The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-25
A DEFT DEAL IN ROCKS.
Exchange of Two Thousand
Dollars in Gold for Two
Boxes of Gravel.
THE DISCOVERY AT A BANK.
Glee of the Aged AgrIculturist Turns
to Grief When He Discovers
the Truth.

LODI, March 24.-Jacob Brack, a wealthy
old landowner, living near Brack's Land
ing, listened to the soft words of three
strangers, last Thursday, succumbed to
their winning ways, and as result they
have $1,000 of Jacobs shining gold and he
has two tin boxes of rocks-just plain, or
dinary rocks from the roadside, and Jacob
is now wiser but sadder man.
Two well dressed dignifed strangers
came to Lodi last Thursday and inquired
the road to Brack's Landing, near which
Jacob Brack, an old settler, the protector
of the deep water canal TO Lodi, heavy
landowner and shrewd man of business
resided. They represented themselves as
]. S. Curtin, ex-Superior Judge of Alameda
County, and c. H. Ferguson, an ex-Mayor
OF Oakland, who were out looking for a
desirable piece of land near Lodi. They
drove out to Bracks place and the old
gentleman, ever courteous, at once hitched
up a team and took the visitors all over
his splendsd domain.
While on the road home they came on a
pedestrian who asked for a ride as his
buggy was broken down. The request was
granted. The stranger was affable and
loquacious. He had money, too, and Just
to while away the time, after they reached
Brack's home, he proposed lottery game.
The strangers luck was poor, but he cheer
fully lost few dollars, which the ex-i Judge,
the ex-mayor and Farmer Brack won
easily.
Then the two prospective land buyers
from Oakland hit upon happy plan, and
they took Brack into their confidence. 1t
was nothing more nor less than PROPOSE
ton that the three pool their coin and beat
the lottery man at his own game. Under
the persuasive influence of his gentlemanly
visitors, Brack consented. But as Brack
had no coin with him, it was agreed to
meet the next day at Murphy's-
Then -BTack came TO Lodi to raise bis
share d the money, and at the bank of
Lodi he asked for $1,000 Banker Cogs-
well, however, suspected something was
wrong and persuaded the landowner to
take half the amount asked for and to
bring the parties to the bank the next day
If more was needed.
The next day the quartet met at Muir
phys. Brack produced his gold and be-
fore his eyes it was counted into nice
new tin box. Then the visitors placed
some gold in the other box, dollar for dol
lar they told Brack, at least Brack be-
1eves they, did, though now he has dim
suspicion that his eyes may have deceived
him. The two boxes were put side by
side and the game began. Soon there arose
a dispute. BracK was chosen as the Gus
todian of the money, pending the settle
ment of the point at issue.
The visitors went away to secure an ad-
justment of the trouble. That was the last
seen of the ex-iudge, the ex-Mayor, and
the lottery-player. Old Jacob Brack
brought the boxes to the bank of Lodi in
high glee, thinking he had made $4,000
or $1,000, and it was only after much per-
suasion that he allowed the boxes to be
forced open. Finally he consented.
There was nothing in them but rocks.
The victim refused to make any COM
plant concerning his loss, but his two
sons have taken up the case and are de-
termined to catch the sharpers If possible
This is the second case of this kind in OF
near Lodi in the past year. A farmer
named D. L. Boody was the last victim.