The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-28
NOW A PAUPER,
Strange Career of Gold Dust
SWindler.
Took 100000 Out OF Russia
Then Fled to America.
HAS MADE MILLIONS.
Forced to Crime Men of Great
Prominence
Surprising Story Told by a
Chicago Prisoner.

Chicago, Feb 2S-A lifetime devoted
to crime forced into the ways that lead
to disgrace and the penitentiary by men
who knew his past and refused to grant
him the opportunity to reform, Nathan
Lahtmon, the gold dust swindler under
arrest at the Maxwell street station, Is
a pauper, notwithstanding that he has
taken almost half a million dollars from
his victims in the last 80 years. When
he faced the photographer at the
bureau of identification he was recog-
nized by Captain Evans as one of the
oldest and most elusive members of the
band of swindlers with which he has
been operating throughout the coun-
try.
When he found that there was no
escape from the history of his past he
candidly confessed his identity and sur
prised the police with the story of his
life. At the present time ne is wanted
in three eastern cities for swindles that
Melted almost $4,000, and rewards
amounting to several thousand dollars
are offered for his apprehension. AS
the case against him in Chicago was
nipped in the bud by Captain Wheeler's
officers before any money changed
hands, it is likely he will be sent to one
of the other cities where the swindles
were actually carried out, and where,
as a consequence, he will be dealt with
more severely.
Lahtmon, according to his recital, OPP
Grated as a swindler in Russia for Is
years before coming to America, and
amaSsed a fortune of $780, 900. He esti-
mates that he victimized as many as
a hundred people, some of them high in
the politics of the old world, but he al
ways escaped punishment because in
every case he had associated with him
men equally high in power as were his
victims, and it was to their interest to
keep him safe from the embrace of a
prison.
Ten years ago he met with reverses
that cost him most of his il-gOtten
wealth, and he was forced to flee the
country. He arrived in New York with
scarcely 81, 900 in his possession, but he
says he was comforted by his newly
formed determination to lead an honest
life. He located his wife and two boys
in a back street and not far away he
established a secondhand store.
But this good resolution did not last
long. One day he was sought out by
man who was conversant with his past
crimes, though they had never met be-
fore. The stranger insisted that Laht-
mon put aside the role of dealer in cast
off clothes and go back with him to
the task of making people with money
believe brass was gold. He protested
at first, he says, but the threat to eX-
pose his history drove him to obey his
new acquaintance.
This man, Lahtmon says was Simon
Gabovich, who became the leader of the
Clique with which Lahtmon identified
himself The first attempt at swindIing
was with a man named Greensphan, who
lived in New York, as the victim. Laht-
mon was advised to try Greensphan by
GabOvich and a detective attached to
the New York force, who he says from
that time on was one of the prime NOV
ers in the operations of the gang He
did his work so well that the victim
gave up SO, 100 before he discovered that
the $4,000 worth of gold he was buying
was only a few dollars worth of brass
filings.
Lahtmon says his share of this swim
die was only $500 land he fled to Mon
treal with a fresh resolution to make an
honest living in the future. But he says
his pals told GreenSphan where he was
and secured $500 for the information.
Then he had to part with every cent he
possessed to induce his victim not to
prosecute him.
Gabovich rejoined him in a short time
and supplied him with money until they
could carry out a fresh swindle in
Pittsburg with Simon Greenburg for a
victim. They secured 81, 700 and Gabo-
vich took it all. Lahtmon was arrested
and served two years in Allegheny
prison for the offense. Then he met with
GaboVich and the New York detective
again, and they went to Baltimore,
where they secured $4,000. In Boston
they obtained 5000 from Israel Meyers,
and then LahtmOn again tried to re-
form. He fed to Holden, Mo, and en-
gagged in the shoe business, but Gabo-
vich turned up and threatened exposure
and sold more brass filings for $4,000,
and from there they journed to Cleve-
land, o.
They selected a wealthy saloonkeeper,
Max Borenstein, and Lahtmon became
acquainted with him through another
sa1Oonkeeper named Jacobs. Jacobs be-
Heved the brass was gold and he ad-
Vised his friend to make the purchase.
Borenstein paid 81, 430 for three canvas
bags filled with shining yellow filings,
and it was four months later that he
discovered the swindle. He thought
Jacobs had helped to rob him and the
innocent gO-between was indicted and
sent to the penitentiary. His daughter
had met Lahtmon and she set out to
trace him down and clear her fathers
called at the Maxwell street station yes
terday and added her testimony to the
prisoners tale.
Lahtmon's next venture was in the
store business at Hillsboro, Tex, but
he was joined there by his partner and
a third man. Together they sWindled a
man named King out of a few hundred
dollars and then Lahtmon came to
vich, who was ever present to tempt
and threaten him, was waiting in New
York for news of his operations, when
he was arrested here.
LahtmOn's intended victim here was
r. Lowenthal, a wholesale metal dealer
at SIS Canal street. He interested his
victim thoroughly and even allowed
him to take away samples which proved
to be % karat gold. But Lowenthal
was suspicious and conferred with
Capt. Wheeler, who detailed Detectives
Eagan, ShaughneSSy, keefe and Leyden
to learn something of the man with the
from 206 Sangamon street to evade the
police, but last Saturday night they ar
rested him at IT Fisk street and sur
prised his wife few hours later as she