The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-19

his attorney. IT, W. Masters, conceived
the idea of applying to a Cook county
Judge for a writ OF habeas corpus.
DANGER IN THE PRECEDENT
This was a poser for Judge Payne.
There was no law against IT, ana IL was
easy TO see how. in some cases, the right
OF personal liberty might require an APP
plication for n writ TO judge AT DIS
tance. But the horror excited by the
danger Of making such precedent over
came Judge Payne. and though the writ
of habeas corpus is a writ OF right. he
disc,aimed the jurisdiction and oenied the
writ.
This decision was a matter OF great
Importance and would have excited con-
siderable interest II II had not been over
Swallowed by the Irresistible fascination
Of the gold brick story. But with petit
ton in court setting forth that gray
haired business man, who mad made
large fortune out OF coal ana IRON. had
bought a $500 gold brick. the novel law
point was quite overlooked and forgotten.
and the Fulton county people were over
whemed with requests FOR the particulars
OF the gold brick story.
GAINING THE OLD MANS FAVOR.
In the latter part OF 1893 n young man,
calling himself Frank Fisher. and hail
ing from Missouri. came 10 canton and
made the acquaintance Of honest John
Fisher. Frank gradually proved 10 Mr..
Fisher that they were distant relatives.
Frank said that he was there on business
connected with the great Fisher estate I'm
Missouri. Of which, he insisted, Mr. Fish
er was one OF the heirs.
II was not until these pleasing decisions
had soaked into Mr. Fishers mind for six
months that Frank one day solemny con-
hded 10 him a great business secret. This
secret was that Frank owned a gold mine
OF almost fabulous value somewhere in
the west. and that he was on his way 10
Philadelphia, 10 sell at the United States
mint two immense thirty-two pound gold
ingots. the output Of his mine.
These ingots he said were in charge OF
his Indian servant, orion. who. for safe
keeping. had buried them In piece OF
woods near Canton. Frank said he was
really afraid 10 go to Philadelphia or TO
let Orion go, for fear the ingois would be
lost and the gold mine discovered. In
short, he sincerely wished Mr. Fisher
would take them OFF his hands AT a great
ly reduced price
Mr.. Fisher said no. But. at Franks re-
quest. he accompanied I'm 10 the woods
to take just one look at the immense
ingots. As they drew near TO the spot
Orion. who was To have unearthed the
treasure, darted away into the brush.
not. however until Mr.. Fisher had got
a good look at him. Never mind" said
Frank, Il know where they are buried
and ! will dig them up myself He dug
them up. and the sight Of them nearly
made Mr. Fisher faint. But Frank COW
cred them up again and they went back
TO Canton.
Two days later Frank had another talk
with Mr. Fisher.
"Oh. N.Y." he said. "Orion is getting
restless and wants 60 rush OF To see his
family. That is the way with those In
dams. But what in the world will ! DO
with those .ngots? m tell you what |
will do. They are worth $32 600, but give
me 5000 and you shall have one-third
interest in them Come now"
Mr. Fisher said that was very kind OF
him, but that no sensible man would buy
a gold brick unless It was bored into and
tested with acids.
VERY true" replied Frank. "and we
will have these ingots tested this very
day. We will 90 out in the buggy ana
get them. and make some borngs, and
then get the jeweler here in Canton 10
test them"
The transparent fairness OF this propo-
sitlon completely captivated Mr. Fisher
who went with Frank and exhumed the
ingots and made the bOrings. They then
drove 10 the jewelers., and Frank said
Mr.. Fisher need not get out OF the buggy
as he would go In and have the tests
made. So he went in, but came out again
quickly. with the information that the
jeweler had referred him 10 government
assayer who had that day arrived IN
Canton and was at the hotel. The jeweler
had given him the assayers card.
Now that looks like business said
Mr. Fisher. IF a government assayer in
dorses those bricks I will give you 1900
for one Of them. But want TO be sure
am right first"
The government assayer was easily
found. He called himself John 4. Graham.
He took a languid interest In the mat
ter. but was induced to test the borings.
When he was through he remarked dry
~: Where did you get that? l Will give
you s. for what l have OH my hand.
Frank thanked him. but told him he
was only after information. He ana Mr.
Fisher then withdrew, and, within an
hour Mr. Fisher had one OF the gold
bricks, Frank had 5000, and Frank ana
the assayer had disappeared II was an
other week before Mr. Fisher remarked.
II am an old fool"
Mr.. Fisher then spent 5000 IN trying 10
run down the swindlers. As a-result OF
the outlay he learned that Frank Fisher
was a man of many names, that the IN
dian Orion's proper name was Ed. Rei,
that the supposed assayer was John D.
Snearly. and that the three were the e!ev-
crest gold brick trio in the United states.
They have sold bricks az Birmingham
Ala. Houston, Texas, Keokuk, Iowa
Pinckneyville H.. and Cairo. III. SnearV
was arrested at Pinckneyvihe.