The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
CONFIDENCE MEN
VISIT VALLEJO
Wine Merchant Chabot the
Victim Of a Pair of
= Rogues.
Discovers That He Paid a Round
Sum for a Heap of
Pebbles.
WHERE IGNORANCE WAS BLISS
Kept the Rocks in His Safe a Week
Before Learning His
Error.

the firm of j. ChabOt q Co., local wine
merchants, discovered this morning that
he had been bunkoed out of $745. The
method was not new one-the ''now-you-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS scheme = but
that does not allay the grief of the victim.
Two Frenchmen came to his place
week ago and negotiated for the business,
agreeing to pay $3.50. One of them was
known to the partner of Cha bot, who be-
came acquainted with him in sunny
France. The man suggested that they 60
to the residence Of Chabot and draw up
the papers for the sale. This was agreed
to, and the three started for the house.
One of them carried a small black valise,
which they said contained the money to
pay for the place.
On arriving at the residence of Chabot,
the three sat down at a table and Chabot
wrote the bill of sale, one of the men sign
ing his cross to the document The valise
was then opened on the table. Inside of
it there was a pasteboard I'D, as Is found
in all common small satchels. When
opened one side of the satchel remained
covered by the lid. The other contained
a small, black tin box, which was opened
with key. The box held quite number
of stacks of twenty-dollar pieces. These
were counted by Chabot, but found to be
less than the $3.50.
The strangers insisted that Chabot put
up some money to bind the bargain, as
they said they would leave their money
with him until they returned in a few
days with the remainder of the cash
needed to make the purchase.
Chabot W ent into the next room, where
his safe stood, to take out money to be
used in addition to that which he had in
his pocket. This amounted to $745, which
was also placed in the tin box aside of the
the stacks OF twenties. The lid was closed
and locked, one of the men putting the
key into his pocket.
Chabot suggested that they take the box
OF gold down to the Vallejo Commercial
Bank and deposit it, as he did not care to
have such large sum of money in his
house, but the men objected, saying they
were perfectly satisfied to leave it in his
care, as they had so much faith in his
honesty. While they were talking, Chabot
rememb bers that he passed out of the room
once to get something from the safe. As
the men still insisted that he keep the
box obtaining the money, he lifted it out
OF the satchel, carried it into the next
room and placed tin the safe, to remain
until the men should return with the bal
ance of the purchase money.
The younger man closed the satchel and
the three returned to the wine depot.
when all partook of friendly. glass, and
spent the remainder of the day until it
was time for the strangers to leave for San
francisco in looking over the stock of
goods. When they departed. they said
they would leave the satchei, as it was of
no further use to them. They had pur-
chased 1t only to carry their box OF money
In.
Several days elapsed and the men failed
to show ap with the money. Chabot and
his partner thought IL somewhat strange
During the week he had occasion several
times to go to the safe, and each time he
saw the little black tin box resting IN the
inner vault where he had placed it.
This morning something impelled him
to take out the box and shake it. He did
so, and as the sound did not have the
metallic ring OF gold he procured a chisel
and pried open the lid. To his astonished
gaze there appeared nothing but heap of
pebbles.
Then it dawned upon Chabot that he
had been duped out of S745 in gold coin.
BE lost no time in reporting the fraud to
the officers, who have full description of
the two men. The strangers are probably
out OF the country by this time, they hav-
ing had full weeks start. One of the
confidence men is about 40 years of age,
of low stature and with black nous
lacue Inc Otner is ABOUT 70 years
old, smooth-faced and slightly lame.
Chabot is of the opinion that they had
two boxes. The one containing the rocks
was concealed by the closed lid of the sat
chel. 1t was exchanged for the box con-
tanning the money, when be passed out of
the room. 1t never entered his mind to
ask them to open the box before he placed
it in the safe, as he shut the lid himself,
saw with his own eyes the money and
handed the key to one of the men.
The strangers are known in San Fran
cisco and for the present the local officials
and Chabot are Withholding their names
on the doubtful hope that they may vet be
fright ened away if the names were pub
lished. The victim of misplaced conf
dence states that he is willing to spend
$1,000 to appreGend the men and Ike ep them
from bilking any one else. He still holds
the bill of sale, but it is of no value to any
one and the wine depot is still on the mar
ket.
NEW MEXICO ROLD- UPS