The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-02-15
SMOOTH SW|MOLE
WORKED ON MANY
eRAlARoAu MANI nUse pnopNn.
w AND noRHows MONEY
Two Falshfwl Old Culored pscpls
Cheated out 81 Tnslr Hems--.
allekest CRATER THAT ever
struck Town.


Probably The Bmooshust and certain.
" the worst swindle ever pefpesrated
III Oskaloosa was that by winch
stranger robbed Lucy Thompson and
her HUSBAND, James. two old slaves.
OF their home ali that the aged PEG
pie had TO show for twenty-five years
OF hard labor on tho part Of the wife.
over tho wash tub
ny means OF worthless check the
man secured a deed TO the nome OF
the old people, through the decd he
put a mortgage for 5000 on the prop.
erty and Skipped with tho money. SO
perfectly did no play his part that not
only were the two old coiored folks
swindled out Of everything they had
In the world, but the man had aroused
no suspicious In the minds OF IA. w.
Gleason, who had advised In the mat
ter, In Marsh Bennett, through whom
the loan was made, and In ABB
stractor Will Baugh, who was connect
cd with the transfer
Jesse Strong was the name given
by the swlndler He was green
looking fellow, bashful, awkward,
freckled, and acted the part he pre-
tended, country lad who was going
into rallroading and was investing q
little money tnat he had obtained from
the sale OF small piece Of land.
i've got rheumatic and am too old
TO work, said Mira. Thompson Wednes.
day evening when the CRATER asked
her II she would sell her home, Il
cant work no more and II you'll let
me have TIL warm weathef-to get out
| I'll sell" The woman is 81 years or
age, her husband Is 10 according to
her statements this morning. The
man promised her $4,000 for the
house II was the cid Iady's price.
Strong advised with II. W. Gleason
as to how 10 80 about II 10 see that
the sale was legal. Yesterday he told
Mr.. Gleason that he had secured the
abstract and was about 10 close up
the deal so thoroughly had the man
secured Mr.. Gleasons confidence that
upon his request the attorney wrote
out the check on the MahaslSa County
Bank that was rendered In payment.
The swindler signed II In the attor.
neys presence Then no went to the
Mahaska County Bank and informed
them that he would deposit yesterday
enough 70 cover the payment for the
property.
Will BauRh, VINO made out the alb.
stract for the property Tor Strong, In
troduced the man to Marsh Bennett.
Bennett was secured to look over the
abstract, draw up the deed and &C.
knowledged II. The man also explained
that he wanted TO borrow some money
on the property TO mako repairs upon
| IT, Mr.. Bennett found the money that
was wanted.
The deed was drawn up and taken
out to the old folks TO sign. II was
regularly witnessed and sealed, then
Igiyen 10 Mr.. Thompson. Thompson
and the swindler came up town 70 get
tho money. The man rendered tho
old slave the check made out 10 his
wife. Mr.. Thompson TOOK tho worth
less paper down home for his wife TO
endorse.
Strong then made a last call on Mr.
Bennett. He had the deed recorded
to him, and the abstract TO show the
title in himself Since everything
was regular 20 was loaned $4,000,
which no asked ~ the mortgage. r..
r.. Culver was the man who put up
the money.
Strong sent Mr., Bennett 70 the
Thompsons TO see about the insur.
ance papers, land dcyoteu himself
assiduously to getting out OF town.
| 1t was not until the check was de-
clared worthless at the bank this
morning that the swindIelwas made
known.