The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-15
Glitter Of a Gold Brick Stirred His
Avarice and He Paid swindlers
$1,000 for Ii.
BUNC0 MEN FLED TO INDIANA
THEY TRIED TO vICTIMIZE A
WEALTHY KNOX COUNTY FARMER.
He Was Wary and Plan Went Astray-
Governor Durbin Honors Requisi-
ton from Beckham.

Kentucky officers of the law hot after
two singularly gifted individuals from Todd
county who are laid by the heel in the
Knox county Jail at Vincennes. These two,
who, fleeing from the Bourbon State between
two days, combined business with pleasure.
have demonstrated beyond the shadow of
doubt that the usefulness of the gold brick
as an article of barter is not at an end.
From a wealthy Todd county farmer they
secured 5000 by the same bunco game that
was old in the days of Rameses III.
James II. Starke and Bill Dunn are the
two Kentuckians, and they swindled Todd
county farmer named B. d. Johnson. Starke
and Dunn sail under the aliases of Charles
L. Jerome and Charles Roberts. Last
month they framed up a scheme to get pos
session of Farmer Johnson's roll. The two
secured a brass block, had it gilded artis-
tically, and then opened UP business with
Johnson. The latter is said to be a well-to-
do farmer of Todd county-of the kind. how
ever, that does not spend much time perus-
ing the newspapers.
The two schemers, it is said, met Johnson
at a convenient place in Elkton. Todd coun-
ty, and explained to him that they had
come into possession of a brick of gold
worth fully $4,000 from rich mine they
owned in Mexico. They agreed to take 5000
cash as a special favor to the farmer john
son bit. He did not have the acumen to
take the brick to a chemist for examination.
but swallowed the bait whole, delighted
with the chance to double his money. The
swindlers got the IS, 900 and fed the county
and State.
FARMER RAISED HUE AND CRY.
The farmer soon discovered his loss and
raised a mighty wall. Before the Circuit
judge of the county he narrated his woes,
and an order was issued to arrest the two
men. 1t was ascertained they had gone to
Indiana On information furnished by the
Kentucky authorities they were arrested at
Vincennes and locked UP. A requisitiOn is
sued by Governor Beckham has been hon
ored by Governor Durbin, and the two
bunco men will be returned for the ven
geance of the law.
Previous to their arrest at vincennes
they had attempted to swlndle William H.
Brevoort, one of the richest farmers in the
State. He owns several thousand acres of
land below Vinvennes and an elegant home
in Vincennes. Sunday stranger giving his
name as c. Roberts. and claiming to be a
WORT and told him a pretty story about
having rich gold mine pointed out to him
| by an old Mexican woman whom he had
befriended years ago. He and man named
William Brevoort had secured the claim,
| though they had little faith in the old wom-
ans story. Both, not realizing the value
Gently Roberts, he said, received notice that
| the claim was fabulously rich. and that the
| owners must prove up their claim. He had
| lost the address of Brevoort, but claimed
fn h0n of N h0r hxy hot ar.H
| had come here, thinking Ii was his former
partner. But 1T was not the man. He then
/ offered to give Mr.. Brevoort a third inter-
est In the mine for his assistance.
SwINDLERS' FAIRY TALE
Roberts produced two large bars of yell
| low metal, which he said he had taken out
| of his gold mine in Mexico. Mr.. Brevoort's
suspicious were aroused. but he kept quiet
| waiting to get some evidence to convict
him. Finally Roberts suggested that Mr.
| Brevoort get some one to test the gold, "
but he declined. Then Roberts started out
TO hunt some one to assay the metal. He
soon returned and stated that he had
CHANGED to meet Mr. Charles l.. Jerome, a
| government assayist of Philadelphia. Mr.
| Jerome at first declined to do the work, az
| IL was Sunday, but finally bored holes In
| the metal and pronounced 1T pure gold He
| placed the value OF the two bars at S27. 200
| and wanted TO buy 1t, but Roberts refused
/ to sell. Finally he bought the borings and
| paid 50 to Roberts, which the latter d.
/ vided with Mr. Brevoort, who was to get a
| third interest in the mines.
Brevoort notified the police after making
| an engagement to meet ROBERTS this morn
/ ing When Roberts called he was con
/ fronted by Chief Dunn and Captain Kruse
| who arrested him. Jerome was arrested q
/ moment later in buggy, where ne was
waiting for Roberts. Jerome had the KEYS
to the trunks in which Roberts carried the
1 gold bricks.
| When the two were searched 81 600 in bills
/ was found on them Then word from Ken.
lucky was received.