Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02
CON MEN USE OMAHA NAMES
Hotel Man Fleeced in Boston by Fake
Capitalists.
HOW THE GAME WAS WORKED
An Easy Mark with Money Anxious to
Make More Relieved of His Roll
by a sporty PrODO-
sition.

Occasionally when a gold brick is worked
on a western man the raccuous laugh
which follows is intended to convey the
Impression that the newer settled section
possess a monopoly OF easy marks. This
Is the eastern Idea 1t Is cultivated as a
means of diverting attention from the crop
Of gudgeous, which flourishes the Atlantic
and contiguous territory as luxuriantly as
alfalfa In Nebraska. The latest large
specimen of the class is Frederick Holz-
naEen, hotel keeper of Scranton, Pa, who
Is now in New York ~squeallng for the re-
eovery OF $4,000 of which he was stripped
by a raw game played in Boston, the
principal lure of the con men being bogus
Capitalists" who assumed the names of
Omaha men.
The story as told by the New York World
begins with one. Charles Weber, who
registered at Holzragen's hotel, occupied
the best rooms in the house, spent money
freely. and was soon rubbing elbows with
mine host" Landlord Holznagen told
Weber OF some valuable timber lands in
Tennessee upon which he held an option.
Weber replied that he had a friend in
New York named Lane who was also in
terested in Tennessee timber properties
and who was organizing a syndicate of
capitalists to develop them. Weber volun-
teered to come to New York with HolE-
hagen and introduce him to Lane.
They met Lane at one Of the big
hotels here. and after a business-like talk
he consented to introduce the Scranton
man to his millionaire hackers with a view
10 promoting their interests jointly.
Nearly all the men in our syndicate
are off on their yachts or travelling
abroad for the summer" said Lane,
"bu two of them, old nan Cudahy and
his son, the millionaire packers, OF
Omaha. are on their way east in their
private car. and should be In Bridge
port, Conn. tomorrow. II you like
wen take q run up there In the morn
ing and lay the matter before them"
Meets His 'Backeru."
The following day, in Bridgeport, Lan'
~ntroduced Holznagen TO his wealthy back
ers. M elder was a stout. dignified. full
bearded man, apparently past 90 years o.
age. while the younger was a well-set-uI
chap OF medium height, who continual,
addressed the elder as governor" Tit
meeting took place in 8 hotel near the rail
way station. and while the Tennessee tim
Der proposition was being discussed owe
an excellent luncheon, Il developed that tn,
private car In which the Cudahys travele,
had been sent TO the shops for repairs, bu
would be IN commission again before tn
day was over.
The westerners seemed favorab1 i'm
pressed with the timber proposition ant
promised TO take Il under consideration
and make the necessary Investigations a
once through their southern representatives
over the coffee and the cigars the old mai
became confidential.
The fact is" he said. that the boy an
/ have come east here for a little sport
We've btought along with US a clever htu
fighter named Sullivan who has licke
everything OF his weight west OF the Mis-
sissippi river. and we're satisfied he can
be beat Mr.. Lane has kindly consented Z
make a match for Us with a Boston la