The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-02-15
SMOOTH SW|MDlE
WORKED ON MANY
sNAlARoAo MANI nUNs pRopgn.
w ANu SORROWS MONEY,
TVS Falthsul old celered peopls
Cheated oct % Tneir nons-.
sliekest CRATER That Ever
struck Town.

Probably the sfn0othest aud certain.
" tho worst swindle ever perpesrated
in Oskalcosa Was that By which a
stranger robbed Lucy Thompson and
her husband, James, two old slaves,
OF their home, --all that the aged PEG
pie had TO show for twenty-five years
OF hard labor on tho part OF the wife
over the wash tub.
ny means Of a worthless check the
man secured a deed to the home OF
the old people, through the deed he
put mortgage for 5000 on the prop.
erty and Skipped with the money. SO
perfectly did he play his part that not
only were the two old colored folks
swindled out OF everything they had
in the world, but the man had aroused
no suspicious in the minds OF Ii. w.
Gleason, who had advised In the mat
ter, In Marsh Bennett. through whom
the loan was made, and in Alb.
stractor Will Baugh, who was connect.
ed 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 railroading and was investing
little money that he had obtained from
the sale of small piece Of land.
1--WE got rheumatic and am too old
TO work. said Mrs. Thompson Wednes.
day evening when the CRATER asked
her if she would sell her home Il
cant work no more and II you'll let
me have till warm weathefto get out
I'll SELL" The woman Is 81 years or
age, her husband Is 70 according to
her statements this morning. The
man promised her $4,000 for the
house. 1t was the old lady's price.
Strong advised with II. w Gleason
as to how to go about II to see that
the sale was legal. Yesterday he told
Mr.. Gleason that no had secured the
abstract and was about 10 close UP
the deal. so thoroughly had the man
secured Mr.. Gleason's confidence that
upon his request the attorney wrote
out the check on the Mahaska County
Bank that was rendered In payment.
mhe swindler signed 1t In the attor-
ney's presence. Then he went to the
Mahaska County Bank and informed
them that he would deposit yesterday
enough to cover the payment for the
property.
Will Baugh, wno made out the abb
stract for the property ror 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 make repairs upon
II. 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
given TO Mr. Thompson. Thompson
and the swIndler came up town to get
the money. The man rendered the
old slave the check made out to his
wife. Mr. Thompson TOOK the worth
less paper down home for his wife TO
endorse.
Strong then made 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 100000,
which he asked In the mortgage. T..
r. Culver was the man who put up
the money.
Strong sent Mr.. Bennett to the
Thompsons to see about the insur.
ance papers,--and devoted himself
assiduously to getting out OF town.
It was not until the check was de-
clared worthless at the bank this
morning that the swlndle/ was made
known