Evening journal., 1905-09-30
TWO SWINDLERS
TRIED TO ENTRAP
WILMINGTON Man
Made an Effort to Get 81, 900
From Aged William
Ferris
He INFORMED POLICE
AND PERPETRATORS FLED

An attempt was made today to
fleece William Ferris, Of No. 7O3 West
street, one of Wilmington's oldest and
best known citizens. out of $1,000, but
the scheme failed aud the confidence
men who tried to work the game have
disappeared. There were two of the
swindlers, both young men and well
dressed. Both were smooth-faced and
one of them was more than six feet
tall. The other was about 8 feet
inches in height. The intended vic
tim is nearly ninety years old.
According to Mr.. Ferris story to the
police he first met one OF the men at
Eighth and Tatnall streets. The
stranger gave his name as Hitl and
asked his prospective victim about the
banks of Wilmington and the interest
they paid on deposits. He said he had
some money which he desired to put
in the institution that paid the best
interest, and after talking along this
strain for short time, the swindler
suddenly thought of something and
saying he had an appointment. bid Mr.
Ferris goodbye and left him. The lat
ter then went to the paint store of
James M. Bryan & Son and walk
ing out Eighth street between Tatnali
and West met the second confidence
man.
SECOND SWINDLER APPEARS.
The swindler informed Mr.. Ferris
that he had two histories of Whining
ton and knowing that he was
interested i'm such works. desired to
present him with one. Mr.. Ferris re-
piled that he did take some interest
in historical books but informed the
stranger that he did not usually speak
to strange persons unless first intro
duced. The confidence man, quick to
respond. said his name was Winches-
ter. and that his brother James C.
Winchester, was president Of the First
National Bank. and on his suggestion,
Mr.. Ferris accompanied him to the
home Of Ella Bell, colored. at No. S11
Tatnall street. Here the two met
Hall.
Winchester" asked his accomplica
for the histories OF Wilmington. say
ing he desired to give Mr.. Ferris one
Of them.
u am sorry" replied Hall. Il found
the books scratched and sent them
back to New York as Bishop Potter
told me not to give any out that were
damaged"
LOTTERY GAME PROPOSED.
Then turning to Winchester -
Hall said: II owe you s21. Here is
$40 and this lottery ticket is guarantee
for the other dollar" winchester
took the money and lottery ticket
which Hall had produced and stored
them away in his pocket.
Hall then asked Winchester" whe-
ther he had any property in Whining
ton and the latter replied:
"Oh, 1 got about s11 900 worth"
4 well. then you can get $1,000 in
\ cash" and Winchester" replied that
4 he could
j How about you?" said Hall ad-
4 dressing Mr.. Ferris. The latter said
\ he guessed his name was good for a
4 thousand, but remarked that he did
4 not have that sum with him.
you can get it though, can't your
4 inquired Hall. and the prospective
n victim answered that he could.
q At this point Hall produced two rolls
4 of money as big as his fists and lay
4 ing them on the table together with
some lottery tickets said to both
winchester and Mr.. Ferris: "This
game is on the square and as security
each Of you can take one of the rolls
This lottery is in Washington and is
all right"
THE BIRDS HAD FLOWN.
Mr.. Ferris left the house, pretending
10 go to his home for the money, but
went TO the First National Bank in
stead, and describing the man who
gaze the name of winchester" to the
president of that institution, found that
he had no such brother. Mr.. Ferris
then reported the matter to the po-
lice and when the latter went to No
S11 Tatnall street they found the
swindlres had gone. Police Captain Ev-
ans learned that the men had called or
the Bell woman this morning and en-
n gagged the front room OF her homs
"a from o'clock until O'Clock this af.
81 ternoon. That they followed Mr.. Ferris
when he left the Tatnall street house
# "a believed by the police, as no trace
OF them could be found when the ofii.
GERS went to the house. The onl,
thing left behind by the men was {
| oNoof NJ porors with Soma futtrno nr