The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-24
BRICK, At $4,000
Robert Forbes, of Carbondale,
Buys One.
Transaction Takes Place in To-
peka Hotel.
FORTUNE IN 4 MINE.
Young Man Told Forbes of
Lucky Strike.
Said He Was Nephew and Would
Help Him.
THEY WERE CAREFUL.
"Assayer" Said Brick Was
Worth $4,000.
Chemical Test Made In a To-
peka Drug Store.
Confidence Man Writes Letter
Said He Was Nephew and Would
Help Him.
THEY WE'RE CAREFUL.
"Assayer" Said Brick Was
Worth $4,000.
Chemical Test Made In q To.
peka Drug Store.
Confidence Man Writes Letter
to Victim He Duped.

Carbondale. Oct. 24-Robert Forbes,
wealthy citizen of this place. is the
victim of gold brick swindIe that cost
him $4,000 in cash.
About Is years ago Mr.. Forbes went
to New Mexico, where he worked in the
mines. He located several valuable
claims, and 10 years ago he sold his
holdings for $1S0.000 and returned to
Usage county. He invested his money
in lands and securities and is rated as
one of the wealthiest citizens of the
counts.
Three weeks ago a young man ap-
peared in Carbondale. He was roughly
dressed and looked like a miner. His
face was covered with a growth of
stubby beard. and his appearance in
dicated that he had been working hard.
The stranger hunted up Mr.. Forbes
and told him that he was his nephew
Thomas Forbes, and that he had just
returned from New Mexico. He spent
with which the elder Forbes was fa-
miliar and convinced him that he was
in reality his nephew.
Then the young man proceeded to tell
his uncle" of his great good fortune.
He said that he had discovered a mine
in New Mexico which riValed the indie
pendence at Cripple Greek or the Bo-
nanza of California He said he was
greatest proposition ever found. and
added that while he had no stock to
sell he was willing to give his uncle an
interest in the mine for $4,000. He made
this offer after ,he had sworn the old
gentleman to secrecy. and he conhded
in him that he had a gold brick at To-
peka which he had brought with him
from New Mexico. He said that if Mr..
Forbes care4s to invest he would leave
the gold brick with him and would re-
turn to New Mexico and send him an
other which he had secreted there He
wanted the gold to be in safe hands,
robert Forbes knows something
about mining and mines and the story
of the young man had a genuine ring.
He told him that he would go to To-
peka with him where the matter could
be nxed up Forbes and his supposed
nephew then came to Topeka The
young man took him to his room in a
hotel where ne showed him the brick
The old mans eyes glistened with sat
isfaction as he held the precious metal
in his hands and the two started for a
jewelry store. The brick was carried
carefully concealed under the young
mans coat On the way to the jewelry
store the two men stopped at a drug
store and drank some soda water. They
there met another man who was talk
ing of his work as a chemist and as
has something to show him and tie
three went behind the prescription case
where the supposed chemist examined
the gold brick and appeared to make
some chemical tests. He then said.
why sir, that is worth $4,000
Where did you get it?'
The nephew said that he got the
brick in New Mexican mine and then
the chemist proposed to buy the mine.
Then the young man appeared to
C11Gni0in11G and told his ttIIn oI6D
that they had better go. This brick is
to be left with my uncle, Mr.. Forbes, -
he said land it is not for sale. We
own this mine and know when we have
good thing"
When Forbes and his chaperon left
the drug store the young man started
for a jewelry store but Mr.. Forbes said
that 1t was not necessary and that he
was satisfied He offered to give the
young man a check for $4,000 but this
was refused and he said he must have
the cash and Forbes then went to a
bank and got the money. They went to
room where the brick was carefully
deposited in trunk, which the Young
man said had cost him $50. 1t was not
deemed safe to send such a large sum
| to CarbondaIe on the train so a team
was hired at a livery stable and the
/ two men armed themselves to guard
the treasure. The trip was made With
out incident and the trunk with its con-
tents was left at Mr.. Forbes home.
His reputed nephew said that as soon
as he returned to New Mexico he W ould
send him the second gold brick and the
stock which was represented Ky the
| S5 mo paid by Forbes.
Then came a long weary wait of days
and davs for the stock and the second
brick When two weeks had passed Mr.
! Forbes BEGAN to grow anxious but he
still had faith but on Thursday he was
ava kened from his dream by the fol-
! lowing letter:
Robert Forbes. Esqur., Carbondale
Kansas
Dear Uncle: have concluded not tc
send you the other gold hriek-one may
! be enough. All is not gold that glitters
Better examine what you have. NO one
would have known me Is minutes after
left you. Your affectionate nephew,
TOMMY.
Mr. Forbes fished up the brick and of
course found that it was brass and
worth few cents. He is out $1,000 and
now knows that he has been duped. He
says that he was hvnnotized by the
young man and that if he had been in
his right mind he would rot have beer
| taken in so easily- He believes that the
men who robbed him live in TopelSa and
! officers have been there since trying to
/ fir1 t',era hut without success.
1t is believed that the same man tried
to fleece wealthy citizen of Overbrook
but the man became suspicious and SO
1 escaped.