Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-04-24
VICTIM|zeO.
Concluded from page one.)

never will be revealed.
OF course. 1t was only natural the
newspaper men should receive such a
well made-up story. as Mr.. Morgan's
man had won the confidence of the
feminine faced day clerk at the hotel,
putting a large sized bug in his ear
about who and what he was. MIR.
Locke even dreamed an immense pipe
to the clerk hat he intended to buy
the street railway here and develop
the hidden mines under the city. The
battered clerk communicated these
tales of wonder to the inquisitive re-
porters in an almost inaudible whisper,
but for some unknown reason retained
the most important information.
After receiving the Endorsement of
the newspapers, Mr.. Locke did not
leave town, but placed himself in a
smiling attitude in the presence of a
prominent democratic lawyer and poll
tician and a republican territorial Off
cial, whose headquarters are in Santa
Fe. but whose residence is in Albu-
querque, and handing them a onver-
sation of touching merits, they cashed
a couple of drafts amounting to ovcr
300.
On acquiring his easily gained
wealth, but as far as can be learned
Mr.. Locke next showed up in Ell Paso.
where his operations, If they were
more successful than in Albuquerque,
it is not known.
The next heard from the clever
s~windler appears in the columns of the
! San Francisco Examiner, March 23,
just a month ago. under the following
head, "Oficials Bemoan Loss of Their
Money" Senator smith. George Scott
and Others Victimized by a Smooth
Individual Named John Locke or John
Search"
the Examiner from Sacramento, March
22, Senator Fred Smith, of Los An
geles, and George Scott, a clerk in the
secretary of states Office, were vic
timized during the session of the leg.
islature by a smooth individual who
gave his name as John B. Locke. He
was also known as John Search. Locke
or Search gave it out that he was a
representative of J.. P. Morgan, the
eastern fi~nancier, and that he was in
attendance upon the legislature in the
interests of the Western Pacific rail
road bills.
After several of the senators and
assemblymen and others connected
with certain of the state offices in the
capitol had warmed up" to him he
sprung the old game Of the we'll con
nected man who was in daily expecta'
ton of the receipt of money from the
east, but could not understand why II
was slow in coming. Locke made such
a favorable impression upon some OF
his new formed friends that a few OF
them volunteered to advance hin
money until he received his money
from the east. He told such a plaus
ible story about his connections witt
j. p. Morgan that some of the legis
lators took rather kindly to him
with the result that they are now be
moaning the loss of several dollars
and uttering ~imprecations upon the
head of the swindler. He secured $15'
; from Senator Smith, it is stated, ant
managed to induce Scott to part will
j.. $25. He also become friendly will
Clio Lloyd, chief clerk of the assembly
but secured no money from Lloyd.
1t is current rumor here that one o
the principal reasons for the opposi
ton by some of the Legislators to tn
Western Pacific bills was the numel
e Gus efforts Locke mace to borrow fror
members of the legislature. They col
sidered that although it might hav
e been possible that Locke was in SON
way connected with ]. p. Morgan, "
they could not understand how h
le could be without funds, This fac
caused feeling of distriust to spring u
regarding Locke, which had much I
do in interfering with his swindlin
tactics in the halls of legislation.
e If Locke is a%pprehended he will b
brought back to this city and pros
y cuted."
u A Citizen reporter called on one {
the gentlemen of this city, but did nj
, receive enough information to writ
the introduction of a book on "Eas
Street in Albuquerque"
The gentleman stated that it we
,s true that he had been swindled, and
wasn't necessary to make excuses.
But that Locke's story of his co
nections with Morgan seemed We
- plausible, and that the sight drafts
sued on ]. Pierpont Morgan looked
he ~penuine hut they were return