Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-08-02
DALLAS CITIZEN is BUNCOED
OUT OF BIG SUM BY SWIM
Oilers FOLLOWING WILD
WEST SHOW.
OLD METHODS EMPLOYED
Bernhard Friesen is Victim of Smooth
Gang; Complains to Authorities
and Manager Digs Up $4OO to
Ease His COnsCienCe:" Show Had
UnsavOry Reputation.

Swindling a Dallas citizen out of
$500 in gold and afterward return
ing $400 of the amount to him as
"hush money" cappers and conf
dence men who came here with the
Kit Carson Buffalo Ranch wild west
outfit, pulled off a profitable stroke
of business on Wednesday. Like
other things connected with the
show, the methods used in separating
the man from his money, were not
new, in fact about the oldest and
most antiquated now employed by
''con" men, but it brought home the
bacon which, after all, is the real re-
suit aimed at-Whats the odds how
it comes?
Old Farm" Gag.
Bernhard Friesen lives in the west |
ern portion of the city. He recently
sold his farm near town and moved
to Dallas to spend his years in peace. |
On Monday morning when coming
down town, according to his own
story he met well dressed stranger
who engaged him in conversation. |
The stranger told Friesen that he |
was from Nebraska and had consid-
cradle money to invest. He inquired |
the rate of interest and stated that
he would like to purchase a farm /
for a relative, in fact might become
a citizen of Dallas himself. During
this conversation the stranger dis
covered that Mr. Friesen had con-
siderable sum of money in a local
bank, and the result of the conversa-
tiOn was a date to meet Mr.. Friesen
at the Southern Pacific station about
100 o'clock.
Gets the Mazuma.
Mr.. .Friesen kept the appointment
ground Mr.. Friesen and his acquaint-
quaintance of a plan whereby they
could each make $500. The afore-
said plan" it appeared was to be
found somewhere near the wild west
show and so the two walked up that
way, not until Friesen, however, had
gone to the bank and lugged away
his $500 in gold, tied up in a hand
kerchief The banker advised Fries
en- not to take the money away but,
if he had a deal on, to give his man
a check. Friesen, however, would
not listen to this arrangement and
took away the cash.
Three Gard Game.
hIlCI li0ll at NIt oilON
ground Mr. F'riesen and his axquaint-
ance met two other fellows, one of {
whom carried a grip containing a
of electric belts. Together ]
the men went into tent belonging
to the show and here a trunk was
displayed containing other electric
belts. The belt man displayed three
cards, one of which bore some print {
I 81, /,
were blank After shuffling the cards !
he threw them down and declared [
that if any one present would put up I
$500 and pick up the printed card 7
he would give him $500 and two
electric belts. This looked like a
cinch. Here was an opportunity to
double the finances of the crowd in =
no time Mr.. Friesen says he was !
sure which was the printed card, so :
he posted the money and grabbed )
the card, only to find it blank.
Flies With the Coin.
The card sharp swept up the money .
and suddenly discovered that he had ;
business elsewhere. He got out of +
the tent. vanished into thin air as il
were. and left no trail behind him. e
Realizing that he had been buncoed }
Mfr. Friesen left the show ground and t
went home but did not notify the au- n
.horities until night. Sheriff Grant
md Deputy Prosecuting Attorney ]. a
F. Sibley at once got busy. Officers a
went to the show ground and brought @
he manager and one OF two others y
10 Mr.. Sibley's office where they o
heard Friesen's story and where they d
xere questioned at length. o
Denies Responsibility. 7
The manager was very much work y
"a up over the affair. He was q
shocked. in fact. 10 learn that such Z
, stunt had been pulled OF and his
show used as a blind 20 do the job. u
he emphaticaIly declared that. Il was G
he work Of crooks wfth whom the a
how had nothing 10 do. and that he G
'egretted the occurrence as much as 2
anyone. He said that it was the pol q
cy Of the show 90 keep IL free from a
uch people. that a regular officer D
vas carried at all times for such s.
purpose. His alleged officer bore out a
he managers statement and it was "a
aid that the show was being iniur- a
q hy such reports and b. jobs pull g
q OF by men whom they were as n
ager % discover and punish az any "a
me- q
Dig ID sfoa. "a
Finally. however. realizing the
IamaEe that such reports would do b
he show in Other ulaces.- the man Il
ger agreed. o. Friesen would sign $
In Agreement not Or say anything al
bout the loss - the neusps rers 3
rCuId ind out about at and not al
talk a. reporter ke would make q
tim q present % 1G1o. simply % a
49, L. 81 .---- .-l .--------E- L. 1