Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-07
Prominent Physician Approached
With an Old Story.
HAVE OPERATED IN OTHER CITIES
TWO Men Claiming to Be From Scot
land, Try to Raise Money BY Pawn
ing Alleged HeirIooms-Was Fake
Jewelry.
From Wednesdays Daily.

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Two young men who allege they on
ly recently arrived in this country
from Scotland, have been reported to
t,Se police as suspected swindlers.
Their names are not known, but it is
said a good description has been OBJ
tanned of them and an arrest is liable
at any time.
Their scheme smacks of originality
and it might be successfully worked
against person who was not thoroly
familiar with the ways of the world.
A prominent physician was approach
ed yesterday afternoon by the two
men who told story of being in fl
nancial difficulties and asked for aid
, They offered to put up as security for
small loan which they asked some
valuable jewelry, which they claimed
had been brought from Europe.
They said they had come to Ottum-
wa for the purpose of opening lace
making factory, their father being
spinner from Scotland. They claimed
they had a room rented across from
the postoffice, and upon which they
must make payment this morning or
they could not hold it. All they need
e. was about pound (s5), and hav-
descent, they came to him for aid
This was where they made their mis-
take, as the doctor himself was not
y Scotchman, however he was descend
ed from Scotch stock from his grand
mother. The stranger Immediately
began telling of a party by the same
name as the doctor whom he knew in
Scotland before he came to this coun
fry hI1f he ~ -
He told the men he would take the
jewelry to Neasham's jeweIry store
and have it examined and If it was all
right he would let them have the mon
ey. That was not what they wanted,
out. The doctor then went to the po-
lice station and reported the matter,
and the officers are looking for the
parties, and it is thought have them To-
Gated, and if any more attempts are
made In this manner they will be TAX
en- into custody.
1t has not been learned if anyone
has yet been caught by the men, and
1t is not thought it has yet been done,
or the matter would have been report
ed,
1t is claimed that these same par
+ leiSo hdtS WOIhSu IllS Sdule SSueLu0 Ill
s, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and two or
three other cities turnout the state
! and it was thought it is an organized
gang who are going from town to town
-swindling whom they can. The
scheme they worked in Waterloo was
the same as that they sprung here
yesterday. The police of the above
cities are after them closely, and it is
how I, foI I,<, 1,o
fore they get out of town.
Eldon, Feb. 6.-(SpeciaIl Two men
with strong Scotch accent were ar
rested here today, charged with sell
ing goods without a license. 1t devel-
oped however that they are also want
ed on the charge of swindling Mrs
John r. Kane, Rock Island engineer,
and Mrs. Hinkley, all of this place, out
OF sums aggregating S16.50. They are
also wanted,it is said, in Cedar Rapids
and Waterloo and other places for the
same kind of work.
The men represented that they We're
Scotchnlen just arrived and that they
We're lace makers. They said their
goods and tools were in the New York
custom house and they desired to
ralse enough money to pay the duty.
They also told story about being the
eldest of ten children in hard circum-
stances and that their mother had
sent them to Eldon, having heard Of
this place and the liberal spirit that
characterizes its people They wound
up their tale by asking for loan OF
IS pledging as security lace and silver
ware. They succeeded in inducing
Mesdames Kane and Hinkley and the
engineer to bite but before they could
get away We're placed under arrst
They were tried before Mayor Stauf-
Ter on the charge of peddling goods
withoutia license, the most serious
charge that could be brought against
them under the ordinance, and were
fined 81 each and costs. This they
were unable to pay and will be taken
to Ottumwa tonight and placed in jail.
1t is possible that more serious
charge will be brought against them
4 and that before they are released
several Iowa towns, including Ottum-
wa, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and 9TH
ers, will ask for chance to prosecute
them on the same charge.
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