New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-07-05
SHARP TRIO|AFTER FARMERS CASH
Said TO be Working in Brown and
Neighboring Counties.

one of the city papers contains the
following interesting account of how
an old swindle is being worked in
certain sections of this state, it is as
follows:
A trio of sharpers have been work
ing the farmers of southern Minnesota
for a month, trying to fleece them out
of their dollars with an old game I'M
der a new name.
The trio enter town and pass them
selves off as gentlemen who desire to
invest in farm lands. In this manner
they become acquainted with the stand
ing of the various farmers, and
choosing one, they start their game.
Two of the three hire rig and drive
to the farm of their victim-elect, to
buy his property. If the farmer, will
sell they talk land, and after time
make an appointment with him. Here
is where the third man "gets in his
work. -
The two usually give the names of
"Judge" Harris and DR.. Morgan of
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Their confeder-
ate acts the part of demented man
with pocketful of money-the bali
with which they catch their victims.
Their game is to get farmer in
terested in the sale of his property and
to take him to a point where they will
meet the confederate. The confederate
stops them with wave OF his hand,
and asks the place of residence of a
man with some impossible name.
Judge Harris, who is spokesman,
replies that he is stranger and APP
peals to the farmer beside him for in
formation. Of course the farmer never
heard OF person with the name given
and says SO. Thereuponthe confeder-
ate launches upon disconnected
story of just having come from Ken
lucky looking for a man by the name
of Horn blower who had married his
sister and moved to southern Mime.
sofa. He further states that his father
has just died and left him $500, and
that he has the money with him.
In proof his pockets appear to be
fairly filed with greenbacks. Harris
and the farmer usually question the
stranger, and from the answers re-
ceived the farmer is usually convinced
that the man is crazy. The confeder-
ate asks the farmer if he has ever been
to Chicago, and tells how he visited
the city and lost $45 on a card game.
1t is worth the money, he says. for he
learned a trick or two that was worth
S45 of anybody's money. Harris asks
if he remembers the trick we'll enough
to show it to them. He does remember.
and pulling buster from the buggy
he spreads it out upon the ground and
from somewhere in his money-laden
pockets he finds a deck of cards.
"Here you," he says, give me SIS,
and if you draw queen you get
81, 500.'
Harris gives him the five, draws a
queen and gets the money. Harris
draws again, but the queen is elusive.
The farmer is then asked to dray.
Generally he is timid but the sight Of
the money about makes him careless
and he deposits and draws. If the
farmer is sharp he will notice that the
queen is bent and doubled and easily
picked out of the pack. Usually the
farmer draws the queen and is handed
roll, supposed to contain the 81, 500.
"tNow," says the confederate, "you
have got to show same amount. The
"Judge" speaks for the man beside
him, explaining that he is a farmer
and not likely to have the amount with
him, but that he owns large farm
near by and does not need to show
that he can raise the amount. ''That
will not do" says the confederate.
HE must show the money" 1t is
explained pro and con and Harris
ulleu piOpCSSS W W W bONu duu get
the money. and the confederate
promises to wait on the spot for their
return. f
If the farmer is wise he will then
part company with the sharpers, and
most of them do. Those who return
with money in their pockets 60 home
| more wise, if less rich, for the days
experience.
The trio have been working in Blue
Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Walton
wan and Mobiles counties, but have
only made small hauls. They are
sharp and look for greener fields be.
fore the authorities can lay hands up.
on them.
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