The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-10
SUCKER FROM WYOMING
Chapman and Chatfen Found
Guilty of Buncoing Mr..
Thompson.
THE ANCIENT LOCK TRICK
WAS TIE MEANS EMPLOYED TO
SKIN THE VICTIMS.
Out of About Sa5-The Defendants
Had IL Jury TriaI-Fined $T5 Ench
ana Sent to Jail or Fifty Days
They Take an Appeal to the Dis
trict Court ana Put Up Bonds.


trfct Court and Put Up Bonds
The entire day in Judge Wenger's
1 court yesterday was taken up in hear
ing the case of James Chapman and
Chester Chatter, the confidence men
who, it is alleged. buneoed William
Thompson, an unsophisticated raneher
from Rock Springs, Wyo, out of about
S35. a jury heard the case which
terminated in the conviction of both
men. compartments testimony being
taken against the bunco steerers. At
: torney Hamilton conducted the de-
Tense and Clerk Shoup represented
/ the people in a manner that puts him
to the front as a prosecutor
As soon as the case was called At
torney Hamilton demanded a jury and
this was granted. Very little time
was lost in securing six good citizens
who would be able to judge the ac-
cused mems guilt or Innocence from
the evidence pure and simple and the
hearing went on.
HOW HE LOST HIS CASH.
The complaining witness, Mr..
Thompson, took the stand and told
how he lost the money. He was walk
ing along West First South street, he
said. when he was accosted by a
smooth-shaven. slick-looking indi-
vidual who since turned out to be
Chatter. The stranger spoke to him,
asking which car to take for Fort
/ Douglas and what might be going on
at the fort. Witness told him he knew
nothing about the street railway ser
vice and much less about Fort Doug
las. Chatter then said he was a
stranger in the city and this statement
ELECTED similar information from
Thompson as to himself The conf
dence man thereupon grew a little
more friendly and asked Thompson if
he would not like to go through the
temple The latter told him he did
not think anyone but the best of Nor
mons were allowed to cross the thresh-
old of that sacred edifce.
That's true" replied the bunco
steerer. but 1 have a brother who is
a prominent physician in the city. He
frequently takes strangers through and
if you would like to have look at the
inside we'll get him to pilot us through
and it viii be all right. See?"
Still Thompson didn't "see" and pro-
tested it would be useless to try.
"Oh but l know what l am talking
about" pleaded Chatter. My brother
married bishops daughter and is on
the inside with the authorities"
But the former was unswayed by
these persuasions only to swallow an
other bait that was at once thrown
out
WENT TO SEE THE CRAZY MAN.
Would you like to see the crazy
man." said Chatter changing his
tack.
The crazy man." responded Thomp-
son. Where is hep"
All, just come along with me-" said
the confidence man as he motioned
down Commercial street.
The sucker followed and they walked
down that street few feet when all
of a sudden Chatter picked up an in
nocent looking paddock. Can you
open it?" he asked the former The
ruraltst tried but failed. Then Chat
ten volunteered to show him how it
was done, and of course it was all easy
enough-all a man had to do was to
touch a spring and the contrivance
flew open. Thompson tried it several
times and was successful.
In the meantime the new made &C,
quaintance had reached the end of the
street and had just stepped onto Sec
ond South when they met a tall.
well-dressed individual of rather
distinguished appearance. This
turned out afterwards to be
Chapman, a pal of Chatten. who had
succeeded in bringing the game almost
into the iot. Now, it happened that
this distinguished looking individual
wanted some information about a GER
tain place and queried Chatten This
opened the conversation and soon
Chairman was telling about his great
winnings at horse races. He was Just
from California for a little time and
gave Chatter and Thompson TO under
staEd he had plenty Of money This
led c12akten to ask him if he could
Oman the lock which had just been
found
Now. I'll just bet anything You
cant open this" said Chatter. hand
ing over the lock.
We'll if you think you can bluff a
sporting man. I'll just fool you a
bunch" replied Chapman. as he pulled
a handful Of what appeared to $50
gold pieces out of his pocket,
But Chaeten had no money and turn
ed to Thompson for a loan. Now
Thompson knew all about the trick of
opening the lock. which was difficult
when a man didn't know how but
quite easy after once learning it. So
the former handed over to Chatter a
So bill. Chapman put up S. against it
and lost-failing to open the lock, while
Chacfen counted ten.
THE SUCKER BITES.
The Rock Springs man got the money
and thought he had run against a
snap and one of the best fellows a
stranger could ever meet.
Chapman. however. was not salts
fled with his loss and offered to bet
$50 thar he could open the lock while
Chatter counted ten. Well now, that
was a dead easy game and Thompson
was not slow in going into his jeans.
He fshed out about $40 and the agree
ment was that he should act as stake
holder, but somehow or other Chatter
got the money into his hands.
One. two. three. four five six"
the loci; f1ew open and Chapman
grabbed the money out of Chauen's
hands and disappeared down the street.
Chatter and Thompson followed and
caught up with Chapman just as he.
was boarding a street car going down
Main street. Chatter Joined him, leav
ing the Wyoming man behind to medi-
tate. A a street car conductor saw
the confidence men board the car, and
asked Thompson if he knew them.
ss-Thsv are sha r-nerS - he added