Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-20
Former State Senator the Vic
tim of a Bold swindle at
Muscatine
BuNcoED OUT OF SUM OF $4,000
The Same Trick That Was Recently
Played at Council Bluffs Worked
There and Probably by Same Par
ties-A Forged Deed Made to Secure
Large Loan.

Special TO Times Republican.
swdndle which was recently worked al
Council Bluffs, has been duplicted here
and ex-senator Titus is the victim. By
the operation Mr.. Titus is the loser by
the amount of $4,000 1t is believed that
the parties are the same ones who VIC
timized loan agent at Council Bluffs
out OF something over $4,000, as they
answer the description OF two men who
worked the game at that place and their
methods were similar in every partic-
ular. A week or so ago two very plain
ly dressed persons called at Mr. Titus
office and told him they desired TO buy
farm owned by L. d. Virgins, near
Downey. The farm is one OF 140 acres
and the consideration was sos per
acre.
They conferred with Mr.. Titus. who
Is an abstractor. on the subject OF the
title to the property. Mr.. Titus looked
the matter up and made them an alb
stract. ana they left, apparently satis-
ned saying that they would soon re-
turn with the deed.
About 3 O'Clock Friday afternoon Just
before the time for the banks to close
they invaded Mr.. Titus Office armed
with an instrument which prrported to
be a conveyance of the property from
Mr. Virgins. They gave the supposed
deed to Mr.. Titus. remarklng at the
same time, that they would like to
raise small loan on the investment.
Mr.. Titus knew the property and knew
that his security was good. No notion
that he was about to buy n gold brick
entered his head, and without demur
he picked up his pen and made out his
check for $4,000. The man with the
German accent grabbed the check. and
left the Office. The man with the Irisl,
b.-ogue was close on his heels. They
cashed the check and now no one
knows where they are.
shortly after their visit. Marshal
Rice entered the office and told Mr..
Titus that he thought the men were
suspicious characters. Mr.. Titus still
had faith but finally decided to call
up Mr. Virgins to make perfectly
sure.
His CONSERVATION was great and his
wrath greater, when Mr.. Virgins at
the other end OF the line. informed him
that he had not given q conveyance
& his land and had 40 in,entlon OF so
ne.
Two Milwaukee trains. one east
bound, and the other west left Mus
catine soon after Mr.. Titus made out
the fareful check. 1t Is thought prob
able that the grafters boarded one, or
che other of them and dropped off at
the first convenient station.
II is believed that Mr. Titus was the
victim OF the gang which has oper-
ated in similar manner at Council
Bluffs, Clinton and Marshalltown.
The manner OF operating the graft at
each place Is almost Identical.
The man OF the Irish brogue was app
parently sixty-five years Of age. He
wore a beard and moustache turning
gray. was feet 10 inches tall, and
weighed about 100 pounds. He OF the
German articulation was about thirty
five years old, taller than his Hibernian
companion and weighed 200 pounds.
]. irwin Evans, cashier OF the bank
at Downey and notary public, whose
seal is on the forged deed. says that he
never made conveyance from Mr..
Virgins and the seal is a forgery. He
saws that the seal has not been out OF
hispossession and that the men pro-
cured nm imprint from some source
and had q duplicate made.