davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

chunk of what appeared to be gold.
Why should the man have hidden it
it it were not gold?
With such prize in their posses
sion, what course should they pursue?
Who was the Indian? How had he
come by the gold?
Should they report the case to the
authorities? Neither the CRATER nor
the farmer suggested this course.
Possession being considered nine
points of the law, they felt no DISPOSE
ton to give up their extraordinary
find"
Finally the CRATER proposed burying
present.
At this point Charlie explained
that under no circumstances did he
call it a gold BRICK" but always a
"chunk of gold"
The wheat bin suggestion was fol-
lowed, and after filling the hole a'.d
placing the shovel where it had been
found they carefully concealed the
gold underneath thHee feet of wheat
in the barn. The farmer now became
anxious to make certain that it was
really gold. The CRATER felt no doubt
on this point, but agreed it would be
best to have it tested.
At last che farmer suggested just
what the CRATER had been waiting
for-that they look up an, assayer, pro-
vided it could be done with safety, and
let him test it. So the next day they
drove to town, left the team at liv-
cry barn and together went by train
to Columbus to have the material
tested.
Having reached Columbus they
started uptown, and very soon met an
intelligent looking man, who, OF
course, was one of the gang. Stepping
up to him in a businesslike way, the
High Mark" asked if he could tell
him whether there was an assayers
Office in the city.
ooh, yes" said the man, and di-
rected them to certain building
where an assayer's Office was on the
top floor.
All this looked plausible, and whe1
they reached the top floor sure enough
there they found sign over one of the
doors: ~. S. Assayer's Office :
A man, in short sleeves, with no col.
lar, and wearing duck apron-anothel
member of the exaggerated them
pleasantly.
Gould we have piece of metal test
ed?" asked the CRATER. :
ITO be sure" said the assayer. , !
Can you positively tell us whether
or not it is gold?' !
'Why not? That is what I am here
for" :
Now" said the CRATER, producing
the chunk of metal, Il wish you woul1
first show us how you test metal, and
then test this in our presence + {.
Every WELL" said the assayer. "Tc
give you demonstration. will produce
three or four pieces of brass and copper
then piece of gold of such low karat
that it will not stand the test. Ate;
this, will test pieces of gold. Here i
some acid that nothing but pure gol,
can stand .s..-..4-s III.
So saying, he picked up q piece al
:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

Announcement is made by the Rock
Island Frisco Systems of the inaugura-
ton. Ct daily through tourist car St..
Louis to Los Angeles, via Frisco Line to
Medora, Kansas, thence Rock lsland-E
Peso Line to California.
This provides an entirely new tourist
car route to the Golden State, and with
the installation of this car the Rock
Island has no less than ten through tour
list lines between the East and California
St.. Paul and Minneapolis and run through
via either the Rock Islands Southern
Route by way of Ell Paso, or Scenic Route
by way of Colorado. This frequent and
comprehensive service is provided with .
view to adequately meeting the demand
for tourist accommodations under the
very low rates effective in September and
October.
Most of the teachers in the school Of expe-
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

? -. : !.
question from, me as. to- the direction
in which they were going next he said
that they had plans all laid for a job
up in Wisconsin. ~
,':What are you fellows working
now" asked. >@ !.
! The gold BRICK" he replied.
r. Charlie has been working the gold
brick game long time, hasn't he? -
Eyes; and he is one of the finest
in the country. No doubt he has
turned the trick for bigger money than
any other gold-brick man in the
world
A few moments later I invited
Charlie" into my private Office, and
surprising him with my knowledge of
his business, got him to tell me the
story of his life, from the time he had
left college.
He and his gang, of which he was
considered the head. never played for
small stakes; $1,000 being the maxi
mum, and $4,000 the minimum. They
had three plans of putting up the
job" one of which he explained in de-
tail, as being very successful.
Their first step was to locate their
victim, and this required skillful work
On the part of the advance man.
When substantial farmer, with plenty
of property and a good bank account,
had been selected, - the High Mark" as
the head man was called. would visit
the locality. Calling upon the farmer,
or "Rummy" as he was known to the
gang he would explain that he was
business man from Massachusetts,
and was looking around with posi-
BILE view to buying small farm, upon
which to spend his remaining days.
They had turned their last trick IN
southern Ohio. working it as follows:
"Charlie' as High Mark" called
upon the farmer, who had been care
fully selected by the advance man.
After giving the above explanation to
account for his visit he inquired
whether there was any kind Of good
hunting in that section. When in
formed that there wa: excellent squir-
rel hunting and that the season was
then open, he became enthusiastic and
asked the farmer if he ever hunted
The reply was that he scarcely ever
did, principally for the reason that he
had poor gun
II have at my hotel several fine guns
and plenty of ammunition, and l want
to have little fun. If you will give me
board for week or two, I'll bring out
my guns and will pay you $40 or $25
a week with the understanding that
you are to give up your personal time
to go out with me. What do you say?"
To this the farmer agreed. The iol-
lowing day the CRATER returned, bag
and baggage.
The first day they went to the woods
to erect blind under which to hide.
while waiting for squirrels. After the
blind was finished the CRATER limited
that he had bottle of good stuff
in his pocket, and producing quar-:
bottle of choice wine and whisky
mixed, took drink and passed it to
the farmer, who also took a social
attractive, he hid the bottle under
log, remarking that it would come in
good play hereafter.
Being an experienced sportsman the
grafter's success in bringing down
fine mess of squirrels every morning
made things doubly interesting; be-
sides swig from the bottle created a
good appetite for breakfast
After the High Mark" had estab-
lished himself in the good graces of
the farmer and his family, one of his
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27
SCREAMED At NIGHT.
Baby Scratched Until Face Was Raw
and Bleeding-Eczema Cured
by Cuticura.

For over two years my little baby girl
suffered with raw; itching and painful
eczema on her bead and face, the pain
my wife could get no rest. We TIED sew:
eral doctors, but without success. Unless
we kept her hands tied she would scratch
until her face was like raw beef. One cake
of Cuticura Soap and two boxes of Cuti-
cura Ointment completely cured he=.
healing her face without mark or blem--
ish. (Signedl w. J. Morgan, Orchard
Town, New Lambton, New South Wales,
Australia"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

Copyright. 1905, by Joseph p Bowles.)
The old-time "gold brick scheme"
although familiar in name, to almost
everybody, nevertheless is a game Of
whose inside workings few people
have the vaguest idea. Even men
buncoed out of thousand of dollars by
it have been unable to understand or
explain every phase of the play
The sharpers engaged in this risky
work are careful, educated men; in
fact just the class one would suppose
would keep clear of such danger
GUS and atrOciOus work.
In my Investigations of all sorts of
buncO schemes, it was many years be-
fore l was able to understand how it
could be possible to sell an intelligent
farmer a gold brick for from $500 to
$1,000.
A man might stop at the same hotel
with dozen of these confidence men
for six months and never suspect what
was their business, or even that they
were interested in one another.
Always supplied with money, we'll
dressed and educated, they disarmed
suspicion, and for that reason were the
more dangerous.
Even while working up gold-brick
job. no two of them were ever seen to-
gether. Nothing would be known of
their work until some farmer had been
swindled out Of several thousand dol
lars. The newspapers could give only
a vague account of the affair, because
of the farmers inability to explain
how he had been duped. Besides not
one in ten victims would let it be known
that he had been gold bricked.
Had l not accidentally discovered
that an old acquaintance was in the
gold-brick business, and had been for
years, 1 never should have fathomed
the mysteries of the game.
Having naturally good physique
this CRATER developed into magnifi-
cent specimen of manhood. When 81
years of age, he weighed 230 pounls
was handsome, we'll proportioned and
a fluent talker with the vocabulary Of
a college professor. After leaving COL
lege he was first with large st. Louis
tobacco house, as travelling sales
man. While on the road he began
playing poker and eventually neg
lected his business. Later he began
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

gold bar" (as the assayer had called
it), in the bag. They returned to the
farmers home in high spirits, and again
buried the gold bar in the wheat bin.
In the estimation of the CRATER. the
mostfeasible way to dispose of it was for
one of them to go alone to some large
city and have the bar made into several
ferent dealers. He even limited that he
would be willing to do it.
1.-TWO men together" he said, would
be likely to create some suspicion, as Of
fering the gold for sale is different
from calling upon an assayer for infor-
nation"
This suggestion was intended to make
the farmer suspect that his partner was
working scheme to beat him out of his
half of the gold
The following morning a telegraph
messenger came to the farmers house
with telegram for the CRATER, which
read:
Mother very sick; given up to die.
Come Immediately.
.(Signed) MARY"
Half beside himself, the CRATER
showed the telegram to the farmer, and
said:
''See here, I haven't the money to buy
your half of the gold bar, and haven't
time to wait to have it melted and d.
vided, so I'll tell you what I'll do. If
you will give me $500 you can have my
half"
Naturally the farmer hesitated, if for
no other reason than to get a better
deal; whereupon the CRATER showed
him that by accepting his offer he would
be getting $500 the best of the bargain
z"Well,,' the farmer said, IF can raise
$4,000 more than / have on hand, I'll
give you $1,000 cash for your share
%"All right agreed the CRATER.
''Take me to town and settle with me
and I'll start for Massachusetts on the
first train for the east"
The cash was, of course, forthcoming.
and would have been had the farmer
been obliged to mortgage his farm.
| Now, Charlie" said 1, suppose 1
should step into another room and call
the chief of police, and turn you over to
him, what would be the outcome?'
WELL" said he, Il haven't given you
the name of anyone we have buncoed,
! and as none of the 'rummies' have
kicked or made any kind of squeal,
what could they do to me? I'd simply
say that l had lied to you, and that would
end it, l. -
"A small piece had been taken out of
| the brass or copper brick, and a sufi-
GENTLY large piece of gold inserted, upon
which to enable the supposed assayer
to place his acid. With the exception
Of this small piece of pure gold, the
whole brick was nothing more nor less
than brass or copper. ~.
1T Will be remembered that the Indian,
finsteadsof burying the metal in the tim
bered lot, PLANTED" it on the opposite
| side of.the fence, on land owned by some
one other than the farmer. This gave
the farmer no chance to claim the whole
chunk of gold, on the ground that it
was found upon his property. :
Cur Age. ~ a.. d.
{5H$sIIucrv4 ,s70p hac hio dov% and ouoS =
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

experience I know Doan's Kidney Pills
will cure Inflammation of the bladder,
having experienced relief the second
day of using the medicine.
(Signed) j. A. GOULDEN.
Sold by all dealers. so cents box.
Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27
Sentimental.

''She was a woman" said the poetical
boarder, "whose beauty turned mems hearts
to fire."
"And their necks to rubber, suppose
added the prosy old bachelor.-Chicago
Daily News.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27
CONGRESSMAN GOULDEN.
Finds Quick Relief from Bladder Troubles
Through Doan's Kidney Pills.
Hon. Joseph A. Goulden, member of
Congress representing the 18th District

OF New York, also
trustee of the SOL
diers' Home at Bath, :
N. ,Y.,.writes:: IT.:
Gentle men: As
many of my friends
have used Doan's Kid
ney Pills and have
been cured of kidney
and bladder troubles,
1 feel it my duty to
recommend the medi-
cine. From personal
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27
By
J. p. JOHNSTON
THE GOLD BRICK GAME.

An Old But Successful Method of
Swindling Wealthy Farmers -
Plan So Intricate That Few Have
Understood 1.-THE "High Mark"
and His 'Gang"-An Indian, Cit
izen and an Assayer Play Their Re-
spective Roles-A Small Part of the
Brick Pure Gold-Haul Of 81, 900
for the "Gang."
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27
At the Wedding.

Eyes, the girl wa. from Boston, and the
man was from Battle Creek
''What of it,"
"Why, as a delicate tribute, instead of
throwing rice, We threw beans and break
fast ."-Chicago Sun.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

Destiny has turned many a man down
while he was waiting for something to turn
up.-Success Magazine.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27
To Wash Black Stockines.

10 "asu o1sck Stock1uEs.
To prevent black stockings from as
Stunning a greenish hue, wash as follows:
Dissolve liberal amount of Ivory Soap
T., gallon Of water as hot as the hands
ran bear. Wash through several suds
Of this preparation; rinse through two
warm waters, adding to the last table,
spoonful of vinegar. Dry and press on
the wrong side with a cool iron.
ELEANOR r. PARKER.
Make most of the simple life while you
can The camDaiqn will omen soon
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

Most of the teachers in the school of expe'
rience are very attractive.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-10-27

{. Cur Age. -. *.sys~-.s,2..s :. 81
" Every dog has his day., and even !
cur NAV possess courage. .5ss
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19

be the duty of the Attorney General
to bring suit against all persons so
falling to report in the Superior court
of Wake county on application of the
Board OF Internal Improvements.
Whenever the General Assembly
shall direct any public Improvement
the board shall let the same out by
contract.
The Board of Internal Improvement
shall appoint on behalf of the State
all such officers or agents as, by any
act Incorporating q company for the
purpose of internal improvement, are
allowed to represent the stock or 9th
er interest of the State in such COM
pany; and such person or persons shall
cast the vote to which the State may be
entitled i'm all the meetings of the stock
holders of such company under the di-
rection of the board, and the board
may, if in its opinion the interest of
the public require it, remove or sus-
pend such persons, officers, agents,
proxy or directors in it's discretion,
The Governor is authorized and
empowered whenever he may think
the public service requires it, to have
the affairs of any railroad, turnpike,
canal or other public Improvement,
State hospital or other public institu-
ton, except those for higher educa-
ton not also charitable, in which the
State has an interest, and the official
conduct of any officer thereof, inves-
tigated by a member of the Board of
Internal Improvement and to take
such action concerning any matter re-
ported upon as the said board may
deem to the interest of the State; and
the Governor may suspend or remove
from office any of said officials if in
his opinion the interest of the State
demands it.
The members of the board appoint
ed for the investigation mentioned
above has power to administer oaths,
send for persons and papers and all
powers granted to a committee of in
vestigation appointed by the General
Assembly: and sheriffs shall execute
writs of such members of the Board
Of Internal Improvement as they
would for a judicial officer of the
State and any person refusing or fail
ing to answer any question of said
member of the board shall be guilty
of misdemeanor and on conviction
shall be fined and imprisoned.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19
LARGER POWERS FOR BOARD
OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
Composed of the Governor, as Ex-Officio President
Hon. B. c. Beckwith, of Raleigh, and Hon.
X. A. Morrow of Monroe. Who We're
Re-Appointed
Re-Appointed .

The Board of Internal Improve
ments had its duties greatly enlarged
by the adoption of the Revised Statutes
by the General Assembly,
AS the law now is the board is COM
posed of the Governor, ex-officio pres
ident. and two commissioners, b. G..
Beckwith, Esq, of Raleigh, and X. A.
Morrow, of Monroe.
The board has charge of all the
States interest in all railroads, canals
and other works of internal improve
ments. and also all public and State
stitutions-charitable penal or edu-
cational except those for higher edu-
cation, not also charitable.
The board shall bi-ennially report
to the General Assembly the condition
of all public or State institutions and
buildings in their charge, railroads,
canals and other works of internal
improvements, in which the State has
an interest, and shall suggest such inn
provements. engagements and extern
sions of such work as they shall deem
proper; and shall give in detail the
financial condition, receipts and dis
bursements for the previous year or
since their last report of any State
institution, and give the name of any
official of any of said institutions or
corporations falling or refusing to re-
port to the board as is required by
law.
Every president or other chief Off
Ger of every railroad or other public
work of internal improvement, in
which the State owns an interest, and
every State institution except those for
higher education not also charitable,
if required so TO do by the board, shall
make or cause to be made to the Board
of Internal Improvements a written
report of the affairs of his company
or institution for the year, showing
amount of gross receipts for past year
and from what source derived, an
itemized account of expenditures for
past year, etc., etc.
Any person failing to make a true
report as required shall be guilty of
q miSdemeanor, and on conviction
shall be fined not less than one thou
sand nor more than five thousand
dollars. and imprisoned not less than
one nor more than five years at hard
labor in the penitentiary; and it shall
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19

Sec. 2. The present cash value of the
annuity for fraction of a year be
ascertained as follows: Multiply the
difference between the cash value of
the annuities, for the preceding and
succeedin@ full year by the fraction
of the year in decimals, and add the
sum to the present cash value for the
preceding full year.
Sec 3. When a person is entitled to
the use of a sum Of money for life or
for a given time, the interest thereon
for one year may be considered as an
annuity and the present cash value be
ascertained as herein provided
Sec 4. That this act shall be in
force from and after it's ratification.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19

d. o. Brinkley. A. L. Owens, l.. P.
Hornthall
Lees Mills. M. Reed, W. H.
Hodges, =. F. Hassell. i. Chessom,
Victor Lewis.
sl1inneryille-H M. Smell, J. w.
Patrick, A. Newberry, e. r. Spruili,
Henderson Norman.
Scuppernong-W. II. Harrison, J.
L. Hassell, G. H. Spruill, II. w.
Phelps
Watauga County.
Cove Creek-Bennett Smith, J. r.
Luther. 12345 GIN. N.
Luther, ]. +. saimons.
Stony Fork-C. A. Grub, d. b.
Wagner, @. w. Greer, Ebert Green,
Allen Watson.
Boon. c. Hodges
Shawneehaw-F H. Stinson.
North Fork-L. M Thomas.
Laurel Hill. G. Smith
Boon-J w. Ryan
Stony Fork-D. B. Wagner, ]. z.
Luther, G. A. Grubbs.
Bald Mountain--W. s. Miller.
Watauga-T. G. Taylor.
Wayne County.
Goldsboro-A. B. Freeman, a. 3.
HollowelI
Great Swamp-Gray Aycock.
Fremont-C. G. league.
Granthams-J. w. Rose
Mt, Olive-W F. English, a years.
S. A. Byrd, (Section q of The Code
not to apply: Provided he shall be
subject to the lawyers license tax and
shall receive such fees for drawing
papers as attorneys).
Wilson County.
Wilson,. Z. Townsend
Black Creek-Joln O'Hagan.
old Fields-J. S. Wilson, w. b. Kir-
by, r. r. Barnes. w. H. Mercer.
Yadlkin County.
Boonville-S. Fl. Wilmort, G. M.
Holkombe.
Knobbs-K. M. Thompson.
Buck Shoals-M. J. Angel.
Deep River-T. v. Foot, j. s. Long,
c. ID. Royal
Liberty-W. L. Macy, I. J. Cranfell.
Forbush-R "A. Poindexter
Fall Creek-D G. Hobson, G. L.
Gabard
Yancey County.
Ramseytown-S. j. Peek, G.. M, Nc
Intosh, a years each).
Pensacola-James Hutchings, q
years..
Prices Creek--J. B. EIkin e years.
John Nancy, GA years.; Alben Horton.
Egypt. w. Pate, a years.
James Renfro, e years..
Jacks Creek-B. T. Horton, ID. NJ
Hampden, CA years.; d. w. Williams,
e years..
Brush creel5-C. w. Deyton. r. C.
Randolph.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19
oAsH vALUE OF ANNuITTEs.
To Facilitate The Collection of Their
Present Worth.

The full text of the bill to facilitate
the calculation Of the present worth
of annuities is as follows:
An Act to Facilitate the Calculation of
The Present Worth of Annuities.
The General Assembly of North Caro-
lima do enact:
Section /. That whenever it shall be
necessary to establish the present
worth or cash value of an annuity to
a person payable annually during his
life such present worth or cash value
may be ascertafned by the use of the
following table, in connection with the
mortuary table established by law, the
of years the annuity is to run. and
the second column representing the
present cash value of an annuity OF
one dollar for such number Of dollars