The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-04
HE INTRODUCES A NEW GAME
Many Contractors Caught With
Clever Swindle.
THEY PAID HIM FOR CONTRACTS.
]. S. Briean and Companion Were
TO Build Flats, but Disappear
With Builders Money.

on Post street they found novel topic Tor
discussion. Some Of them mad been liz
weighed into a scheme which promised
much, but resulted in Swindllng the IN
fortunates, and the rest regarded it with
mingled feelings of surprise and merri-
ment, although there was nothing par
ticularly funny in it for the dupes.
The subject of the builders cOnverSa-
ton was an original trick, sayorug of
confidence game, that was tried success
IuIly on NJ. J. Gallagher. the carpenter. at
$50 Turk street, aud on other contractors.
VINO the latter victims ars may never be
known to the public. as they have had
sense enough to say nothing on dis cover-
ing the scheme. 1t was stated by more
than one contractor that Henry William
son, the Sutter-street plumber, had been
caught. but Williamson claims he was not.
Had Gallagher thoughtful matter over. he,
too, would in all probability have taken
his dose of unpleasant medicine and said
nothing, but it angered him so much he
told his woes to (, low craftsmen.
And so it was the story leaked out.
The scheme is new to San Francisco,
and tor that reason it proved an easy
game to dupe contractors who were will
ing to pay a bonus to architects to secure
a contract
About six or eight weeks ago a young
man named J. S. Brean arrived in this
city. He came from Denver. or, at least.
he said that was the last place he had
been engaged in business as an architect,
and he opened an Office in room SO in the
Donohoe building at Market and Taylor
streets. Two wooden 'horses," a large
drawing-board and few pieces Of furnl-
ture were his stock in trade. so far as APP
pearances WENT He engaged draughts-
man named Ed Harrison, and was ready
for business.
Before he had we'll started man calling
himself Walker appeared on the scene,
and while other architects were hustling
for work Brieaa was busy on a $4,000
building. Designs we're drawn for twelve
magnificent flats with all the most modern
improvements, including $1,000 worth of
electric wires. According TO the plans
these stylish flats we're to be built for
Walker on O'Farrell street, between Jones
and Lsavenworth The frontage was 16S
feet and the depth 1871 feet.
When everything was ready contractors
were invited to bid on the buildings.
4u6Eo was COuStdub SbIcdlH VI
for days passing in and out of Briean's
Office - carpenters. plasterers. plumbers.
painters, electricians, etc.-all eager to get
the contract. because they were given to
understand that no expense would be
spared, and only the best work would be
accepted at good prices.
Among those who estimated on the
plans was NJ. j. Gallagher. and he got the
contract for the carpentry work, very
considerable item, over which he congratu-
lated himself until visions of a neat little
fortune f1Oated before his delighted eyes.
The architect got $50, and it is asserted
that another $500 was added in considera-
ton of his awarding the contract. But it
seems that this was not enough and an
additional $500 was demanded. Then
Gallagher grew suspicious. OF course the
plans and contracts had been duly signed
by the owner, the mysterious Mr.. Walker.
who spoke like a man of substance, aud
everything was regular on the surface.
Still the contractor MAIDS quiet little in
vestigatiou on his own account.
To his intense astonlshment and cbagrin
he discovered that Mr.. Walkers name did
not appear on the block books. A further
search was made in the official municipal
records, and with like result. No. sic
O'Farrell street, where the fats were to
be built stood in the name of G. Curtin,
the dry-goods man. who owns ffty-two
feet on O'Farrell street at that place. with
dwellings upon the land. Adjoining Cur
tins property is twenty five feet owned by
Henry Coffin; next to that twenty-six feet
in Dr. A. Netherlands name, and beyond
Toh Woha onn N
sixty-nine feet. But nowhere could the
alleged capitalist Walkers name be found.
The contractors say Mr.. Walker is a myth
Architect Breau was sought for an ex-
PLANTATION, but he could not be found. Las
Friday his draughtsman sat idly by the
big drawing board and answered ques-
lions somewhat reluctantly and with con-
siderable hesitation.
"Will MIR. Briean be back to-day?" wa;
asked.
II don't know" was the answer. "He
Is ia the country and said he would not be
back until Monday"
"Where can Mr.. Walker be found?"
If never heard of him."
"Do you know anything about the
fats Mr. Brlean is building on O'Farrell
sireet?"
Don't know. l believe he has some
fats. or something like that, on hand on
O'Farrell street."
The draughtsman was in the same place
Saturday. but early yesterday morning
Briean's name was scraped off the glas.
door and the janitor locked the door
"Briean left here Wednesday" said he
ut was supposed he went to Oakland, as
he said be would be back, but he skipped
town and nobody knows where he went
he stuck his draughtsman for a months
salary and must have owed considera BILE,
as creditors were after him all the time. ~
The draughts man stated that Briean
had borrowed $3.50 from young man last
week on the strength of the new fats con.
tract, and got money from several con-
tractors and merchants, who paid him for
giving them the contracts or orders. The
total amount of Briean's operations
reached just $500, of which nearly $20Ot
was got from contractors on Briean's
bogus plans All this bold piece of conf
dence work was done within four weeks
80 cleverly that it is believed now thai
Briean is an accomplished confidence