The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-27
THEY LOST $4,000
More Victims Of the Coffeyvilel
Swindler Heard From.
New Dupes of the Clairvoyant
Appearing Daily.
AMUSING INCIDENTS.
One Woman Who Lost $500 Sat
Facing East Two Hours.
Only One Negro Woman Heard
Where Many Applied.

Coffeyville, Kan, Feb. ga reoapi
tuiat1on OF the losses made Tuesda,
morning shows that Frank Adrian
the clafrvoyant, who during the las,
three weeks has swindled the womer
OF the city out of their money, secured
| nearer. $4,000 than $1,000. At the frs,
report. 1t was thought that the amount
was greatly exaggerated but later in
Vestieations show that more women
were ouped by this man than was or
lsinaliy thought. New victims are an
pearng every hour at the home OF
MRS. r. L. Plunkett, where Mr., ASrien
was staying and demanding to Know
the Whereabouts of this man who had
charmed" them --oo
three weeks ago Tuesday, Mr.. Ad-
ran appeared at the Plunkett homa at
room facing on the south. Advarttsae
ments Were put in the local papers
ana the man was ready to receive his
VctIHs. The following day. women
began to mock to him. The owner Of
me house nad instructions not to ad-
appear clean and in good ciroun stan
ceS.
The person who applied for a read
ing was ushered into Mr.. Adrian's
room, Wnere she would be looked over
and the amount of money she nos
sessed would be sized up. Fifty cents
was charged for each reading Tha
woman would then be seated beside a
table covered with a black oiIcloth.
Wlthout touching the person, Mr.. Ad-
ture, In nearly every case. the past
happenings would be correctly related.
Then he would give the victim q
caro- on which to write any question
she wanted answered. Mr. Adrian
would then go over to the window and
read a book or magazine until SIM
moned back by the Questioner. The
card was put into a blue envelope and
sealed, and then wrapped in the sec
ond envelope. The woman would hold
the envelope in her left hand during
this operation and Adrian would not
once touch the paper. A small alcohol
lamp would be lighted and the envel-
ope and card burned to ashes. Mr..
Adrian would look the questioner over
and then tell her. what was Contained
on the card with the answer.
These two were the first tests by
which the reader could Judge of his
victims" credulity and see whether
or not she would stand for the final
trial and put up the necessary money
to carry out the ordeal During these
trials, the victim too was impressed
with the power Of the man and pre-
pared to be ''feecedf in the fourth or
final act. Ssa-ssi atA
Many colored women applied for
readings but all were refused admis-
sion except one. This one wanted a
job in the Kitchen Of a prominent
banker, and was determined that she
see the clairvoyant. It seems that
there were two other women applying
for the position and she wanted to
know If she would get it. Mr. Adrian
gave her a small coin and told her to
go to the bankers house and ask for
the job. He told her that she would
get it. For this service he secured IS.
The old colored woman became suspic-
lous and at first hesitated to part with
the money. Thereupon Adrian pulled
out $40 bill and told her that If she
did not get the job to come right back
and he would give her the 500 bill The
woman never came back after her
To one woman the palmist gave in
structions as silly as they were dis
honest. He told her to wrap a lock
Of her husbands hair in the first ten
dollar note. Then she was to get the
little braid doubIe-bow knot out of his
hat and put 1t in the second bin. The
third was to contain dirt from newly
made grave in the cemetery. All this
was compiled with, and the palmist
got money, hair, the dirt and all.
Rosena E. Higday, who lives at s
East Martin, is the groceryman's wife
who lost $500. Mrs Higday visited the
palmist three times. first on Wednes-
day. He told her to write out her