Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-17
SMELLED TIE RAT.
BERLIN FARMER WORKED BY Bun
COERS UNSUCCESSFULLY.
How Two Confidence Men Attempted to
PLAY a Shrewd Little Card Trick Upon
Aged David Bowles for his Hard-Earned
Dollars sleek Villains Fooled.

BARRE. MAY ia little more than a
year ago considerable excitement was caused
by the successful operations of two conf
dence men in Addison county. where they
fleeced one old farmer out of $4,000 in cash
and made their escape. To-day it was
learned that only few days ago two of
the gentry tried TO work the same trick on
an aged farmer, David Bowles. who lives in
the town of Berlin, about three miles north
of this village. Mr. Bowles was seen by u
FREE PRESS representative this morning and,
as he was lucky enough not to be caught,
was perfectly willing to tell his story.
Mr. Bowles farm of 2lO acres is. on q
branch road leading from the main road to
Montpelier over the hills to East Montpelier
and Plainfield On account of the grade
the road is travelled but little and the sharp
ei's couldn't have selected better spot to
work their little game.
Early in the forenoon the two bunco men
drove past the house and were seen by mem
bers of the family. In q half hour
the team again appeared from the same
direction but this time there was only
one person in the buggy. He drove his
horse up to- the house and asked for Mr.
Bovles and when tho farmer appeared
stated that he was from Wells River, was
connected with the bank there and was at
one time in the bank at Montpelier. He
thought it strange that Mr.. Bowles didu (
recognize him but that did not matter. He
had been called to Montpelier by business
connected with the Wells River bank and
thought it a good time to execute a commits
sion for his sister. who was a widow and
wished to place her four boys beyond the
temptations of the city in which she now
lived and was therefore anxious to buy a
farm. Mr. Bowles, he had heard, held a
mortgage on farm near his own and was
anxious that the owner should sell the same
in order that he might receive the mortgage
money.
Mr.. Bowles said that he did not know of
any such mortgage, but told the fellow that
his nearest neighbor had said that he would
like to sell his farm The stranger, who
said that his name was Edison, then asked
Mr.. Bowles TO ride over to the next farm
and introduce him to the man who had thc
property that he wished to dispose Of This
Mr.. Bowles consented TO do and stepped into
the buggy. As they passed over the brow
of the hill they met a man. who inquired il
he was on the road to East Montpelier, and
he was told by MIR Bowles that he was go
ing in directly opposite direction
Stranger No. Immediately became com
municatve According to his story he wa.
South Carolina tobacco grower and hav
ing come as far north as Philadelphia L
| purchase machinery Tor his plantation
thought he would make longer Journey
and pay visit TO a sister who had married
contrary to the wishes of their parents anc
was now living in the adjoining town Of
Plainfield. He had plenty of toad skins. he
said, so that he could afford the trip The
man who gave his name as Edison imme
diately asked what he meant by toad skim
and the fellow on the ground produced
cloth bag from which he took two packa ge.
of bills, on the wrappers of which wer,
written the figures $4,000 Mr.. Bowles sal,
to-day that there was apparently tina
amount of money in each package.
The fellow displayed his money with con
! siderable satisfaction, but said he felt rattle
cheap over a loss of 5000 that he had sus
tained the night before. Edison asked hin
how he lost it and after considerable per
suaSion he proceeded 10 demonstrate TAX
! ing three cards from his pocket he shovel
! that there was a different picture on eaci
| piece of card board. One of the picture
was that of a baby and after going through
! the old three card monte trick he said tina
! ilH udl btI N-OO li!dl Ilt tDlllu DICK OUT tll
baby card and had lost. Edison laughed n
! him and he retorted that the alleged banl
man could not have done any better. Ed
son was willing to bet $40 that IN
could and that the gentleman will
him, Mr. Bowles could do so too TIN
tobacco man put up the money and a.
! E:dson's request Mr.. Bowles picked out thu
card aud won. The winner was mbilan
/ al bo haoup 1 "A
! larger bets that it could not be done again
and finally to stake the two $1,000 package
! that the baby card could not be detected
| He played the cards and Mr.. Bowles, beinj
requested by Edison to pick the card. did 5
and won again. The tobacco-gr grower di
not seem at all put out by the loss of hi
| SO, 900, but handed it gracefully over an
Edison gave one Of the packages to Mr.
| Bowles.
| Then it suddenly occurred to the lose
that the men who were carrying off hi
money had not displayed any capital an
while admitting that he had fairly lost sal
| that he must see an equal amount in tn
hands of Edison and MIR. Bowles before h
would let the money go. Edison said tina
he had negotiable paper in a little tin DO
in the bottom of the buggy on which h
could raise $500 and if MI Bowles coul
in some way secure $4,000 they would hay
$4,000 to divide between them Mr.. Bowls
SAID that he did not believe in gambling an,
as he was growing suspicious that he wa
not in good company suggested that Edso
drive back to the house 50 that he Nigh
have time to think it over. As soon as h
came in sight of the house he jumped fror
the buggy and told Edison that he had bel
Ter return over the hill for his friend II
did so and Mr.. Bowles has not seen either {
the men since.