The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-15
BUNCOED BY A WOMAN
60-Year-old Lover Loses $4,000 and
His Bride-Elect.

CLINTON, IOWA.-A man of four
score years, a buxom woman of 40 and
purse. of $4,000 are the principal fea-
lures in a romance of highly sensa
tional character which has just become
known here.
A farmer aged 70 years, who reared
a large family and bears an honored name
in little town in northern Indiana,
started correspondence about two years
ago. as a result Of an advertisement in a
matrimonial paper, which stated pref
ty and charming young widow desired
to marry an old gentleman of wealth..
The name of the man who answered the
advertisement was 7. G. Wood. Twice
during the correspondence he visited this
city and each time was met by the
widow, who gave her name as Susan
Dobson. On each occasion the man reg
istered at the Columbia hotel and while
here the widow took him out riding in
stanhope going to the hotel after him
and returning after their drive. She in
formed her aged but devout lover that
it might cause talk here if he were
seen at her home
Last Monday Mr.. Wood, dressed in his
best suit of clothes and his pockets
filed with bank notes. arrived in the
city and was met at the station by his
lady love, who escorted him to the
hotel for dinner. If he was attracted to
her on his former visits, he was more
riage. AS soon as they had finished the
meal, they went to the office of a notary
and the old man produced an ante-nup
tial contract, which he wanted acknoWl-
edged. The contract provided that in
consideration of the sum Of $1,000 cash in
hand and an additional $1,000 when the
wedding ceremony was performed, the
bride was to release all claims upon his
estate and waive all rights to his ~ralu-
able property. The contract had been
carefully drawn by his home attorneys.
After the legal formalities had been
complied with, the old man opened fat
wallet and proceeded to count out $1,000
In crisp, new bills, which he handed to
the chosen bride, who tucked the money
In the bosom of her waist. The old fell
low wanted to get married at once, but
the bride stated she did not want the
ceremony performed in Clinton and sug-
gested that they take a buggy ride and the
day following go to Chicago and have the
knot tied there. This was agreed to and
the carriage ride was taken. During the
drive the bride elect pointed out the
various pieces of property she owned
in Clinton and on passing certain fine
residence. the woman stated her sister,
in-law resided there, but as the women
was i'll she thought it best not to stop.
1t Is fine looking house and the old
man thought he had secured a financial
prize as well as a charming bride.
Tuesday forenoon she went to the hotel
and they took the North Western train
for Chicago, where the marriage was to
take place. According to the story Wood
told while here Saturday, when they got
to Chicago they went to a hotel. There
the sly Susan induced him to pay over
to her the remaining thousand and told
him to go for the license and be prepared
for the wedding on the following day
and that she would meet him at the
hotel. He secured the legal document
and waited all the next day for the
woman to appear, but she did not come.
He waited for several days, but as he
heard nothing from her, returned to Clin-
ton for the purpose Of learning what
he could Of the woman. He cautiously
made some inquiries, but no one knew
anything about such a woman. She had
stated she was a member of the Meth
odist Episcopal church and the pastor
was consulted. but he knew nothing o.
Susan B. Dobson. An attorney was then
consulted and Mr.. Wood was informed
after he had told his story, that he had
been buncoed out of $4,000 by an eX-
ceedingly clever woman.
Not being able to find trace of the
woman, Mr.. Wood decided he would droI
the matter. for fear the members of his
family would hear Of the transaction, anC
Saturday night left for his Indiana home
special election is being held in thi!
city to-day for the purpose of electine
successor to the late Mayor E. A
Hughes The candidates are l.. F. SUIT
ton, republican,; VIM. Poston, democrat
and w. Y. Farver, labor union.