The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-16
AN ELDERLY DECEIVER
HOW CAPTAIN GERBER INTERRUPT
ED CONFIDENCE GAME.
A Farmer Roy from shelbyviIle Was
Harking to the Alluring Voice
of an Aged Scamp.

While Captain Gerber, Of the detectives.
was watching the crowds returning from
the horse show yesterday afternoon, he
saw, in front of the new Claypool Hotel,
an understood country boy, wearing an
expansive rubber collar. adorned with
faring red tie. While Gerber was ''sizing
up" the young man, an elderly man, car
rying a black overcoat over one arm.
walked between them.
The old man scanned the red and yellow
decorations strung across the street, and.
turning to the boy. said: This is fine
weather for the horse show. isn't it?" The
young man replied that ii was. Then the
two started up an animated conversation
about horses. The old man seemed an af-
fable person and let on to know a great
deal about horses. He asked the young
man where he lived, and the latter replied
that he lived at Rays Crossing, near Shell
byville. The old man said he knew every
foot of the ground, as he had lived in that
locality years ago. He scratched his head
trying to remember some old Shelby county
acquaintance. and while he was bordering
over names, the young man ventured the
name of his father.
my fathers name Is Andrew Kuhns,"
said the young man. ''Oh, L know him
well. That's the man that always kept
good horses" suavely replied the CONVEX
sational old person. The old man then
asked the country boy what he earned,
and the latter replied that he received SIS
for working on the farm. The old man
laughed at this, and asked the young man
If he had thought of leaving home for
larger cities and to earn more money. The
. N a
city. and this opening was grasped by the
old man.
ALLURING TALK.
He then told the boy he was a horse
dealer from Windsor Canada, and that he
had string Of horses at the horse show.
He told the young man if he would leave
his home he could give him position that
would pay him more money. The young
man asked what 1t was, and the old man
said that if he would put up SIS he would
take him to his stock farm in Canada,
where he could earn $50 a month and ex-
penses. The young mans eyes opened
wide at this proposition, while his hands
sunk deeper into his pockets. The older
man, noticing that the fish was after the
bait, turned around to see who was watch
ing him. He noticed Captain Gerber close
by and then asked the young man to walk
closer to the building. Gerber had scented
the confidence game and was on the watch
The old man took fright and asked the
young man to walk to his room. The two
went briskly up Illinois street to Ohio and
west TO the Statehouse. Here the old mar
asked Kuhns to remain while he went
over to his room to get a patent he was
selling on royalty.
He then asked the young man to pay g.
cents for a patent clutcher, which would
be sent to him in few days. The youns
man proved unwilling TO part with hi:
money, and Captain Gerber, thinking tina
the game had gone far enough, and seeinf
that the young man would hardly "bite,
interrupted the conversation. The old mar
grew indignant but was hauled to the lock
up. He was slated on the charge of beinl
| confidence worker. He gave the Eame o
| A. c. Smith, of Buffalo, N. Y. The farme
/ boy said his name was Andrew Kuhns, jr.
| of Rays Crossing. He said it was a grea
/ relief when that detective walked III
/ there"
| While Captain Gerber was placing Smitl
/ in the patrol wagon a crowd collected
Gerber started to walk away, and a youn,
\ woman clad in a black skirt and greer
/ waist was seen making her way through
/ the crowd. She greeted Captain Gerbe
| with smile.