The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-03
ALMOST BOUGHT
$4,000 BRICK.
ELABORATE BUNCO GAME FRUS-
TRATED JUST IN TIME.
Man from Moorhead Was on the Eve
of Buying 's$15,OOO Gold Brick
for $4,000, When Friends Assisted
by Twin City Police Saved Him.

One of the most carefully contrived
and cleverly executed "Fgold brick
games ever brought to the attention of
the police of the twin cities was frus-
trated just as the deal was about to
be closed. The man who escaped losing
$4,000 by narrow margain is
welltodo farmer who lives near Moor
head. Y -. 49,.
The game was broken up by F.
Alex Stewart of Minneapolis, and a
Moorhead man, with the aid of the
police of st. Paul, after the swindlers
had spent several hundred dollars in
entertaining their victim.
The Farmers Story.
The farmers story is interesting.
The first member of the gang who
made his appearance was young
man who drove out from Moorhead
one day last month. He inquired the
! way to the home of a Mr.. -, his
uncle.
"Why, that is my name,' replied
the farmer.
"ENo, you are not old enough for my
uncle,' replied the youth, who then
drove off, In a week he came back,
saying that his uncle had been dead
| for several years and his farm, some
forty miles beyond had been sold. In,
cidentally the young man mentioned
that he had been a gold miner in Arl-
IONA and New Mexico and had done ex-
tremely well in various ways. His
most profitable ventures had been IN
buying gold from the Mexicans, who
did not appear to understand the value
of gold.
that he knew Of an old Mexican who
had an ingot of gold which was worth
over $15 1000 but which could surely be
obtained for $4,000. The young man
regretted very much that his funds
were so tied up that he could not take
advantage of the golden opportunity
How He Took Bait.
The old farmer became interested
and later on readily consented to visit
St. Paul at the expense OF his new
friend. He was taken across the
Wabasha street bridge and far out il
West st. Paul. 49,,
,, A dark-skinned old man tal king witt
foreign accent produced a small
brick Of yellow metal, which he de
clared was pure gold. After it wa
examined, the farmer was requested t(
bore into the brick with pit and take
enough gold for E II for MS 4h wl ferme
> was induced to 90 into a jewelers. shol
and show his gold. The jeweler, pro
callers to visit an assay office in wha
he called the Commercial building
This advice was followed, and tn
farmer was taken to a high bul1dln!
Q and man pretending to be an assaye
was found. He also tested the, stu1
and declared that it was pure gold u
, being informed where the sample cam
5 from, the assayer expressed curloslt.
: to see the brick, and so the three me-
:, took trip to West st. Paul. .
i An Enthusiastic Assayer.
i The assayer grew very enthusiastic
r over the brick, and after weighing !
t in his hands, declared that there wa
: over $4,000 in gold in the chunk. =
n The farmer was now completely sat
isfed and promised to go right home
His natural caution returned, however
and he consulted the Moorhead bus
ness man for advice. The result wa
that the latter, tho very skeptica
i decided to assist his friend in maxim
an investigation. Mr.. Stewart hal
pened to meet the Moorhead man thr
y. their Shriner connections and the tW
= set trap for the swindlers.
~ -, In some way the farmer became SCI
IL =, arated from his friends, and it We
= = feared that he had met the gang an
y, been prevailed upon to give up. h
~ money, but a telegram to Moorhea
e. elected the information that the farmee
- had returned and his money was stl
:, safe.