The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-29
HE MET A SHARPER
QUICK CONFIDENCE GAME
ON j. w. MKINNON, OF BOSTON.
Mr.. McKinnOn Incidentally Drops a
Little About Speculation
i'm Iron Hall Claims.

J.. w. McKinnon, a travelling agent for
the Columbian Loan Company, Of Boston,
told the superintendent Of police, last night,
of a confidence game worked upon him by
Charles Edwards, who claimed TO be a
salesman for an Eastern liquor house.
Incidentally, McKinnon informed Mr.. Pow
ell that he was sent here by his company
to join Charles Martindale, president of the
School Board, in buying Iron Hall claims.
McKinnon met Edwards on a train from
Cincinnati, last week, and avoided the at
tempt of the latter to engage in conversa-
ton. After reaching this city, Edwards
followed McKinnon out Of the Union Sta
ton and after ascertaining that the Bos-
ton man was to stop at the Bates House,
he concluded to register at the same hotel.
After hat time the two were together fire.
quently, although McKinnon insists that
his companions advances towards an ac-
quaintanceship at first awakened a sus-
picion. On Monday night the two. in COM
pany with a friend Of McKinnon's, put in
a few sociabie hours The next day, Nc
Kinnon, after making a few deals, found
himself in need of 800. A few minutes
after l o'clock in the afternoon ne tele-
graphed to his company in Boston for that
amount, asking that it be sent by tele-
graph to him at the Palmer House, in
Chicago. Edwards evidently saw the tele-
gram, according to McKinnon's statement,
for at 100 o'clock Edwards sent a telegram
to the same company over the Postal wires,
McKinnon having used the Western Union.
This message read:
"Just t~elegraphed you to wire 500 to
Palmer House. Chicago. Why don't you
faIaoron1 c1E0 hora tbr0,,Ub tho Apoarioo.,
Express Company, waving Identification? ?"
McKinnon was away from the hotel unit
$50 o'clock that afternoon, and at 3 o'clock
a reply telegram from the Boston company
was received at the Bates House. Edwards
saw the messenger deliver it to the clerk
and sauntering UP in a careless way he
asked the clerk if McKinnon had been
around during the afternoon.
NO." replied the clerk, "but here is a
telegram for him."
There he is out on the sidewalk" sud-
denly remarked Edwards. craning his neck
towards the entrance. 'Give me the mes
sage and / will take it to him"
The clerk had seen the two together a
great deal, so he handed the message to
Edwards, who left the hotel. In a few min
utes Edwards was at the express office.
where he exhibited the telegram, which
stated that the money had been sent. The
company had received instructions TO
waive Identification and il was an easy
matter for Edwards to obtain the $50. Nc
Kinnon, upon his arrival at the hotel. found
that Edwards had obtained the telegram
from Boston. a few inquiries showed that
Edwards had obtained the money and de
camped. McKinnon described his COM
panion to the police as a Jewish travelling
man, about five feet six inches in height.
of dark complexion. wearing a black mus
tache. He wore a cutaway coat of a slate
cOl0red pattern. The description of the
fugitive was sent TO Chicago. McKinnon
thinks Edwards was looking over his shout
der while he Wrote the first telegram. He
also thinks the hotel will be responsible
for the loss, as the reply telegram was re
ceipted for by the clerk.