The San Francisco call., 1896-03-08
GOLD-DR|CK SW|NDLERS.
Gordon and Raymond Held for
Trial and Ward Given His
Liberty.
OTHER VICTIMS HEARD FROM,
A Banker and a Widow Claim That
They Were Swindled by the
Prisoners.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, !
9OS Broadway. March s.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,(
908 Broadway, March 8. !
big Foot" alias Gordon, and Raymond,
alias Nesbit. the gold-brick swindlers, have
been held TO answer to the Superior Court
in the sum of $4,000 each by Judge Wood
OF the Police Court on the charge of
bunkoing Farmer Hofstra of San Jose.
The third one of the trio, Leake, alias
Ward, who is thought to have played the
part of the Indian, was discharged as he
was not identified.
There is little doubt but what the men
will put up the cash bail or place the
amount in the bank to the credit of some
one whom they will secure to go on their
bail. 1t is estimated that the party has
cleared up no less than $4,000 in this
vicinity at the very lowest calculation, and
If all were known the amount might be
swelled to much larger figure. 1t is be
lieved that the men would gladly put up
half of this to be allowed to escape.
While the examination was in progress
to-day an old lady dressed in widows
weeds sat in chair in the courtroom, and
confided tosa person sitting near by that
she had been swindled out of $4,000 by the
same gang of operators, but she was very
anxious that ii should not get out. She
said that she would not do anything about
it unless the swindlers escaped the pres
ent charge. If this should happen she
would come forward and tell the whole
story. She was accompanied by an old
gentleman, and before leaving the court
room the lady gave "Big-foot Dave a
very hard look. According to her story
her husband had been dead but a short
time when the honest old miner showed
up and interested her in his swindle
She said she lived bout hundred miles
from here.
1t has been reported TO the police that
banker in a little town in the Sacra-
mento Valley met this same crowd and
assisted them to the extent of $1,000. In
return he secured two fine specimens of
brass bricks. 1t is said he is a man we'll
advanced in years, we'll educated and
the head of a banking firm that has the
reputation OF being very conservative
and safe institution. He, too, is very
anxious that his name should not be made
public.
The evidence in the examination to-day
was regarding the storage of the trunks
in which the brass (guId) bricks were
found when their baggage was opened.
j. D. Riker testified to hauling them to
the warehouse. Hamilton Coleman, man
dStT lOC luc WAREHOUSE, leStlueu 10 re-
ceiying them and marking them in such
way as to be able to let Raymond, who
was going under the name of Miller,
send orders for their removal. Later the
trunks were taken out one at time and
then returned in February. Raymond
explained the weight OF the trunks by say
ing he was travelling for hardware firm
f. r. Williamson testified to furnishing
Gordon ana Hofstra horse and buggy on
January 8. After being. away about two
hours Gordon returned alone. Serge ant
Hodgkins testified to the arrests and of
Raymond tearing up a note in his
presence, which he pieced together. 1t
was as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal.
Mr.. Mdrcuse-DEAR SIR: Please let bearer
have telescope No 3. The other baggage two
trunks) will leave with you for probably two
til send for them. Yours respectfully,
C. p MILLER.
The officer then identified the various
articles found in the outfit, including a
pair of shoes with the name Mills marked
in them, which was found in Raymond s
trunk. Mills is Gordon's alias. He
claimed that he had never known Raw
mond until few days before the arrest.
When arrested he said his name was
Mills. This closed the case, and the court
made the order holding the two and dis
missing the other.