The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-11
THE CASE OF Won BURG
1T RECALLS A RECENT SWiNDLING
GAME BY ONE ID. ID. DURHAM.
Obtained 500 Here but Is Wanted in
other PIaces-VOn Burg
Hires "a Lawyer.

Frank Won Burg, the clever-talking Aus
TRAN who was arrested Tuesday after buy
ing nearly S2OOO worth of goods from mer
chants of this city on credit, was before
Police Judge Cox yesterday. At the request
of the police the case was continued. In
the account of his doings published yester-
day morning injustice was done Mr.. w,
III. Messenger, from whom Won Burg Sc
cured mis- office furniture. 1t was said that
the goods were delivered TO the office rooms
without a scratch of a pen to show for the
transaction. This was not the fact. for Won
Burg signed printed contract in which
1t was agreed that the goods should be
paid for Monday morning. They were not
delivered until Saturday. On Monday
morning Won Burg told Mr.. Messenger that
his brother-in-law would not probably ar
rive until Tuesday. but gave the merchant
a check on the Merchants National Bank
for the amount due for the goods. This
check was of course. worthless. Mr.. Mes
sengers dealing with the man was about
such as any careful merchant would make
Won Burg also bought lot of goods for
his room at 70 East Vermont street from
Mr.. Messenger including mirror, stand
couch, pOrtieres and some smaller articles.
These Mr.. Messenger took possession of
yesterday without the necessity of process
of law. Won Burg boarded with Frank
Kinney and it appears that he swindled
Kinney to the extent of his board and $l4
in cash which he borrowed. He deposited
a typewriter for his board, but this was
taken yesterday by Dixon Edgerton, local
agent for the machine.
In speaking of the Won Burg case yester-
day MIR. Messenger recalled a case which &C.
Cured a few days ago in which he was
swindled out of 800 by a man who has thus
far evaded arrest. but who, il has de-
velOped, Is wanted for forgery and swind-
ling in score of places. For a day two
previous to the appearance of the swindler,
letters addressed 10 ID. ID. Durham were re-
ceived at the store. This was the name of
a furniture salesman from whom the mer-
chant had bought goods several years ago.
Durham had represented several different
Eastern houses and formerly made this city
regularly on his trips. When he called for
his mail he told the merchant that he was
representing the New York Parlor Furni--
ture Company. The merchant remembered
him we'll and the two talked of old times
for a while.
Durham had received three or four letters
and from one of them he took a draft.
BY George | am glad TO get this" he
said. Il need the money badly and i was
afraid IL would not be able to reach me
here.
He went on with the conversation and
showed samples of parlor suits. calling at
tention 10 one in particular which he said
he had sold to another furniture company.
He was unable to make a sale and left the
store. Later in the day he returned and
asked the merchant TO cash the draft for
him. 1t was drawn by the New York Par
lor Furniture Company upon the Chemical
National Bank of New York The mer-
chant did not have the 800 in the store
at the time. but sent his bookkeeper to the
bank and gave the amount to Durham.
In the course OF time the draft came back
unhonored and il was learned that Durham
was a fraud and that there was no such
a concern the New York Parlor Furni-
ture Company. The merchant then set
about investigating and learned that Dur
ham had but recently been released from
the penitentiary at Auburn. n. Y. where
he had served a term. He was sent up for
forgery committed at Rochester for which
he was arrested at Los Angeles. Other
firms known TO have been beaten in the
same way are the Comstock Furniture
Company of st. Louis, a Hartford Conn
furniture house. as well the proprietor
of the hotel with whom Durham stayed
while there; Irish * English. furniture
dealers OF Buffalo. and Adam Glass of Mo-
bile. A letter received from l.. b. Leonard.
of Cleveland. says Durham was there. but
went under the name of r. Il. Durham.
There he made the acquaintance of a
woman and robbed her of a watch and some
money. The case has been laid before the
grand jury here and an Indictment has al
ready been returned against Durham and
there is still hope OF capturing him.
Last night Won Burg employed Attorney
Orton 10 look after his interests. promising
to pay him out of funds which he said
would arrive this morning.
1t was stated yesterday that Won Burg
was engaged TO the daughter of Mrs. Davis.
with whom he boarded. His fiancee was a
young lady who boarded with Mrs. Davis.