New-York tribune., 1901-11-17
NOT so EASY" AS He APPEARED.
RJrFFAJ.O MAN LET BUNCO STEERERS
LEAD HIM ON AND THEN
ELJDED THEM.

Albert Horn, a we'll to do business man OF
| Buffalo has been visiting in New-York for
few days incidentally, attempt was made
to bunco Albert Horn. To the untutored eye
he NAV look like farmer but he is far from
| being hayseed He is telling with great deal
of glee how he was picked up by gang or
sharpers easy prey and how he eluded them
Mr.. Horn to start with. wears the clothes and
has the general bearing OF a solid citizen. He
carries grip and wears on his face what the
bunco call "a little bunch of whiskers on
the chin" He looks placid. benevolent and ap-
proachable, His home is at No. 212 Thompson
st. Buffalo. and among his neighbors he is re-
garded as a keen shrewd business man. How
could the bunco men know this?
Yesterday morning Horn walking down
Murray-st.. carrying his little grip and watch
ing the signs on both sides of the street look
ing for friend who runs commission store.
Suddenly a stranger accosted him ana salo'
Hello Jones, When did you get In town!
Mr.. Horn eyed him benevoenty, backed Off ana
said genially My name isn't Jones. l have
been here couple of days
so" said the stranger. What Is your
name?'
Horn. Albert Horn" said the kindly looking
old gentleman "and I live in Buffalo
Excuse me- All mistake said the stranger
AMI backed into a convenient doorway. Mr.
Horn started on. He had only gone short dis
tance when another stranger stopped him and
said boisterously:
Hello. Horn When did you get down from
Buffalo,"
Il don't know you" said Mr.. Horn simply.
WHY. YES YOU do" said the other reas-
suringly My name IS Bloch My uncle Is
cashier in the Citizens Bank. in Buffalo, and I
have you in the bank many time.
Nc" said Mr.. Horn warily, II was never in
the Citizens Bank in my life" And then ne
added. Maybe it is my brother you met. He
looks something like me-
That must be it," said the stranger efusiVe-
ly and then. How long do you expect to be
here?" To this Mr.. Horn replied that he was
going to return to Buffalo last night. The
stranger said: Just the man want. VIII you
do me favor? have picture I want you to
take my uncle. viii you do it? Certain
ly," said Mr.. Horn bengnantly. Then the
stranger proposed that they go to his Office. and
they started.
HE paid my carfare. and I that much
ahead" said Mr.. Horn yesterday. in relating his
experience. Well ne continued. he took NE
some place uptown in Thrteenth-st. He told
me the way that ne was in the woollen
business and that he had Tartner. When we
got TO his office found it packed full of samples
and rolls OF cloth. We no sooner got there than
things began to happen"
To follow out Horns story is simply recital
of old and threadbare bunCo game. The
partner the stranger referred TO proved to De
out. While they were waiting for him TO come
back a man. from all appearances farmer,
stroed In and asked for the missing partner.
Not finding him in he sat down and took hand
in the conversation. The alleged farmer sald
he had just come in from Texas; that he had
sold a whole bunch of cattle for 81 800: that ne
was staying at a motel In the Bowery. and that
the night before the proprietor OF the hotel took
him out and ne had become Interested in a card
k,I 1rrf
farmer. Il learned the trick" With this he
pulled out a deck of cards and the old three
card monte game was started. The alleged
farmer turned 20 the alleged Bloch and said:
I bet YOU you can't tell which card is the !
Joker" He gave Bloch the cards to shuttle and
one corner of the joker that they could see I
what IL was. and then bet the farmer 1he i
cards were spread out and Bloch picked up the /
joker.
well by gum said the bLnco farmer, and
handed over 50 Bloch handed the money back +
and said "Old man. II You lost 500 last night /
don't want your money" The farmer seemed
pleased at this. and then asked Horn to try. /
BY this time Horn suspicious but he said 1
nothing. He lifted up the card with the bent /
corner Again the farmer said, Buy gum. and |
suggested that they try again. He handed out /
Horn got up and said dryly. My friend 1 |
don't want your money and YOU don't get any OF |
had better take the rest OF the $1,000 left you .
and buy draft on your home bank payable to
you there. Good day"
The sharpers tried TO detain Horn, but he
went out of the building. He busy
over the attempt TO bunco him that
he forgot to look at the number of the building
he had been in
II am sorry didn't get the number he said
IN closing his tale. But was so amused
the whole thing that l clean forgot 1t until II
was late. As l leaving the place the
nan with the picture for his uncle in Buffalo
asked where he could meet me TO give me the
picture. tolG him that If he didn't look out he
was likely TO meet in a police station"