The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-10-25
Smooth Swlndlers.

Smooth Swlndlers.
Thomas Dougherty, a wealthy farmer
of Bluff Creek township, was caught by
gold brick sMindlers,and his experience
cost him $1,000. Mr.. nopgherty lives
seven miles north, Of Abba, and on Oc-
tober 2, strangers called, at his, home
and asked if he was Thomas DAugherty.
He received reply in the affirmative.
He then told Mr.. Dougherty a sad story
Of the disappearance Of an uncle by the i
name of Thomas Dougherty, whom it
was thought was dead, who had not
been seen for twenty years. Could tins
be his long lost uncle?
Mr.. Dougherty thought not. told the
stranger he had plenty Of this worlds
goods and wanted none of the $50, 600 in
cash that awaited the uncle when found
nor any Of the vast mining claims that
awaited his Identification. The stranger
who gave his name as Sam Black and his
residence as in Arizona, insisted that he
must be some relative and it was neces-
sary for his signature to documents that
the heirs might come into possession and
enjoy the property. He told Mr..
Dougherty that the partner Of his uncle
Thos. Dougherty was named Colby and
he had written a letter to him. He then
took from his, pocket letter which he
gave to Mr.. Dougherty. The letter was
dated Aug. 70, at Yuma, Arizona, and
told If the warm welcome that awaited
his partner OH his return, of the large
amount of money that he would come
into possession of, and of the life of
quiet ease and luxury that would be his.
The stranger, broached the subject
that Mr. Dougherty 60 to Ottumwa with
him to investigate, and told the family
he would enter claim for each member
of the family. Mrs. Dougherty told
Mr.. Dougherty to go but to sign no
papers.
The two men came to. Abba, and Mr..
Dougherty attended to numerous err
rands, the stranger sticking to him like
leech and going to the treasurer's Of.
flee where Mr.. Dougherty paid his taxes.
The two men took train No. 4 for OF
tumwa and went to the Park hotel
where the stranger paid all bills and
they went to their rooms. Black had
his trunks sent up. to, the room, and he
took map and showed Wucle Tom
about the location of valuable mining
claims. He told the old Indian story
los years old; mine lost during Mexican
war, whereabouts known by the Indian
woman who had impaired the informa.
ton to Black, who was half breed and
grandson of the old lady. The real
value of the mine was not known as it
had never been worked except on the
Iquiet. The stranger had samples of the
gold with him, and he showed MIR.
IDougherty two gold bars, each Is inches
in length, 4 inches wide and 2 inches
thick. There was plenty of this gold in
sight, but he did not know the real val.
ue of it, and suggested they 60 out and
sec jeweler. The bricks were wrapped
up and the two men went out. The
stranger stepped into jewelry store
| while Mr.. Dougherty remained in front.
When he came out he had card on
which was printed, Charles l.. Moore,
Room 4, Ballingall." This man, said
the stranger, lis the only man in the
| city no can tell the true value Of this
ore. lie is government assayer and
happened to be here for a few days.
He suggested they go and see him.
They went to the Ballingall, the stranger
tstepped to the counter and asked the
Iclerk if there was man stopping
there by the name of Charles L.
Moore. II guess l am the man
you are looking for. Can l do any.
thing for your" asked another stranger as
he stepped forward. Black replied that
| he was looking for a government assay.
Ter, and if Moore had room they would
go it. Moore had room and the
three men went to it. Black opened his
packages and asked the assayer what
kind of metal it was. "Gold" replied
the assayer, after he had taken knife
and made an examination. elbow
fine?" asked Black. The assayer then
said he could tell no more unless he was
paid for it. Black told him, to make a
thorough test and he would pay him.
Drills, scales, acid, etc, were brought
out and the examination was made.
The assayer drilled several holes in the
bars and weighed them, and offered
Black $40 for few drillings. Black de.
ferred. He asked the assayer what the
bars were worth and was told $25, 900.
The assayer then made out certificate
that he had assayed them for Sam Black
and Thomas Dougherty. The certificate
was signed by the United States Score.
tary of the Treasury and many other Of.
ticials and a United States stamp was
impressed in one of the corners. The
assay was what caught Mr.. Dougherty
In the further dickering between the
Eassayer and Black, the latter said he
needed some money to do further pros.
pecting, that he did not want to sell the
bricks but would leave them as security
| for sixty days for 81 900. Mr.sDougher.
ty bit. He said he would take them
~