The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-08-05
A FRAUDULENT STOCK MAN.
he Disappears from Corvallis After
Failing to Cash Checks on an
Albany Bank

He Disappears from Corvallis After
Failing to Cash Checks on an
Albany Bank.
Friday, a man drove single bug
gy and gray horse into the City
stables. He a1ighted and threw out
six halters on the hoor and selected
one to be placed on the animal he
was driving, stating that he had
Just taken several horses to pasture.
This was in explanation of his pos
session of so many halters. Then
he called for pen and proceeded
to fill out two checks on blanks from
Cusick's Albany Bank. He SEEM
ed to be awful full of business. Next
he engaged saddle horse to go to
Jesse Fosters to see about buying
some cattle. Just about that time
Foster walked into the stable, and
after brief conversation with that
gentlemen it was decided that he
would go to Fosters place the
next day. Then he hunted up ].
L, Lewis, the real estate and stock
man, introducing himself as one of
the O'Shea boys, members OF the
Union Meat Company, Portland.
Lewis replied that he knew Jim and
Johnny O'Shea, and didn't know
that there were any other brothers.
"Oh. yes" said the stranger, ST was
ten years old when father was kill
ed in Portland by Johnson and
Brown, who also killed the Jew boy
in resisting arrest, and who were
hanged for their crimes about IS
years ago. I generally buy stock
in Eastern Oregon and Idaho for
the Union Meat Market, and that is
why you probably have not seen
me before He knew all about
the stock and butchering business
of Portland, and finally Lewis came
to the conclusion that he was all
right. He wanted Jim to buy sew
era1 loads of cattle, but dickered
good deal about the price, condition
and kind of stock. After seeing
Foster, P. Avery. Peter Rickard
and other stock men, Jim found he
could procure the cattle and agreed
with the buyer to do SO, and en-
gagged cars. They were to go out
together the following day and pur-
shase the stock.
The stranger registered at the Oc-i
,idental hotel as T. e. GShea, and
room, Friday night bel
attempted in two instances which
Ire known of, to cash checks for
small amounts on the Cusick bank,
His manner, however, was suspi-
.ious aud it is not believed that he
secured any money in this manner.
He asked Charley Shene field, night
Jerk at the hotel, to cash a check !
OF dollar. Upon being refused
lie went outt and that was the last
cen of him.
The next morning Lewis came
round to fllh is engagement to go
o the country, but his customer
vas not to be found. Then, after
much telephoning, Jim concluded
hat the fellow was a fraud. The.
.orse he drove into Corvallis later
proved to be from Frank Skipton's
livery stable at Albany, and Mr..
skipton sent man over to procure
lis rig.
Mr.. Brunk, of the Occidental
lotel, believes this man to be the
anne person who about three years
lgo, hired a horse at the brick
table and failed to return it. He
pretended to be stock man, and
rave his name as Johnson, who in
partnership with Dick Perkins con-
lucted a butcher shop in Portland
many years ago. When O'Shea
undertook to engage Mr.. Brunk in
the latter said: 81
lon't want anything to do with
,ou." l am thoroughly on to all
uch people as you. The hotel
mans recollections of johnson, and
his fellows resemblance to him,
ed Mr.. Brunk to warn Lewis that
)'Shea was a fraud.