The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-08-17

"PrOcess" by Bunco Steerers ana APP
p.rently Little Shy, is Robbed OF
$6,OOO-Barn Set Afirc to Make the OPP
pOrtunity-An Extraordinary Case.
A very rank case of bunco has just come to
light at Putney. Saturday morning stranger
drove into Dennison Davis yard and rep
resented himself as Mr.. Joslin, son of a
banker of Keene,N H., and soon engaged Mr..
Davis in conversation in regard to the sale
of Mr. Davis farm. He also convinced Mr..
Davis that he was well and personally ac-
quainted with him and also with great ma
jOrity of the good citizens OF
Putney. And then came the old 'put
up" game. BY some art of mesmersim or
hyptonism he got Mr. Davis to agree to go to
Brattleboro with him and draw from the
bank $1,000, which was done the same day Mr.
Davis riding with the stranger. $4,000 Of the
money was borrowed on note which Col
Francis Goodhue signed with him,
but with security. That a man of Den
nison Davis shrewdness, for q genera
ton known to be one of the most capable bus
iness men of the county, should have been
caught by such an old game, one that has
been described time and time again in the
newspapers and one about which the RE-
FORMER gave full details only year ago when
it was played on an Addison county farmer,
is remarkable indeed. The explanation prob
ably is that he is breaking down.
While the two were returning from Brat
tleboro to Pntney, buncoer No 2. appeared,
according to schedule. 1t was near the "Mur-
der Hollow bridge and No 2 had great tale
of woe to tell. Josyln, SO called, claimed to
be friend of the stranger. Apparently Mr..
Davis was too shrewd to let them 'take him
in" in the regulation way, so it developed
during the conversation that the stranger No
must return to Brattleboro at once
to do some telegraphing. So Mr. Davis was
allowed to walk home, distance of some
four miles but he was overtaken after about
mile by Mr. Field and rode with him. Per-
haps the plan was to rob or kidnap him and
was prevented by this. Mr. Davis remembers
encOuntering another stranger on the road,
with long cluster on. The stranger was to
meet Mr. Davis at his home in Putney next
Tuesday when their bargain-what ever it
was-was to be closed up Now comes the
finishing touches.
Wednesday night about eleven o'clock sew
eral people in the village heard team drive
through the village headed toward Mr. Davis,
which Mr. Davis himself heard. There was one,
and some claim two men in the buggy.
At twelve O'Clock Mr. Davis was awakened by
a light shining in his window. Getting up
and looking out. he saw his buildings across
the road from his residence were afre.
Calling the hired man, Mr. Phillips, who had
just then seen the fire himself, they started in
W save Wudu tucy cUulu,dt tuc sdulc tllIt SN-
ing the alarm, but the buildings including
barn, grainery and other outbuildings with
about 30 tons of hay, a steer, hens. etc,
were totally consumed. The were insured
for $500 on the big barn, 5000 on the con-
tents and 5000 on the grainery and contents
perhaps half what they were worth
On returning to the house Mr. Davis
bethOught himself of his money which he had
placed in tin trunk in his room. Upon look
ing in the bureau in the dining room
where he kept it, no box was to
be. found there. His money had taken
wings and gone. He then made an examine
ton of the house and found at one of the rear
windows the screen torn off, the window
raised and a chair beneath it on the outside.
The strangers appearance was brought quite
forcibly to Mr. Davis's mind and he will re-
him as long as he lives. Mr. Davis is
rather reticent about the matter and feels that
he has been made fool Of and buncoed out Of
his hard earned cash. But from various state
ments it IL surniised that the buncoer talked
about buying other farms or other profitable
the money. The strangest part OF the
thing is, that the man who took the money
had to pass within six feet of the watch dog,
which Is considered a model. allowing no one
to enter the yard without barking or taking
hold of the intruder. 1t is thought the ami
NAL was drugged or chlorOformed. No doubt
he robbery was committed while Davis and
he rest were at the barn and the fire was set
or that purpose. Every one feels sorry for
Mr.. Davis as he is a man well along in years
md the rascals have taken about all he has.
1t Is thought there is a possible clue. Mes
ages have been sent all over the near states.
Mr.. Davis has before lost large amounts. |
laving twice had his pockets picked, of $500
nd 5000.
There has been gang of horse thieves and
ther disreputable fellows about Putney for
everal months and the townspeople are sure
hat the members of it have something to do
Tsth the fire and robbery.