Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-05

DDOs
| that he would advance that sum on Two
of the gold bricks. The man from Arizona
! declared that 81 would be aDsuru 10 30
| back TO the Indian with so small
sum of money as that. and advised Mr..
Withers that he had better go back to
/ tho hank and get &.Oo0 additional. lie
/ urged nu possible haste, as the Indians
/ flrioush was almost out, and ne was ex-
cecdingly nervous to get back into the
! lius OF Arizona. The unsuspecting gentle
man from Gloucester returned 20 the
hank and soon was with the western
| swlndler. prepared to advance the much
| desired 5000 He had the money I'm bills
Of denominations OF from $40 70 fi00, and
10 doubt thrill Of Joy ran through VIII
liams's body when his eyes rested upon
the roll Another cab was summoned, and
the men again went 20 the spot where
the Indian was camping. Williams took
the money. and went to the redface and
pretended to turn ii over 10 him. He
came back to the conveyance. bearing
with him two Of the bars or gold. VIII
Hams and Withors drove promptly 10 the
Planters National Bank. and "A lock-box
In the vault Of the Virginia Trust Com
pany was rented, and into II the alleged
5000 worth OF gold was tcnderly de-
posted.
GLITTERED. BUT NOT GOLD.
DID the story but end here. It might
not for years have been known that Mr..
Withers did not clear $500 by his little
deal But alas, all things are not what
they seem. and all that glitters IS not
gold. At o'clock yestcr lay afternoon
Mr.. Withers was called upon at his hotel
by Mr.. Simon Capps. OF this city, VINO
askei Of MIN a partial settlement of
debt the Gloucester gentleman owed him.
Mr. Withers did not Ike TO go TO the
bank third time for funds. so he called
upon Mr.. Joseph Bryan TO lend him
$3.50. Mr.. Bryan replied that It was his
rule not 10 lend money except upon good
security The heart of Mr.. Withers pos
sibly swelle1 with pride as he replied
that ne could give the security, AMI re-
fcrred TO the bricks Of gold he had just
a few hours before deposited in the vault
Of the Virginia Trust Company. Being
4 prudent man. Nj. Bryan did not think
the gold story very impressive one,
an1 suggested TO Mr.. Withcrs that he
had better have the bars tested again,
and this "as promptly agreed to. The
two bricks of yellow metal were taken
TO the establishment of the Nowlan Com
pany. on Main street. and ii only re-
Qulrc1 cursory examination 70 PRO.
i'Nllif lItIU blbN7s h'if MIN a WY
thin coating Of god upon the bricks but
the balance was substance Of almost
worthless character.
PARKER SOON SLIPPED AWAY.
Mr. Withcrs then saw that he had
been swindlc1 out of his 500. and
rushed back 10 Ford's Hotel He had
an engagement 10 dine with Parker. the
alleged Gssayist. al O'Clock. The hour
was then AZ hand. and he found the tall
suavc-.ooking man at the hostelry wait
ing for him. Mr.. Capps was there also.
The three talked together for a moment.
ana Parker. evidently seeing that some
thing had gone wrong with Mr.. Withers.
mln1ged 20 ge' away from Withers and
Capps. The victim Of the plot then told
Mr. Capps that he had been swind,ei
ont Of 500 by Parker ana another man,
and asked him 10 watch Parker until he
could telephone TO the office Of the Chief
Of Police for an officer. While this was
going on Parker was making his way
down Capitol street MS hurredly as he
could. and disappeared around the corner
before the very eyes Of his victim.
Mr.. Withers reported the matter to
Major John Poe. Chief-of-PoIce. as
quickly as he could, and Sergeant-Detec-
tive Alexander NJ Tomlinson and De
tcctives Schliem and Johnson were de-
ihl4t'l tt Ntlk upon tUf case lItN liIliit-
diately placed watches at the several rail-
way stations. end before night every
avenue Of escape by rail or water
was cut of. Teegrams were sent
10 cities and towns in this and other
States. and no efforts or expense VIII be
spared TO bring the guilty par,ies to jus
tice Mr.. Nithers has offered a private
reward for the capture and conviction
If the men who so cieyerly duped him.
DID NOT WANT To TALK.
When seen by a Dispatch reporter In
the office of the Chief Of Police. Mr..
Withers said that he did not care 10
discuss the unfortunate affair. as II would
only show him up In a ridiculous light.
lie said ~ d'd not mind the loss of the
money half so much as h ala the eX-
posure il would subject INN t.. lie is a
man Of medium stature, decidedly cuiti-
waited. and about 30 years old. lie is
married.
Mr Withers Is a young man Of re-
markable experiences. lie was for seven
years In the English army, ana fought
under General W0lsCley in the SOudan. He
has travelled around the world. and has
acquired much general information. IL
is TeIutod 10 be- worth about 100000. ana
lives upon magnificent estate in Glou-
Costcr
Speaking Of Williams the fictitious Ari-
zonian he said tnat be was a typical
w,sterncr wearing corduroy trousers
hlsh-top boots. a wide-brimmod hat, a
blue shirt and a big. sweeping moustache
The lnIidu. hc declared. was attircd in
Il suit II buckskin or some very similar
material.
Last night Sergeant Tomlinson secured
tho baggage Of the fakirs from Fords
Hotel. and the sdtchels contained very
htue; In fact, absolutely nothing which
indicated who the swindlers are. whence
they hail. or where they have gone
Ia the valise ~ Parker the mask and
wig Of the Indian We're found and also
a number OF lutte circulars, headed, THE
Gold-Brick Swiudie' and advising those
caught I'm the trap not to make their
- ! l.. T..