Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-24
THE ITALIAN GOT BIT
Thomas RiGhee, an Ogden Saloon.
kespeF SWindled By a "Frlend."
OUT 500 AND A GOLD WATCH.
Tia Smooth Customer REPRESENTED
Himself as Commercial Traveller
with Money.

Thomas Richee. an Italian sBloon-
keeper Of Ogden, came to grief yester.
day by being led away through the
cunning crsftlness of man. He re.
posed too much confidence In q
smooth.toDgued, sugar-coated travel
ing man, and before the day WAS o'er
found that he had been victimized TO
the tune of 800 and a gold watch
valued at about $50.
Yesterday moraing Rlchee was in
his saloon as was his daily wont mix.
Ing decoctions to cult the tastes OF his
customers, when 10 stepped dignl-
fed gentleman with business
Ike air, who at once repre-.
scented himself az a commercial
traveller for Wholesale whisky
house. He wanted to sell Thomas
barrel OF old bourbon or the purest
rye whichever he saw fit to purchase.
lie would make him very easy terms
on the same and guarantee absolu to
satisfaction. Ricbee ia not on speak,
ing terms with the English language
but, however. his newhstched com.
rnde was equal to that emergency and
ratified of Italian with the fiuency of
n professor. This pleased the doughty
little man from Italy's sunny shores
amt he was greatly taken up with his
unfledged comrade, In fact so much SO
as 10 agree to the purchase OF u barrel
OF his best whisky. Married In friend.
ship, so 10 speak, the visitor
felt that he must return his
compliments for the order received and
therefore asked Richee to take q run
down to Salt Lake with him. The
Italian acceded 10 the tequest, with
the understanding that his frienu was
to TO the host and put up the cash to
meet ell exDenses OF the short junket.
The travelling man made believe
that in his peregrlnations he hRd been
playiOg To big business, anu opening a
small bag which he carried, he ex.
posed to view three sealed envelopes
bulging with currency (?) anu hand.
kerchief full OF $50 (?) goid pieces. On
seeing this the Italian was delighted
and felt that his friend was equal to
put upR treat of splendid proportions.
The latter, however, made known to
kichee that he uiu not care
to get down into his plethorIc
purse until Salt Lake was reached,
| hence he would he Obliged IL Mi.
| Rlchee would take Glong few dollars
to meet the minor expenses of the trim
| for the time being. "Why certainly,O
said MI. Richie, anu going down into
his etockIng he took therelrom roll of
$50 In greenbacks ana the two started
i0r Salt Lake.
The lriD was a delightful one to both
parties, ns IL was replete with pleasant
conversation and congratulations to the
Italian Tor his success In business. On
the way the commercialiman su gested
that Mr.. Rlchee take charge OF the
money.bag, Ia which he could also
place his $40. This was agreed
to and INTO the bag went the
Acknowledgements ninety while his
companion surrendered to him
full charge If his pile of gold ana
United States currency. In OusStims
salt Lake was reached ana inc pair
sailed forth TO have a pleasant time
together.
Tho afternoon was spent In and out
OF saloOne, aud In having "a good time
generally, Richee all the while taking
charge Of the money.bag, although at
times laying 1t down by his side when
tuking drink or attending to other
business. Night came on and the
Italian suggested return to the
Junction City. Finally 1t was agreed
between them that the salUou.keeler
go ON TO Ogden, taking with him the
money, and that his friend would
came up on the morning train.
Here's where Riehee thought
se hal his pal "dead to rights" anu he
quickly consented TO the proposition
aud after loaning his friend his $50
gold watch boarded the train for Ogden
with the mOney-bgg in one hand and
his railroad tickle. in the other.
When the saloon-keeper reached
home, he opened the EAtcheI and found
10 his surprise that the 500 he had
placed therein was gone. However,
ninety he thought, was but mere
bagateile to that which his friend mad
In the bag anu so he oegan to open up
tie sealed envelopes which bulged
with currency. The currency found
in them was not what was ex-
pecteu, however, RS the envelopes
contained nothing but newspaper
or two folded up IN letter-llke fashion.
rnen the handkerchief Of gold pieces
vas opened and found to contain
nothing more nor less than u hundred
or So 2.inch washers, which jiugled
not unlike the genuine stuff. The
Italian saw that he had been swindled
and on this mornings train ne came
to this city, hunting Tor the man from
whom he lad ordered barrel OF
whisky.
The supposition is that the travelling
man GOT into the bag when Riches
was not locking, ana extracted there
from the only genuine currency that
1t contained. The police have the
case In hand, but 1t Is only another
example OF mankind disregsrding
Poionius's Advice to his Son aud get
ting bit.