The Washington times., 1901-10-27
SOME GROTESQUE FRAUDS.
Sharpers Who Sold Costly Build
ings for Few Dollars.
GuIiible Rustics who Purchased
Real Estate Gold Bricks-ASt,0Oo,-
900 structure Handed Over for
S40o-Many Humorous Instances.


Rudolph Won Hagerstein, of Lodi. Wis,
purchased the Masonic Temple of Chicago
for 81, 900 of Martin Roosevelt last week
Mr. Won Hagerstein paid 500 down on tia
purchase price and is now looking fol-
Roosevelt. The latter is well known tc
the police rs a swindler, but has not yet
been arrested. Mr. Won Hagerstein was
taken through the temple by Mr.. Roose-
welt and noted the lorily air with which
the latter spoke to the janitors and ele-
vator men. He concluded that he must
he talking with the proprietor and he
parted with his ready cash speedily. He
is not the first from the sweet retreats of
the country to purchase large structures
In the city for ridicuIously low prices.
only to discover in the gloaming that a
swindIe has been perpetrated. To show
the extent Of Mr.. Won Hagerstein's folly.
it may be said that it cost s., 800, 900 TO
build the Masonic Temple and that IT
could not be purchased outright today
from its 40 owners for less than 81. .O00 600.
The rotund Charley Dunn, well known
in police and prison circles all over the
United States. some years ago sold the
Public Library of Chicago-site and build
ing-to a Minnesota farmer for $1,000
cash down Mr. Dunn at the time was
enjoying the privilege of Dearborn Street
without police interference. He met the
granger at a bar; they drifted into con-
versation, and finally the visitor admit
ted that he had come to Chicago to spec
uIate with $1,000 all he had.
My friend" said Dunn, lit seems as if
providence had thrown us together for
purpose. l have something to sell on
which l could make $4,000 if l was not
fpr IN
father in LONDON, and who is danger
ously i'll there. Come, let us go forth
The two walked to the Public Library
site. Dunn waved his hand in a lordly
way and said:
THAT pile cost me 81. 600 l built it for
a mercantile establishment but the city,
needing library until II could build one
of its own. rented it from me. The lease
expired Saturday, and the city is going
To move out If | had the time before
went abroad to work the matter up l
could sell the whole thing for $4,000 to
any banker in the city. But l have got to
go tonight-tickets bought, steamer pas
sage engaged; l must let il lie idle or
part with it at a sacrifice. It's your for
5000. and you can have the papers this
afternoon.
Dunn get the money, the farmer
worthless deed. The latter woke up the
next day. Dunn told the story in Louis
vile with great susto.
In 1894 the Masonic Temple was sold to
a Grand Island, Neb.. man for $3.50 cash
down He had hardly paid over the
money in a Clark Street saloon before ne
suspected swindle. He began TO make
trouble. was raped on the head, and
when he came to was in the street penni-
less. Dunn was accused of working this
trick, but the charge was never sustained
Last year Otto Held. of East st. Louis,
arrived in Chicago with $500 in his pocket.
In the Polk Street station he was accost-
ed by a man who claimed to know him.
and who told him so many things about
himself that Held was delighted to find an
old acquaintance, although he could not
recollect where they had met before Nat
urally the two drank freely togethc-. Dur
ing their conversation the stranger pulled
out star which pUrported to be that of
a city policeman. He said he was a mem
Der of the council and insisted on his East
St. Louis friends visiting the North Shore
drive with him.
a cab was called and the two drove TO
Lircoln Park. Once in the park 1t was
carefully explained to Mr. Held that they
were summer grounds belonging to the
alderman. Mr.. Held was enchanted with
them On a proposition to buy them for
s5,e1 500 cash down. he not only gave
up his money but Immediately left for
home to raise the balance among his
friends. When he returned to Chicago
two days later and discovered the cheat II
took half dozen officers Of the East Chi
cago Avenue station to hold him.
Women swindlers of the selling tyre
are lot uncommon. Last spring there ap-
peared in several of the Chicago papers
For Sale-A first-class dressmaking es-
tablishment; business worth $500 a
year: reason for selling. ill-health; great
bargain for right party. Address A. T."
The woman who inserted the advertise
ment received a letter from Cedar Rapids
Iowa, advising her that party from that
place would call on her at an early date
with q view to buying her establishment.
In the course of week an elderly gentie-
man made himself known the would-be
Iowa purchaser. Without any hesitation
h.. l. -
class dressmaking establishments of the
city, showed him nifty women al work.
gave him an idea Of the volume of busi-
ness, had lunch with him and before
night had sold him the place for s. so. Sc
cured the money, and disappeared.
The buyer Immediately went to take
possession was confronted by the actual
owner, and before he could explain his
situation was arrested and locked up for
being drunk and disOrderly The next day
a justice listened to his story and sent
him home wiser man. How was the
trick worked on him when th,. seller not
only -fs- not own the establishment but
was almost a stranger to the people pos
sessing it2
About the time the advertisement was
put in the newspapers the woman called
on the dressmaking establishment in
question and ordered two dresses made
She displayed money was OF apparent
good breeding, and seemed prosperous In |
the course of having her dresses made she |
spoke Of friends from the country who |
had never seen 50 large an cSta abliEhmeDt
She received a cordial invitation To show
them through the place whenever they
might be visiting her. Becoming familiar
with some Of the women employed in the |
establishment. the woman was soon an
easy conner and goer, and when she
brought around the Cedar Rapids man
was readily able to assume IN air Of pro-
prierorship. He ought to have been more |
careful? That is good advice to anyone
after the horse is stolen and the barn
door is locked.
When Central Music Hall was still
standing It was sold twice TO greenlIorns
once for $3.50 and once for s., 900. In the
latter case the man robbed was from Bay
field and had some nerve. He made such |
n complaint to the police that one Rey-
nOlds, who was concerned in the sale
posing as the owner Of the hail. was ar |
rested. and eventually all the money was |
recovered but SO
Before the Lake Front Park was fully |
developed by the South Park commission
ers It locked somewhat ike a grazing |
ground. Charley Dunn escorted a couple |
Of gentlemen from Missouri out there |
one morning and eXpatlated on the adj |
vantage of such a fine front being owned |
by stock shippers TO the city.
your cattle right here. give them two |
days Of grass before taking them to the |
yards, and realize much higher price |
than you do
He found the supposed real owner Of |
the property for the MissOuriaHs and |
that gentleman, although loath to sell !
finally parted with the lake front for |
$I.501, which he soon had in his pocket |