The Somerset reporter., 1895-05-16
Gold Bricks Extraordinary
a Prominent and Wealthy Citizen q
Scion Swindled.


solon Swindled.
Ii has been many years since an event
has occurred in our county that has oc-
casoned so great interest aud SO much
conversation rs did the buneo transac-
tion by which Mr.. Heman Whipple of
Solon, so we'll known by so many SOM
erset people was cleyerly swindled out
of the handsome sum of $4,000.
Ga Monday of last week a man calling
himself Dan Dean turned up at the resi-
dcnee of Mr.. Whipple at Scion, and in
quired for him. He Was informed that
he WAS at Moose River and in the after
noon Dean took the train for that place
arriving there al midnight.
Tuesday morning he went TO Long
Pond. where Mr. Hhipple was at work
on his farm and began work upon him
telling him plausible story and un-
folding scheme fer developing mine
recently discovered that was of untold
richness producing specimens of ores
and succeeded in getting Mr.. Whipple 20
90 with him 10 Waterville. where two
gold bricks were produced in great >e-
crecN aud by somr means he Ud> lu4uc-
ri In procure $4,000 OF banks in Water
vile and pay mat k14e sum ovyr Ia This
man WHO WIS evidently one ii band Of
,harper-, ard taleing therefor the W.
bricks supposed by him to be golH anil
certain mining stock represented TO b.
OF great value.
The transaction was conSummated
! Thursday but not until Monday was it
made public. Mr.. Whipple Went to his
/ home in Scion, and it gradually daWned
upon him that he had been badly sWindl.
ed aHd upon reporting he matter to his
friends they confirmed his worst suspi-
cions.
Mr. Whipple was in town Monday and
! Informed the REPORTER that he MAS
mortified beyond expression that he
should allow himself To be iewed as he
had been. H stated that while with
the eeouudrt1 he did not seem 20 toe him
self. He WIS under his power and cor
| trol. HE fellow is described by the
people al the banks ut WatcrVille, ~ be-
| ing OF medium height, dark complexion,
apparently FROM 30 to 81 years Of aye.
3
| dark clothes of rather rough, course
! cloth. While in the banks he made some
conversation which gave the bank ofli-
cits in both places, The impression that
the money Was TO he used on the drive
up river. In neither place WAS the gold
brick or the mine or mining stock men
toned.
The method by which this large
| a, Of aasl SgpnruH IL
somewhat interesting. Mr. Whipple is
we'll known, and his check would be
honored for almost any amount He
went to several of the banks of Water
vile, and any would have gladly loaned
him the required amount, bur it so hap
pened that none had that amount of
ready cash on hand at that time He
then went to the telephone Office, called
up Cashier Page of the Skowhegan bank,
who, though he did not have the cash on
hand, readily offered to send on the
afternoon train draft ON Boston.
! Mr.. Whipple then went again the
I rounds of the Waterville banks, accom-
panied oil The while by The stranger, and
found that the Merchants bank could
spare $4,000 and the 'riconic could cash Il
$1,000 draft. lie went back and tele-
phoned Mr.. Page to Send the two drafts.
which came in due time ON the afternoon
train. lle took them to the banks, got
the cash aud paid the sWindler.
! Mr.. Nhipple or Uncle lIemau,' as he
| is Familiarity called in this vicinity, is
one Of the best known and most respect
ed business men in Somerset. His bust
hess record is without Flemish. his word
good for any reasonable amount, and he
| enjoys he confidence of kcnuebcc River
| lumbermen and Somerset people as few
| other mCn do. He was always very
cautious about embarking in any pro-
jects outside his business and it is Il gen.
uine surprise to his many friends and a
large circle of acquaintance, that he
should be duped in this way. Indeed in
| looking back upon the event, he is as
much at loss to account for it himself
as anyone, and is disposed to attribute
the strange power the man exercised
over him to hypuotism.
If there is any satisfaction to Mr.
Whipple in knowing it he is by no means
alone in isuch experiences as he is not
the only successful business man who
has been duped by similar operations
This species of lightning strikes where
least expected. There are many sells of
this kind that have come to light and
many more that have been kept from
public view. Careful, conservative,
shrewd men with proud record of half
a century are liable to be conspicuous
victims of sharpers.
DR.. 5. F. Green Of Scion, son-in-law
of Mr.. Whipple and his nephew, Lewis
G. Whipple went to Waterville. Monday
and thence to Boston, hoping TO get on
the track Of the rascals and if possible
bring them to justice and recover some
part of the money. 1t is to be hoped
they may be successful