The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-26


a. ]. LOOMS a farmer In Los Ange-
les county. California, is a former
wheeling man. Recently he was made
the victim Of smooth scheme on the
gold brick order. The Los Angeles
Times tells the story as follows:
Frank A. Marcher. erstwhile proprie-
tor of the Rival iewelry store at No. 2S1
South Broadway, and alleged now to
have perpetrated a swlndle along gold
brick lines on h. ]. LoomIs, Cucamon-
ga farmer, by which the latter stands
to lose Sl,iOo cash. left suddenly for
Mexico, supposedly some time between
10 O'Clock Saturday night and Z o'clock
yesterday morning, a warrant for his
arrest on charge OF obtaining money
under false pretenses was Issued from
Justice Sections court in Baitona town
ship, early yesterday morning. A man
answering the description Of the fugl-
tive was seen on the east-bound train
at TacnR, Arizona. Accordingly, eX-
Marshal Gard, who has the case In
hand, wired the police at Tucson TO de-
tain him.
Mr.. Looniis has accumulated several
thousand dollars. only after many years
OF hard work. He has heard OF Interest
on money and such things. and came to
the city last winter 70 invest part OF his
capital In December Of last year he
met a man who called himself Jackson,
who was living at the LOOMS lodging
house, where he represented ne had
considerable valuable property stored.
He claimed, further, that he was but
recently from Seattle, where he had
been in the iewelrP business, and that
In expectation OF starting In a similar
business here, he had brought with
him q selection OF his most costly Jew
elry, valued, he said, at $500. He was
In need OF some ready cash, however,
and IL Mr.. Loomis wished an Invest
ment, there was certainly none better
to be found than to loan him $1,1OO on
this reserve property Of his. Desiring
to impress Farmer Loomls with his abb
ject honesty, he suggested that he
should not take his word alone for the
value Of the jewelrV, but have 1t APP
praised by man with an expert
knowledge Of the value OF jewelry and
valuables generally The watches and
things were taken TO Marcher, who said
the lot was worth $500 at wholesale
prices.
Loomls gave Jackson the $t.1OO he de-
sired to borrow, taking In return a
ninety days note bearing monthly In
terest. The jewelry was securely wrap
ped In canvass and sealed, and then
placed in a small trunk in the vaults OF
the Farmers and Merchants bank.
In April the note became due, and
about that time LOOMS received a let
ter from Jackson dated San Francisco,
through Marcher, saying that Jackson
was unable to meet the amount OF the
note, but that he would gladly pay In
terest on 1t, and asked that the trunk at
the bank be not disturbed, as he priced
It's contents highly, and did not wish to
have II meddled with. He would be In
the city shortly, he promised, and ar
range everything to their mutual satls-
faction. Mr.. Loomts admired the style
of Mr.. JackEon's writing, thought well
OF the contents Of the letter, and con-
graduated himself that he was TO get
more interest, with the capital still pre-
served intact, as he thought.
But now there Is hiatus OF three
months. and still no settlement Of the
note. Mr.. Loomis consulted with an
attorney, who, In turn. gave the de-
tectiVe part Of the case In charge Of ex-
Marshal Gard. Finally, It occurred to
the lawyer TO have the trunk opened
and see what fits contents were. The
stun the trunk contained was taken to
an expert jeweier, who appraised it at
Just $3.50.
The following day Jackson was ar
rested. but Mr.. Loomls has not recover
ed his money.