The morning call., 1894-10-05
LUST FOR GOLD.
The Brick SWindle Almost
Successful.
John Snyder, a RanCher of Mountain
View, Saves 10000 by the
Merest Accident.

John Snyder, althy rancher OF Noun
tain View, Santa Clara County, was saved
by the merest accident from being victim
10 the extent Of $4,000 of the old-time gold
brick swindle.
On Thursday of last week man dressed
as a miner called at his ranch and intro
duced himself as Mr.. Johnston. He said
he had heard Of Mr.. Snyder's practical eX-
perience as a miner. Ha was a large
shareholder in mine in Arizona, and as
the shareholders were being robbed right
and left he had been deputed TO visit Cali
fornia 10 engage the services OF good
practical man as superintendent. He
asked Snyder 10 accept the position.
Snyder was naturally fattered and said !:
81 amt just as smart as | used to be, but
have a son who is as smart as chain light
ming and he would be the very man for the
place." After some further conversation
it was agreed at MIR. Johnston's suggestion
that they should meet at the Oakland
postoffice on Tuesday morning at O'Clock
to make final arrangements.
Snyder and his son were at the TendeZ-
vous on time and were soon joined by Mr.
Johnston. After talking about the
Arizona mine Tor a few minutes Johnston
took Snyder ST. aside and whispered in his
ear that he knew an Indian from Arizona
who was at Piedmont aud had few gold
bricks to sell cheap. If he had any money
lying idle be could make splendid invest
ment.
The old mans cupidity was aroused and
| the three took the cable-car to Piedmont.
| When they LETT the car and got into the
| brush Johnston gave shrill whistle and
| the Indian ''bobbed uD serenely." john
ston walkeG toward him and talked Indian
to him. The Indian appeared TO be angry
and Johnston returned to the Snyders and
i told them he was mad because ne had
| brought two strangers instead of one
| Then Johnston rapidly unfolded a scheme
whereby they could swindle the Indian
out of his gold bricks, as he did not know
their value. He wanted $4,000 for them,
which was mere nothing compared TO
| their value.
The Indian disclosed three gold bricks,
| and each drilled hole in them, Johns on
being careful just where the old man was
! to drill. Then they returned to Oakland,
| leaving the Indian in The brush. Snyder
| took his sample of dust to Solomon's jew
eIry. store, 1145 Broadway, aud Solomon,
/ after testing Ii, said 1t was good 16-carat
| gold.
Snyder was beside himself with Joy.
! Johnston fooled him to the top OF his bent
and got him to send his son home and
agree to 60 TO Arizona himself and super
intend the mine. He slept in a hotel op-
! DOSlI0 int pUSlUlllC0 ODdb uiSUI anu Oh
! Wednesday morning at Z O'Clock he met
! Johnston by appointment.
Johnston told him the Indian was yery
| sick and wanted TO sell the gold bricks at
| once and take the money home to Arizona
to his grandmother. He would never
again get as good chance 10 make pile
| of money. Snyder was satisfied and said
| he would cross over TO San Francisco and
get the $4,000 from Lachman & jacob, the
F, wine merchants.
On his way to Lachman g. Jacobs, i,
suddenly flashed into his mind that he
would go to Thomas Price. the assayer,
and see what he thought of the dust
Price tested ii. and said there was some
copper in it, which aroused his curiosity,
and he asked Snyder where he got it,
| Snyder, thinking he had such a good
thing. evaded the question, and Price ad-
vised him before going any further In the
ma ter to see Chief Crowley or Captain
| Lees.
Snyder called at police headquarters and
told his story TO Captain Lees. The cap
tain told him bluntly that he was the vic
tim of swlndler, which panied and sur
priseo him. Detective Seymour was called
IN and Snyder was turned over to him
Seymour made an appointment with him,
and communicated with Detective Denny
Holland of Oakland to keep a lookout fol
Johnston and the Indian.
Seymour knew the Zig was up" as
Johnston OF an accomplice would have
been shadowing Snyder. but as a last re-
sort he and Holland met Snyder near the
Oakland postoffice yesterday morning al
10 o'clock. The two detectives secrrted
themselves and Snyder walked baekw
aud forward In front of the postoffice for
two or three hours. but Mr.. Johnston did
not appear.
Just as the two detectives were leaving
tn cross over to the city deputy marsha
from Mountain View, accompanied BY
Snyder's son. burst upon them. Both were
terribly excited, and the deputy marsha
shouted: Where are the two VILLAINS
They have murdered The old man Snyder
and his body will be found in the brush. :
They were told to keep cool, as the ole
. man was alive and kicking, bu the "twt
villains" were not 10 be found.
Snyder felt deeply humiIated at max
ing such fool of himself, and expressed
the hope that the newspapers would no
get onto the story. He described Mr.
Johnst as feet inches tall, with darl
hair mixed with gray, weight about Is
pounds, smart talker, walks very cree
and dresses like miner.
I'd