Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-01-06
BOLD HOLDUP ARTIST
NOSE GOLDSMITH OF SEATTLE
MINUS OYER $4,000.
Crook Had Planned a Deal to Buy
Half Interest in TWO Opera Houses
He Got Goldsmith In Hotel Room
and Forced Him to Send Out and
Get His Checks Cashed.

Nose Goldsmith, theatrical booking
agent and owner of the Strand the
alter of Seattle, was held up in a
room at the Lincoln hotel, one of LIE
most fashionable hostelries In Seattle,
by man who gave his name as Burke,
and made to pay over s275O. 1t was
one of the boldest and best planned
coups ever turned in that city.
Goldsmith had received a telephone
call from Burke, who stated that he
had business proposition to make.
meeting was arranged in an up
town office. Burke said he was from
Butte, Mont, and owned a half inter-
est in the Miner of that city. He
declared he had $4,000 to invest and
would like to buy an interest in Gold
smiths theatrical business. He show
ed what purported to be a draft on the
Butte Miner for that amount Gold
smith said he would sell him an in
terest in his two vaudeville theatres
in that city for that amount 1t was
agreed that Goldsmith should have the
papers drawn up by his attorney.
The next day Goldsmith received a
telephone call from Burke from the
Lincoln hotel asking him to come up
and talk over the deal. Goldsmith
and an employee named Cohen went
to room on the top floor. They were
met by Burke, who stated that he
wished to talk to Goldsmith personally. 1
Cohen went to the office and Golu-
smith remained with Burke The first
thing the latter did after Cohen left
was to tell Goldsmith to read a letter
lying on a table in the room. This
letter stated that Burke needed S275O
very badly, and if Goldsmith did not
come through" with that amount his
head would be shot off. Goldsmith
turned to his companion and looked
down the barrel of Colts revolver.
Write out check for the amount"
commanded Burke, "and send the
hotel clerk to the bank for the money,
$500 in gold and the balance in 500
bills"
Goldsmith did as told and called up
Cashier Lane of the Scandinavian
American bank to say that the check
was all right and to pay the same as
directed. The hotel clerk was called
to the room, Burke keeping Goldsmith
covered and shielding the gun from
the clerks sight. After the clerk had
gone Burke told Goldsmith to order
drinks for two, which he did, and
after the clerk returned with the
money he ordered two more, for which
he made Goldsmith pay,
Victim Gentleman.
Pocketing the money Burke inform
ed Goldsmith that he was a gentleman
and shook hands with him. He also
said he would not take Goldsmith's
diamonds. He then made Goldsmith
go into the bathroom, and warned him
to make no cutlery for Is minutes. He
then locked the door and left After
waiting for about 10 minutes Gold
smith began yelling, and attracted the
attention of woman in the next
room. The porter was sent for and
Goldsmith liberated.
The police were notified at once and
detectives paced on the case. Gold
smith describes Burke as being Of
medium height and fairly well dress
ed His hair and mustaches were jet
black and his eyes light blue, which
causes Goldsmith to think he was dis
guised.
American bank, telegraphed to Butte
and learned that no such man as
Burke has any interest whatever in
the Miner. Chief Delaney says it is
the cleverest piece of work in the
history of the department.