Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-17
GOLD TRICK, NEW FORM.
4 Neat swindie Worked Upon I"
ConHding Briton.


The story Of the latest improvement,
in the old g)ld-brck game comes from
London and told IN Truth Of that town
In its issue OF January "a. II cost
one Englishnan 5000. and may have cost
others as much. Truth doesn't tell the
name Of the. victim. but calls him Mt
x. Some tine after Mr.. y. ulta itl-
ter was received in England. addressed 10
him. Ii was dated al san Francisco CAL
and was sigied spencer Inc le'let
was apparently written by some one VINO
had been in correspondence Win 'De
man TO whom IL was addressed, ana II
vas report or alleged operations to
get possession Of a mysterious treasure.
about which Mr.. y. knew. Inc writer
said that success had crowned the e.
forts OF himself and friends, and that
Mr.. US share Of the profit was sZ5hvvJ'
This share was to be sent to London IN
n raw state. because Spencer wouldn't
allow it 20 be disposed Of IN America
The letter asked how Mr. y. would advise
having his share disposed or The let
ter reachsd Mr. y. tn executor OF me
.estate of Mr. v Truth continues the
story as flllows.
"Alr. X thought IL worth attention.
and wrote Ito Mr. Spencer informing nm
that the gentleman TO whom ne nan
written was dead, and inviting Iurther
Information about the enterprise III
d,o cour,e an answer came back from
Mr.. Spencer, full Of regrets that ms
dear old friend should have dleu Just
when the fruits of his adventure were
on the pdnt Of being gathered. In
noble spirit OF generosity, Mr. spencer
expressed tn desire Of himself ana MS
mariners that the dear old friends share
In the profits should be paid over TO ms
estate p-ovided that the executors
would carry the matter through bor
this purpose a meeting in New YORK was
suggested Again feeling that he would
not be justified in dropping the matter
Mr.. y. accepted the proposal and ar
ranged to meet his correspondent IN New
York.
"To New York he went accordingly. and
tbere met Mr.. Spencer and his friends.
/ They expressed surprise at finding him
so young , man. and on this ground be
traved reluctance to 90 further with the
business. Mr. ", however succeeded I'D
overcoming their scruples, and they pro-
| iuced the first sample Of the treasure
apparently native god in large nuggets.
| Mr. X wss 10 have every opportunity
NJ testing the value OF the stun FOR him
self. For This purpose two nuggets
Weighing about 600 ounces each, were
brought to him at his hote.. lie was IN
vted TO dnl them, and did so win a
centre-bit. The dust drilled out was col
lected on sheet of paper and taken pos
session OF 81 Mr.. Y. for further tests
He fused it himself into a lump and took
il TO a jeweier, who at once pronounced
II TO be pura gold and offered 10 buy II
as such.
"Having thus satisfied himself Mr.. y.
met his frlerds again. and tod them he
was ready - complete the transaction.
After complinenting him on the business
like way i'm which he had acted, they
told him that there was a great deal
more of the stun TO be taken TO Eng
land. and IL would be necessary for him
to make fouI journeys for the purpose,
but that he could now start with the
first two nugsets on payment of the
thousand olhds" The reader will OBJ
serve that net until this point is there
the slightest ldlcation as to what the
proceedings VIDE all tending TO.
Mr.. Y. exprtssed surprise at the men
ton Of the aousand pounds, and his
friends, on thtr side, were surprised "a
his surprise. The payment OF 1900 has
been clearly ateed TO in the correspond
ence with thd deceased Surely Mr.. Y
had seen ref4ences to II In looking
through his esbtor's correspondence? 4
an earlier perild. possibly, Mr.. X. nigh
have SHE'D at Tie suggestion that he wa
to buy gold Win gold; but, having thor
oughly satisfd himself OF the genuine
ness of the ttssure. 1t seemed 10 hin
fooiishness to iaise any difficulty over
mere matter ofdetail. He cabled to Eng
, land, accordingly. for the fl.o00, and. o.
its arrival paid IL over to Mr.. Spencer i
exchange for lh two nuggets. with whic
he departed f,i England.
1t will not sifprise the intelligent read
er to hear tia when he got home an
2 came TO have the precious metal assaye
1t proved 10 be worthless, being con
posed. il is said of iron pyrite'
slightly gildh and compressed b
l hydraulic pvssure in order
E give the ri,ht weight for bulk. TT
total cost of hese two precious nugget
2 10 Mr. X, Including his expenses out {
pocket. was fbout n.2o. No doubt
has already aAuired valuable experience
but II VIII probably be considered dear
the price"
The New York police said yesterda
, that this trick was an entirey new on
= to them, but hat they didn't doubt i
truth.
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