The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-22
TRIED TO BUNCO A CHESHIRE MAN.
Samuel Norion's Narrow Escape From the
Wiles of Two Clever Crooks.


Meriden, Oct. 21-Samuel Norton, a
wealthy resident of Cheshire had a
very narrow escape to-day from losing
$500 by bunco men, and were it not
for the apparent timidity of the sharp
ers they would probably have been sue
cessful
1t was the old, OLD game-a stranger
wanting to buy real estate, and the
three-card trick.
Mr. Norton, who is about seventy
years of age, owns great deal of real
estate, which includes three large busi-
ness blocks in this city. Early last
week he was visited at his home on
Cheshire street by man claiming to
represent Springfield paper and who
desired him to get Mr. Norton to ad-
vertise if he had any property to dis
pose of.
Mr.. Norton gave the man an adver-
tisement, but failed, however, to see it
in subsequent editions of the paper.
This afternoon a man of well-to-do
appearance drove up to the Norton
homestead and, remarking that he had
seen the property advertised for sale,
asked to be shown over the place. Mr.
Norton gladly accommodated him, and
after viewing the house and walking
about the premises the stranger sug-
gested that, as the grounds were so
spacious, Mr.. Norton get into his car
riage and they would drive along the
road to get better idea of the extent
of the estate, to which proposition Mr..
Norton readily acquiesced.
After driving along the road a short
distance a man afoot was met, who in
quired the way to Waterbury. A brief
talk followed, during which the stran-
ger created the impression that he was
somewhat demented. He displayed a
large roll of bills which he said amount
ed to $4,000 After conversation lead
ing up to the point the three-card
monte game was introduced by the
pseudo stranger to the would-be real
estate purchaser, and after varying for
tune the latter was winner to the eX-
tent of $500.
Mr.. Norton was then induced to play,
and on the suggestion of his compan-
ion, who coached him as to the cards
to play, he was soon a winner of a like
sum. This apparently angered the man
who proposed the game, and before
playing further he wanted to know if
Mr.. Norton was able to pay him should
he have lost instead of won the $500.
To satisfy him, it was agreed that the
party drive to Meriden and that Mr..
Norton draw that amount from the
bank.
The three men came to this city, but
before reaching the bank the two stran-
gers stopped the team near the Bradley
& Hubbard factory and promised to
wait for him there. Mr.. Norton pro-
ceeded to the bank and drew the money,
but on returning there were no signs of
his new-made friends. The fact then
dawned upon him that he had been in
the hands of sharpers, and he at once
returned to the bank with the money.
Tonight he has his farm hands sit
ting up so as to be prepared for noe
turnal visit, and he is in a greatly ex-
ercised state over his narrow escape.
The winnings of Mr. Norton and his
companion were placed in a box under
the carriage seat when the party were
driving to the bank. Mr.. Norton de-
scribes the man who called upon him
apparently to purchase property to be
about forty years Of age and gave
every indication of being a wealthy
business man.