Richmond planet., 1895-01-12
TIE GOLD BRICK swrNDLE.
A Gloucester White MsS the Victim
A Bogus Indian.

A Bogus 1n0fan'
Richmond has been stirred up over
what is known as the gold brick swim
de- 1t seemed that A. w. Witbers,
white, who lives in Gloucester Co., Va.
about three miles from Roane Wharf
was visited by John Williams, q strsn-
ger. who said he was looking for his un-
, Gle, Alfred Withers- When he saw Mr..
| Withers, he declared that he was not the
mau he was looking for.
His uncle had left him (Wllliame) on
the ranch and had come East. He had
been to Lvnchburg, fredericksburg,
Staunton. Norfolk and other places
seeking for his relatives.
SENSATIONAL STORY.
After his uncle had left him in Arizona
he was riding down to spring, when he
heard a groan In a deep ravine near by.
He got down with his man and searched,
finding two Indians, one of them dead
and the other badly wounded. He nurs-
ed the wounded one. and when ne got
well he told him that out of gratitude
for his kindness, he would tell him
where he had discovered a gold vein.
He found the story to be true and
they had gotten twelve large bricks.
tie was looking for his uncle to give
him third interest in the mine.
The Indian became SO much attache d
to him that nothing would satisfy HIM
but to come East with him. He said they
had brought four OF the bars and the In
dian had them In the woods near Rich
mond.
He declared he had become discour-
aged and would give up the search and
go back West.
They would work the mine with the
hraH
sell out third interest in it.
After a long talk, Withers decided tC
come to Richmond and see if he coulC
buy the bricks from the Indian at a re-
duction, They arrived in this city
. Thursday, 3rd inst. They went out tC
the woods between Brook Road and th'
, New North road.
a THE INDIAN IN THE WOODS.
The man from Arizona, Williams go
out of the conveyance, went into th'
= woods and gave q low whistle. The in
: dian appeared in full view of Withers
7 about seventy five yards distant. ii
- would come no nearer and appeared Il
L be shy OF strangers.
he had long, black hair and had o.
: war-paint in Indian style. William
! talked to him. Williams made q sigl
, and said something when the Indian dit
n appeared aud soon returned with fou
= bricks of rich looking yellow metal ol
his shoulder. They we're each 10 inche
= long, 4 inches wide and two inche
thick.
j. Williams took from his pocket a smal
- bit and brace aud bored each in sewers
o3 places He suggested that the gol
= ! bored out be taken to jewelers. for analy
- sis This was agreed to.
Williams talked with the Indian an
returned to Withers and tod him tha
the Indian had determined to take tn
gold bricks back West with him. II
had only 81 days leave from the resel
~ VatioH and must return. He was unwii
y ing to remain longer in the woods. ]
le was agreed that Withers should ad
ot vance $4,000 and take two of the brickl
The bricks we're carried to the India
AZ and some of the small pieces retained
Oi They returned to the city and William
later said that jewelers. had tested tt
N gold and said it was very fine. The
~ could not tell the carat, but one of thel
No had told him that a u. s. Assayer fro
0n the Philadelphia mint was in the eli
Ss; and they would call on him. He WI
IL. stopping at Ford's Hotel. He wa
ge found in the act of going ont. His nan
'u, was Thomas h. Parker. He got out b
'n' acids, glasses, etc, and pronounced h
"
NJ fOur carat. He offered to purchase it.
rs. Williams paid the fee of $500. T.
"a asssyer was told the history of the gol
Is. Is. On Friday morning after WithNrs hi
sIe drawn $4,000 from the Planters Natio
I'd al Bank the party went out to see t
Indian, who went into the woods.
.of TEE FRAUD DISCOVERED.
a The two gold bricks were wrapped
ra- carefully IN paper, and soft cham'
- skin and put In the foot OF the carriao
Upon reaching the city they went to /
. Virginia Safe Deposit and Fidelity c
where Williams paid $50 for a priv,
safe deposit box and the bricks W
placed therein. But about an hour a
a halt later Withers desire to borro0
ms. Joseph Bryan some money aud specii
leo, these gold bricks as collateral. Mr. B
as an became suspicious and when on,
: !. the bricks was carried to Nowlan &
ac- jewellers, they were declared to becOp
! in washed over with gold. Withers retu
,diss ed at once TO the hotel. Parker was
rlor there. Seeing something was wrong
in secured a team at Sutherland's and
II capped. BE was subsequently, arres
ming at Petersburg as he was about to bo
8 re- train for Lynchburg. 1t seems (
dies Parker and the Indian were one and
same person and upon the occasion
NJ. the second visit the Indian was dI
my. In the Police Court last Mon
the Indian mask and wig we're ext
ted, also the gold bricks.
We Sergeant Thomas put on the wig
it was impossible to tell that he hs
beard, so well did the mask conceal
features
L. VilIian,a osoanoA o,5 49,. ola 70,
4th, sart ,cte - tV;+-s s.. 4a,i;.'o. -,
.ano never see his five thousand dol
iohe again.