Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-18
BUNCO MEN
. GET $1,000
WEALTHY ENGLISH MERCHANT
FLEEcED IN NEW YORK
CANDLES WITH STRANGERS AND
LOSES HIS MONEY
Supposed Policemen Appear on Scene,
Arrest Party, Take Roll
of Bills and Dis
appear

NEW YORK, Aug. 17-Arthur F. WEIGH,
a rich English merchant of Shanghai,
China, stopping at the Waldorf on his
way to London, was robbed yesterday of
$1,000 by one of the boldest and cleverest
schemes ever brought to the notice of the
police
WEIGH is little man, about So years old
He and his Wife coming overland from
the coast, put up at the Waldorf, intend
ing to sail on the Campania this morning
On Thursday afternoon he started for a
ticket agency at the Gilsey house. On
Thirty-fourth street polite stranger
who said he was W. H. Davis. "a stranger
in town, seeing the sights" asked the way
to Bronx park. WEIGH said he, too was
a stranger in New York
Fell Into the Trap
"Can 1 be of service to you," inquired
MIR. Davis" They went to the ticket
agency, where Walch unwttingly dis
played his money to the keen eye of his
companion, and bought his tickets for
Europe Then they adjourned to the Cafe
Martin. At the same table with them was
third man who had already ordered a
drink. There was no sign of recognition
between the stranger and MIR. Davis"
When the waiter brought the check it
was found to include the third mans
cocktail. AT this the third man protested.
You have made mistake he said to
the waiter. II do not know these gentle
men. Bring me a separate check"
One pleasant apology led to another,
and before the rich Englishman realized
1t they were all three matching, first for
drinks and then for money. WEIGH won
$500 The others demurred to paying him
his winnings until he had satisfied them
he really had the money to pay in case
he had lost instead of won.
Brought His Roll Along
WEIGH agreed to meet them again at 3
p. m. yesterday at the Cafe Martin to
show them the color of his money He
was there at the appointed hour, prepared
to match some more.
Lets go to a quieter place" said Davis.
So they repaired to the Chimney Cor
ner" saloon, at Sixth avenue and Twenty
sixth street. They were snugged away in
the back room, matching, when in walked
two strapping fellows, wearing blue suits
and Official looking caps. They bounced
on Davis and the stranger.
We've got you two counterfeiters
now! they cried as they went through
the pairs clothes and pulled out all the
money they could find.
Look at all that phony money!" they
said as they stuffed 1t in their pockets.
linen Iney turned 10 Welcn. WnaC 90
you mean by being in the company of
counterfeiters they said to him. Maybe
you're a counterfeiter too"
With that one of the crooks pinned
WEIGH against the wall, while the other
searched him and extracted his $4,000 roll
which he unrolled and gazed at critically
"AlI Phony, Too"
| Eyes, that's all phony. money tool
they remarked as they calmly appro
priated the roll. The two crooks ther
started, as they said, for the central Office
with Davis and the stranger. They com.
| manded WEIGH to follow. Outside the
saloon one of the robbers stood guard
over the three prisoners while the other
bogus detective went inside to call up
Gen. Bingham on the phone. AS he did
not return the other bogus detective went
inside to see what had happened to his
partner. Davis and the stranger winked
at WEIGH and took to their heels.
After waiting five minutes by himself
it all dawned on WEIGH. When he told
his sad story at the Tenderloin station
some detectives were hustled out to in
vestigate. Welch and his wife didn't sail
on the Campania.