The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-08-30
DETECTIVE ADAMS STORY.

There never was a job, said Detec-
tive Adams, worked in this country,
which could match the great gold coin
swindle so successfully carried out
upon the expert dealers in money in
Wall street. No class of people are
easier to beat than Wall street men,
provided they are met upon their own
stamping ground by fearless men who
deal with them upon an apparently
solid platform.
As I recall it, the bogus coin dis
posed of was worth, face value, about
100000, and the thieves were kind
enough to go in and get the premium
upon this sum. The firm which han
died the gold in this city was Wells &
Co., and they were above suspicion.
The coin was sent to them from Frink
& Beaman, an honorable London firm
Of bankers, and every connection
from start to finish had all the marks
of q genuine transaction. There was
nothing to arouse suspicion except the
gold itself, and that was not critically
examined at the time, because it had
been shipped in a perfectly regular
manner Inquiry would probably not
have been made into the transaction
for long time If it had not been for
the disappearance of Nathaniel
Storms, who had completed the tran
saction with Wells G Co., and collect
ed the money for the gold.
Storms came to this country with
the gold and had letters of introduce
ton equal to the best certificate of
character. He represented that he
was the agent of syndicate Of for
eign capitalists who had been quietly
get hold of in Europe at their own fig
ures, and had got together several mil
lions of dollars which theyV>intended
to put upon the American market to
get the benefit Of the large premium.
When Storms collected the money
for the gold, he made an appointment
to meet Wells & Co. the next day
upon a matter Of Importance, and he
did not show up. He was stopping at
the old Astor House, and letter was
sent there by messenger, who
brought back reply that Storms had
given up his room there in the morn
ing. before he went to Wells & Co.'S
office. His baggage consisted only of
handbag, and he took this away
with him. It also was learned that
Storms had not stopped at the Astor
House at all. He hired a room there
by the week, but never went to it, and
only called at the hotel to get his
mail.
Storms had told one of the members
of the firm that he had given a din
ned to some of his English friends at
the Astor House and related some of
the stories which were told by his
friends of American life. 1t was con-
sidered very strange that Storms, who
carried all the marks of honesty in
his face and speech, should have lied
about such an unimportant matter;
and, considering all the circumstances.
a doubt was raised about his veracity
in other matters of importance.
Several days passed and nothing
was heard from Storms. Wells & Co.
became a bit uneasy and sent a cable
to Frink & Beamen, asking FOR in
formation about the further shipments
of gold. Frink & Beamen replied that
they did not know anything about
shipments Of the precious metal, and
would be delighted to ind any Of it.
Then the direct inquiry was made by
Wells & Co. of Frink & Beamen If
they had not consigned 100000; to
Wells & Co. The answer came back
that they had not r. ' ::*$ es2 s.S. S &.