The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-15

that he was a government secret SER
vice man. Several nights ago he and
Mr.. Northecot went walking. Sud-
denly Harper pulled out his watch, re-
marked that 1t was 10 o'clock, and
abruptly babe his companion good
night. This was Tuesday The p0-
lice are seeking this woman also.
The GOODNESS, suavity and apparent
innocence Of Armstrong saved him
from arrest or death and Melted him
and Harper the money. Mr.. Chaffee is
principal stakeholder in the Armenia
and Sharon Land Co. and is heavily
interested in Minneapolis grain com
pany. His son, E. w. Chaffee, is a
graduate of rhe Boston School of Tech
nology.
1t was Tuesday morning that Arm
strong appeared at the Chaffee home in
Armenia. Evidently he had studied the
Chaffee family history for many years
back. He said ne was looking for an
uncle, but that he must be mistaken.
as his uncle spelled the name with one
| final "e". This led to conversation,
and Armstrong mentioned the gold
bricks. AT once the son went to his
room and placed his automatic pistol
| in his pocket. He scented danger but
| the very fact that Armstrong never
asked for money, threw the father and
son off their guard. Armstrong did
say that he was about to raise money
on the discs, but he considered going
either to the Philadelphia mint at once
/ OF storing them in Arizona. He said
his principal idea in locating his uncle
was to get the uncle to take over the
| land on which the mines were located,
as several names were needed. He did
not want money. He wanted names
with which to secure the land. Mr..
Chaffee and son followed the appa-
rently guNeless miner, shaggy bearded
and apparently nearly so years of age,
to the depot at Armenia. They wanted
those two discs. Finally Mr.. Arm
strong consented to take their money
| providing that they were satisfied with
scented to pay the expenses to Mime
apolis
Keeps Armstrong Covered.
The younger Chaffee was confident
as he knows how to make the tests for
gold. All the time the son kept Arm
strong covered with revolver, which
he held in his overcoat pocket. While
4 together in Minneapolis he kept Arm
strong covered. But the swindIer new
er made a false STEP He seemed to be
Indifferent about the money. There
fore the Chaffees were anxious about
the bricks. In Minneapolis, after some
discussion, they called on Mr.. Harper
at the Rogers motel. He was mention
ed by Mr.. Armstrong as a high class
assayer from the east. The discs were
drilled, samples placed in an envelope
and analysed. They met the test, the
envelopes evidently being switched, ar
envelope with real gold shavings being
substituted. After this they went tC
the Beaufort, got the bricks and ther
TO the Security National bank, where
Mr. Chaffee drew out SIS 900 in cash
which he turned over to Mr. Arm.
strong. The two trunks which con.
tained the bricks" were sent to tn,
Union depot In an express wagon
Then the three went to lunch at tn,
Nfcollet House cafe. Young Chaffe,
became suspicious ana went to tn,
Rogers hotel to ask for Mr.. Harper
Mr.. Harper was checked out Befor.
be got back to the lunch table MI
Armstrong had excused himself Il
Mr.. Chaffee senior and departed. Thei
the police were notified Father an,
son hurried to the depot and tool
one trunk with the carefully packe,
brick The son tested 1t and the greei
color appeared Then they realize
that they were brass and called tn
police. The father went home las
night. He took one Of the bricks hOm