The Indianapolis journal., 1904-06-08
WOULD TAKE MEN TO THE
K[ONDIKE AND GIVE THEM
WORK FOR CASH IN HAND
Jack Sibby Under Arrest for AL
legged False Pretenses in Luring
Men to Gold Fields.
DEMANDED $50 PAYMENT
Police Say Australians Grip Was
Packed Ready to Leave City
Protests Good Intentions.

Jack Sibby, dapper little Austrian, who
has been roOming at 240 North Illinois
street, was arrested yesterday afternoon
by Detectives Splann and Haley on a
charge of false pretenses. Sibby is sus-
pected of trying to defraud persons by in
ducing them to enter contract calling for
their aid in the development of placer
mines in the Nome, Alaska, regions The
detectives clsim that Sibby's conduct in
Offering his proposition savored of crook
edness.
Last Sunday he advertised in the news
papers and offered to take twenty-five men
TO Fairbank and Irene creeks, in the Nome
river region, for 500 each He claims to
own placer claim there. BY the terms
of the contract each man to pay his
money TO Sibby, who was 10 charter a car
to take the party To Seattle, Wash, and
from there the trip to the mines was to be
made by water. After they were safely
landed and put to work, each man was
to receive 81 per day for his work and one
sixth OF all the gold he took out. Work
under these conditions was guaranteed for
two seasons.
Amiel Baumgard. living at $50 Prospect
street, was one of the first persons TO
answer the advertisement The Young man
offered TO place $50 with ~Jme firm to show
his good faith, but he says Sibby insisted
on his having the cash in his own hands.
This incident made Baumgard suspicious
and he reported the matter to Acting Cap
tain of Detectives Holtz.
Yesterday afternoon Baumgard was sent
back 20 Sibby's house by the detectives. as
"A decoy and when he was in the room,
closing the deal, the officers walked in and
made the arrest. Sibby had told Baum
gard that he only needed one more man
TO make up his party; that he was going
TO charter car yesterday and leave for
the gold fields Friday
Pinky Cam, fifteen-year-old girl, who
lives with Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. G. Calm, the
keepers of the rooming house where Sibby
was staying, says that he recently told her
that he was going away soon, and that he
would give her $1,000 and see that she had
an opportunity TO go on the stage if she
would accompany him. The little girl is a
relative of the Gains.
Sibby reported to the police several days
ago that he had been enticed into room
by colored woman and robbed of $40.
He told the detectives yesterday that he
was short OF money, and that he had in
tended TO take the men to Alaska for 500
down and the other $50 after arriving at
the gold regions.
He has a certificate of labor, showing
that he worked claim in the Boulder
creek region, three years ago. He said.
in speaking OF the matter to a newspaper
man, that he could have taken twenty-five
men to the claim for $1,000, thus leaving
He said he failed To see the wrong i'm
this. When arrested he had $75 and some
change on his person. Late yesterday
afternoon A. s. Griswold, of $50 East GeOr-
gia street, called at the house on Illinois
street to close a contract with Sibby and
he congratulated himself heartily at the
police station because he still had his 500
The officers say Sibby's grip packed
and that he was ready to leave. When he
reported the loss OF his money the other
day he gave San Francisco as his home.
Detective HOltz thinks that many more
cases Of men have made deposits in the
hope of going to the gold fields will be
discovered when Sibby's arrest is given
| publicity.