The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-25
NeOshO County Farmer Loans
SIS on Worthless Draft.
Met a Stranger at Chanute and
Accommodated Him.
WANTED FOR EXPRESS
The Experience of Mr.. MadI
Was Of the Circus Day Kind.
Identified the Confidence Man
But He Proved an Alibi.

Chanuee, Kan, May 25.-His willing
ness to accommodate a willy stranger
cos Fred Madl, a Neosho county farm
er living near st. Paul, SIS on circus
day.
Mr.. Madl came to Chanute on the
noon lra.n. He was on his way to Law
renee While here he formed the ac-
quaintance oe a very agreeable gentle
man, who engaged him in conversation
and proved himself to be a very enter
tanning companion.
When this new acquaintance found
that Mr.. Madl was going to Lawrence
he was delighted Why. that's where
I am going" he said, L am sincerely
glad that met you, for now L will
have company on the way"
The two men boarded the north
bound train here and sat together. The
train stops here twenty minutes for
dinner. and the stranger seemed wor-
ried because there was some merchan-
dis here which had come by express
and he did not have enough money to
pay the charges. Il should like to take
the stuff out" he said But I have not
enough ready money with me, although
I have a draft for $1,000 right here in
my pocket
He excused himself and left the train
for moment. returning soon with con-
federate, whom he introduced as the
express agent. The man who was going
To Lawrence wanted to know If Mr.
Madl would lend him $18, so that he
could get the goods. Il will just turn
the draft over TO you" he said land
when we get 20 Lawrence we will go
and get 1t cashed. Then I will be able
to repay the loan"
The pseudo-express agent corroborat-
ed the story and said that he would be
willing to cash the draft but that the
safe was locked and that he could not
get into it right then.
They told their story and acted their
parts so well and plausibly that Mr..
Madl who is an honest, straightfor-
ward man, and had no idea of his COM
! panion's dishonesty, kindly loaned him
| the $18 and took the draft.
The money changed hands, the man
from Lawrence gave directions for the
forwarding of the goods, and the train
pulled out. Before 1t was out Of the
yards the man from Lawrence went to
the front of the car, and as it was pass
ing one of tie street crossings, jumped
off.
Mr.. Madl went onto Humboldt, where
| the nOrthbOund train passes the south
bount train. There he got off and came
! back to Chanute. Arriving here he re-
! ported his loss to the railroad authori-
ties It happened that H H. Germaine
the chief of the Santa Fe detective
force was in Chanute that day, having
| come down because of the presence OF
the circus here, and he and E. E Gregg
the regular Santa Fee detective on this
division, at once began a. search for the
confidence man.
They went to the circus ground with
Mr. Madl, and arrested a man whom
the latter pointed out as the one who
had swindled him. The man was taken
before Judge Buchanan He succeeded
| in esta blishing an alibi that could not
| be controverted and was released.
The 81 300 draft was drawn on the
| Citizens National bank of St. Louis
1 Mo. and was made payable to Henry
Jackson. The swindle is the second one
of the kind which has been perpetrated
in southeastern Kansas within the past
few days The other victim was Lyman
r. Jones of Coffeyville. who became
/ acquainted with a stranger on Katy
train Just before it reached Parsons
The stranger had some business to
transact at the Parsons passenger sta
ton. but was without money other than
a sight draft for 81, 400 which he could
not cash until he got to Coffeyville. Mr..
! Jones loaned him S21 and took the draft
for security. The stranger left the train
at Parsons and went into the depot
saying that he would return as soon As
he had transacted his business. He fail
ed to come back and Mr.. jones has mol
! seen him since