The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1908-07-27
SLICK CRATER VISITS EUREKA
Confidence Crook Works Business
Men of This Town in Very
Successful Manner

One Of the cleverest grafters tina
ever visited Eureka aud executed hil
plans to u successful conclusion, arrived
here from Palisade on the train Thurs.
day afternoon of last week.
Shortly after his arrival he intro.
duced himself as J. ID. Hammond, and
visited a number of business houses in
town, making inquiries about the prices
of provisions. powder. fuse. bedding
supplies and mining tools. representing
himself as a mining man who intended
embarking in the development of mine.
in this district on an extensive scale.
Friday he went down la the direction
Of Phillipsburg, about Is miles north of
Eureka, and on his return stated b.
nad secured properties there upon
which he intended beginning opera
tons at nee. He also said that on his
trip to the section mentioned above h,
had lost his bank book and valuable
papers somewhere on the road.
In conversation with A. G. Florio,
proprietor Of the Brown Hotel, he made
known his loss, adding that he had
quite q financial accoun with the
Wells. Fargo Bank in Salt Lake City,
and further stated that he was DESTROYS
of purchasing mining supplies here
immediately to begin operations on the
properties he had secured.
He asked Mr.. Florio for a few blank
checks, and the latter gave him six Oh
the Eureka County Bank. After get
ling the checks Hammond proceeded
TO draw one for $50 on the Wells,
Fargo & 90. Bank of Salt Lake n
asked Mr.. Florio if he would cash it.
The latter did so.
Armed with the checks next morning
Saturday he visited the store of Phi
Paroni, where he purchased a revolver
for sci and a box Of cartridges costing
81. and also ordered a large bill Of
groceries; at p. II. Hjul's store blank
cts, mattresses and cots were purchased,
while other bills of supplies were or
dered at the stores of the johnson
Mercantile Company and Mau Brothers.
In each instance Hammond issued
checks in payment for the goods pur
chased. Except the revolver and cart
ridges purchased at Phil Paroni's, nom
Of the other goods ordered were deliv
cred.
After he had concluded his shopping
he called ON Mr.. Florio again Saturday
afternoon and asked him if he had 3
horse be would loan him to go down
the road in search of his lost bank bool
and papers. Mr.. Florio told him b,
could accommodate him. and going t.
the stable saddled his favorite hors,
and turned him over to Hammond.
who role him out OF town about {
o'clock the same evening in the direc.
ton Of the E. & p. Railway depot.
AS he told Mr.. Florio he would re
turn in about a half an hour. and fail
ing to show up here that day or tn,
next morning the former began to grow
suspicious the fellow was a CRATER.
Before leaving town Saturday even
ing. however. he called at the Brown
Hotel and asked Mike Donnelly, tn,
barkeeper, to inform Mr.. Florio that il
he (Hammond) did not return tina,
evening he would be back early next
morning. as he was anxious to see Pete
rrento. who was then at one of the
Italian ranches about seven miles north.
east Of Eureka, about a mining claim
he had in Spring valley. west of town.
Sunday morning, Hammond not re
turning, Mr.. Fiorio drove out to where
Mr. Trento was and inquired If the man
he was looking for had been there the
night before. He found that he had
not. Mr.. Florio then returned to town
and that evening telegraphed to the
Wells. Fargo & Co. Bank at Salt Lake
asking if a man named ]. d. Hammond
was a depositor in that bank. An an.
swer from that institution the next day
stated it knew of no such man. Mr..
Florio then telegraphed to the officers
At Palisade, Austin. Ely and other
points in the State, giving a description
Of the man and the horse he had taken.
Hammond is about 2S or 30 years OF
age. of slight build. weighing $50
pounds. aud quite entertaining in his
conversation. He claimed to have been
in South Africa. Australia. Alaska.
Mexico, as well as all the mining States
and Territories of the East and Pacific
Coast.
The horse stolen is a fine looking roam
animal with silver mane aud tail. and
weighs about 1000 pounds. Mr.. Florio
valued him at about $3.50; the saddle
and bride at $50. making his loss. with
the $50 advanced, aggregate $3.50.
No knowledge has been ascertained
of the course he pursued after reaching
the mouth of the canyon below the
depot. but it is believed that instead OF
continuing his journey north he took a
southerly course into Nye and Lincoln
Counties in order to keep as far away
as possibse from telegrahpic communi-