Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-22
HE WAS TOO EASY.
An Illinois Farmer Drops a
Small Fortune.
BUNCOED OUT OF HIS WHOLE PILE
BY the Most Transparent Kind of Skull
duggery-BeinS About $4,000 Sadder
Than He Was He Engages in What
Looks Very Like "Wild Goose" Chase
Street-sSame Old Came"

Street-'Same Old Came"
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 22-Louis Glyre of St.
Jacobs, Ills, called on Chief of Detectives
Desmond and told him story of how he
had been swindled out of $1,000 by trio
of three-card monte men. Until two
weeks ago Glyre owned a farm three miles
from st. Jacobs, Ills. At that time he
sold out for 81 900. and placed the amount
in a bank at Highland Ills. About ten
days ago he learned that he could pur-
chase a farm in Ohio at n low figure. 1t
was just the kind of an investment he
was looking for and he at once went to
the place. Last Wednesday, while on a
wcst-bound Ohio and Mississippi train
just outside of Cincinnati, after having
completed all arrangements to purchase
the farm he formed the acquaintance of
three wcll-drcssed men. one introducing
himself as j. +. Mcdonald and his friend
Robert Sumner, both travelling statesmen.
The other said he was John Wilson, an
actor, bound for Chicago
Learned of Giyre's Affairs
In the conversation which followed the
| men learned from Glyrc all about his af-
fairs, including the fact that he had 81, 600
in the bank mt Highland, which he was
willing to invest. Wilson at once proceed
ed to work to gain possession of the si,t0O
He drew some cards from his pocket and
said he had just lost $500 in learning "a
| new game and proceeded to show how it
worked. An exhibition of the three-card-
| monte game followed, in which Glyre was
! allowed to win 81 900. Wilson took roll
of bills from his pocket as if to pay and
| while counting out 81 900 suddenly asked
| of Glyre what assurance he had that he
would have paid the bet had he lost. As
| the answer was not satisfactory TO Wilson
| he said that he would pay Glyre the
| amount if he met him in Chicago at the
| Palsner House on Nov Is. and brought
with him the $4,000 he had in the bank,
| just to show that he had that amount.
Chicago with the Money.
| On the day agreed upon Giyre arrived in
| Chicago with the money. He was met in
| the Illinois Central station by one of the
| card manipulators, who told him that
| Wilson was not at the Palmer House. but
was at the home of a friend in the suburbs
| and he would take him there The two
| boarded a street car. From the terminus
Glyre was compelled to walk half "A mile.
| In II large vacant lot not far from Lake
| Michigan the other two confidence men
| Were found. W NiiSon refused to pay over
| to Glyre the 81 0O0 unless he was given an
other trial at the gamrTnd both put up
their money. Glyre deposited his 81, ,000
on the ground. Wilson counted out an
equal amount and laid it next to the first
| pile. In the manipulation of cards that
followed Glyre lost. Just at this time an.
| other man approached and informed the
men that he was ii policeman and they
| wprp r1ndpr urrt,-t fn- ,yurn blinr
| Ordered the Men to Separate.
| Wilson grabbed up both piles of money
| and ran off. The bogus policeman grabbed
| Glyre and the two other men and said
that if they attempted to run off he would
shoot them, rs he did not intend to
| lose any more of his prisoners. The dis
pute was finally settled by the bogus po
| liceman ordering the men to separate
Glyrc was told to remain behind unit
| the others We're out of sight and he die
| so. Several hours later Glyre discovered
that he had been swindled and returned
TO Highland. Monday he received let
! ter signed y. f. McDona Id" in whici
( the writer, who was one of the men mixed
| up in the swindlc, said that Wilson wa.
in ST. Louis and the writer would asss
| Glyre in locating him. This letter wa
dated st. Louis but it bore the postmark
Evansville and Alton Railway Post
office" Glyre ut once came to st. Lou
to locate the men.