The Press., 1896-07-23
The following from Mondays Hartford


 Post may be of interest to local readers:
 Chief of Police Pease, from Pittsfleld, Mass, arrived at Bennington, Vt., last Thursday evening in answer 10 telegram sent him that person supposed to be a bunco man was held there on suspicion of being a man wanted in his section for carrying on 8 gold brick business, and who claimed his innocence. On 8 late train arrived Deputy Sheriff Studley, of Palmer, Mass. who was accompanied by Augustus Spellman, of Stafford Springs, Conn, who was buncoed out of $5, ,OOO Saturday, June 3, by two sharpers playing the three card monte game. MT. Spellman had an inter view with MT. Holland, the suspected man, and immediately declared that he was not the man that fleeced him. MT. Spellman said to the correspondent that this affair had not been in the papers yet, but finally was induced to tell his story. He appears to be well-tO-dO farmer, is apparently 70 years of age, with long white beard and white hair. He said that on that morning 8 we'll appearing man drove up to his house, hitched his team and calling upon him, said that he heard that he had some land to sell, and that he wanted to buy place on which to erect home for two old people that were wealthy and related to him. At the strangers request MT. Spellman accom- panied him, showing him a part of the farm, all of which pleased the man who decided to take part of it. He spoke of leading men in Holland, Conn.,, that he knew, and Mir. Spellman said he convinced him that he knew everybody there. On their return to the house they were met by a man who inquired the way to the village and started a conversation. He soon pulled out pack of cards and start ed game. MT. Spellman was allowed to win the first two, but he says that he did not take a dollar of the fellows money The old story followed, and finally MT. l Spellman, accompanied by the party who went out with him, drove back to the will lage, went to the bank, gave a note for thirty days, got the money, drove back and met man No. 3, paid over the money and got package that he was sure con- tained more than the equivalent for the $5 900 he had paid out. On their return he was dropped from the wagon so as to allow man No. 1 to go back and see the other man, but who was to return for him Not doing so, MT. Spellman went home and in the presence of his wife and daugh- ter opened the package, only to find, as l he says, that he had been fleeced out Oi $5, ,OOO. He says the cashier of the bank told him afterward that he was suspicious that he was in the hands of sharpers, get ting so much money at one time, and was going to caution him. but he thought that he was too old a man and too we'll posted MT. Spellman says that he kept the mat ter out of his home papers, and that as far as he knew no one had ever known the amount he lost. He says he has much sympathy expressed for him, and that while he hated to lose the money the note will be paid when due, and every dollar that he owes will be paid at 1OC cents. Mir. Spellman returned home in the afternoon, and he says he doesn't think he shall spend any more time or money in trying to identify people unless he has better proof than he had this time. Chief of Police Pease also returned with him, and MT. Holland remained here and states that he is going to bring suit fol false arrest and detention for forty-eight | hours.