The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-01
A Smooth Grafter Works Fort
Scott Citizens.
Had the Grip of Several Secret
Societies.
ALSO THE PASS WORDS
Was an Odd Fellow, a Knight
and a Mason Also.
Worked the Railroad Men Pref
ty Thoroughly.

Fort Scott, July For several days
past there has been a man in the city
who gave his name as John Bolin and
claimed to be an ex-railroad man and
he has been working among the frater-
nal orders of the city and plying his
graft among the members of the differ
ent lodges, and in this manner he has
succeeded in grating the members out
of a number of dollars that they dona
ted to the old man. thinking that he
was a brother lodge man and that he
was really in need of their assistance.
lie claimed to be an Odd Fellow. a
Knight of Pythias and also Mason.
He had some of the signs of these lodges
and would go into town and get ac-
quainted with the high officers of the
lodge there and after giving them the
high sign of the order, would find out
their names and then he would go out
and work among the members of the
lodges and tell them that the officer had
given him a dollar. The members, think
ing that he was all right if their Off
GERS had given him assistance. would
not take the trouble to examine him
thoroughly, and for that reason he man
aged to work n large number OF the
lodge people of the city.
Clerk Brown for assistance and gave the
ODD Fellows grip and signs and he
thought that he had them down pat,
but Mr.. Brown is one OF the best lodge
men in the city, and he can always tell
an impOster from a genuine brother and
he says that while the fellow had the
majority of the grips and signs, that
lie is not a real lodge man but that he
$ an imposter and that he is simply
preying on the sympathy of the lodge
people of the city
After he had interviewed Mr.. Brown
Rnd found out what his name was, lac
vent to the Missouri Pacific shops,
Where he told some of the boys there
t1at he had seen Mr.. Brown and that
le had given him a dollar They
bought that if Mr.. Brown gave him a
dollar that he must be all right ana
ieveral OF them gave up a dollar to
help him. He applied to the Fris %
shops here and it is said that he re-
eeived several contributions there.
He tells a fairly credible story and
Ii takes with the ma joIity of men he
I, meets. He says that he was working
Il or a railroad company at Topeka and
IA cat he got injured there and that upon
yD9lure to get a settlement out of the
-kpnpany he was preparing TO bring
4dt against them, and that they
finally compromised by promising him
an easy job which he could handle out
some place in the west, and that they
put him on the train and started him
there, but that at the first station he
was put off of the train, and he has
been compelled to roam over the
country since then and beg assistance
from his brother lodgemen. He says
that he is unable to work for a living
at hard work, having been injured IN
the accident to such an extent that he
was rendered almost helpless and fOl
some time has been unable to wof K
He makes the same talk TO all of them
and he usually succeeds in getting q
pretty good donation in a town. and
then he moves on TO another place ana
works =.
A description of the fellow was fur
nished Chief Mendenhan, and he is on
the lookout for the fellow, and if he
catches him there Will be some trouble
IS he can be arrested for an imposter
and the sentence for an offense Of this
lature IS very large one. All of tn-
pdge men are cautioned to look out fci
Inn. lie wears black sack coat and
oiue overalls. and he n'ea d. the pov-
erty act to all of his victims.