotel and paying bills, etc, they came back,
paid over the money and little satchel
marked $1,000 was taken from drawer and
they believed packed with that amount of
the purchased money"
Zone of the men in the office said that as
many snatch thieves were on the alert in
the city he would go to the boat with them
and thus avoid any trouble. This was
agreed upon and after a farewell to all the
three left for the wharf. OF all the by
ways and alleyways they went through it
was hard to tell, but finally the destination
was reached. The man who accom- panied
them was a genial, pleasant sort of
man and easily won the good will
of the Maine men. He was
kind enough to show them all over the ele-
CANT steamer and had just completed this
when the captain called, "planks ia" He
babe them adieu and was soon on shore.
homeward bound-to share the boo lie.
The next move for the wealthy" men was
to procure stateroom. A large crowd was
aboard and this took some time. When at
last they entered the little apartne mt and
locked the door, hats were laid asi lie and
they shook hands, Now the climax came.
The little treasure was opened and there,
pleasant hope was turned into bitter 1isap-
pointment. The satchel that bore the mark
$4,000" was empty. New York shore was
far behind. They were at sea. They con-
cluded to never say word about it, and re-
turned to Maine. But years afterward one
of them related the story"