Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-02-22
WAS AN EASY MARK.
4 Toledo Nan Actually Bites on The
Cold Brick SVindle.
HIS NAME IS JNo. GRoLL
A Cousin of Treasurer Gron OF This
County.

From the Toledo Commercial, Feb. 16th.l
Evidence was presented to the Lu-
cas- county grand jury yesterday, OF
one of the most remarkable felonies
ever committed in this county. The
story in short is that six smooth bun
co men worked off two brass bricks
on John Groll, who lives in Oregon
township, just outside of the city, last
December, for the consideration of
SO, 900. The case was brought to the
attention of the authorities by De-
tective John 7. Norris, of Springfield,
Ohio. Mr.. Norris arrived in the city
night before last, with the two brass
bricks in his valise. He laid very low
during the night, as he put it, ac-
quainting only Detectives Manley, Nc
Laughlin and Hall of his presence, so
far as the business in hand was con-
cerned.
Mr.. Norris has worked up the case
entirely independent of Toledo peo-
pie. The fact that there had been
any such case, was unknown even.
1t was reported in the papers at the
time that Mr.. GrolPs nephew, or al
legged nephew, had drifted in from
somewhere and simply borrowed the
SO, 900 from his uncle, suddenly disap-
pearing. This now appears to have
been a mere bluff
1t seems that the gold brick men
commenced working Groll, who is an
honest old German with plenty of this
worlds goods, by sending letters at
long range. They came from all over
the country. Groll was distrustful of
banks, owing to the panicky times,
and he also disliked the idea of hav-
ing SO much idle money in his house.
The gold brick idea caught his seri-
Gus attention. Then members of the
gang appeared and talked the matter
over with him. They claimed to have
two bricks of solid gold, worth at par
value over $4,000, which they would
sell for some $4,000, as they were in
need of cash. Gradually they enlist
ed the confidence of the old man. 1t
was finally agreed that il the gold as
sayed as claimed, that Groll would
give So, 900 for it. An expert assay
tefh.was sent for, who, of course, wac
simply another member of the gang.
Meetings were held in q room in the
Boody House, and here several holes
were drilled through the bricks They
were found to be pure gold. Groll,
who is said to be good Judge of the
metal, paid over his hard earned mon
icy, carefully wrapped up two bricks,
locked them in his satchel and re-
turned to East Toledo. When he op-
ened up his satchel he found two
brass bricks, instead of gold bricks.
The birds, of course, had flown.
Detective Norris became interested
in the case, and says he has located
his men. An Indictment is what he
wants now, and If one is obtained,
they will be failed at once. They are
under surveillance. Where they are
or who they are, is considerable of a
mystery. Mr.. Norris is still carefully
guarding the facts in the case, in
forming Commercial reporter that
the man who bought the bricks was
named Wilkinson, and that he lives
near Oak Harbor, just over the line
from Lucas county. The facts, how
ever, were found to be as given above.
Detectives Manley and Mclaughlin
have been working on the case with
Norris.