The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-11-02
SHREWD CON MAN
SELLS GOLD BRICK
Leading Citizen of McAles-
ter Is Victimized
SECURES DIAMONDS
Makes Friends With Prominent Resi-
DIAMONDS
SECURES
Makes Friends With Prominent Resi-
dent and Escapes With $500
Worth of Gems Sent
by Mail

Inc town OF McAleStcf mas Sc
cret
The story requires a preface, a kind
of historical prelude. About the time OF
statehood. in 1907 an INSCRIPTIONS man
there is no doubt now that he was a
shameless knave-went to McAlester
and acquainted himself with the line
age of Its first families. the charac-
teristics of Its principal citizens and
the financial rating that they would
be given by a first-class commercial
credit agency. That was prior to the
recent agitation about taxing private
incomes.
1t would be difficult to turn in any
direction in McAlester without bumpin :
against some kind of evidence of the
benefactions of Col. J. j. ("Uncle Jim
mie") McAlester. Its wealthiest citizen,
and after whom the town was named.
Colonel McAlester Is one of the kind
Hest men of the old-fashioned school to
be found south of Mason and Dixon's
line. His wealth Is said to be near the
million mark. He Is generous, char :
liable and honest. If the estimate of
friends who have known him SO years
may be accepted. says an Oklahoma
City special to the St. Louis Post-Dis-
patch.
He went to Indian Territory long be-
fore the civil war and became an In
termarried citizen of the Choctaw In
dian nation. Colonel McAlester never
turns deaf ear to hard luck story,
If the victim of adversely shows worth
mess. however slight. He takes the
keenest interest in politics He was !,
member of the first state corporation
commission. from which he was ad-
vanced to the office of lieutenant-go
ernor. which he has held with distinc-
ton.
In degree the latter has grown
out of his actions as acting governor
during two absences of Governor
Cruce from the state, at which times
Colonel McAlester gave such attention
to the granting of pardons and paroles
to prisoners in the state penitentiary
at McAlester that "A feud has arisen IN
the democratic party because of it.
Enter the Stranger
With this knowledge of Colonel Nc
Alester, attention may be turned to ar
unknown man. who went to McAlesteI
about the time of statehood. He car.
ried an oblong package, shaped much
like brick. In fact. 1t was brick
but not from brickyard. 1t gave forth
metallic sound when sharply wrapped
and Its color was yellow. a golden yell
low. This stranger was a persuasive
individual and was able to induce Col
onel McAlester to examine the contents
| VI eiiS pathdst' lt bkdiliIallDHS WEft
| frequent. including one at Musk ogee
where an "assayer" bored into the brici
with some kind of auger and declare,
| that the brick was real gold.
| Colonel McAlester invested I'm tina
/ brick to the amount of $4,000. TIL,
man departed from McAlester and neve
returned. He took the money with him
leaving the brick.
The secret relates to what may be ;
| second chaDter of the activities n
that same unknown man. As the stor,
| Is told, an unknown man of pleasfn;
] address. well attired and of convincini
manner, lodged at a McAlester hote
about two months ago. writing TIL
name Of J. J. McAlester on the regis
! ter.
| The clerk remarked that this wa,
| also the name of the towns foremos
! citizen. at which the new McAIestei
seemed surprised and pleased Such
coincidence could not pass unnoticed
| and shortly the two McAlesters BEGAN,
acquainted. The new McAiester il
many ways appeared to be a man o.
| means.
With two men of the same name In
the same town it was inevitable thai
the postmaster should mix their mall
The new McAlester Went one day &c
Colonel McAlester's office, saying thai
he was disappointed at the delay OF
important mail. Colonel McAlester had
just opened a letter containing a check
for $50 from person ne did not know
1t belonged to the other McAlester
Another check for $50, then one 70,
$1270. and still another. came to Col.
onel McAlester and were delivered &c
the other j. j. McAlester Plainly, tn.
newcomer was man of means.
Then another day came, bringing to
Colonel McAlester's office an express,
companys messenger with a package
for which Colonel McAlester Is said &c
have reeeipted. After the messengei
had gone on his way Colonel McAlester
opened the package. fGe was astonished
beyond measure. Tie package con.
tanned $1,000 worth Of first-water dia.
monds. Colonel McAlester had not sem
for any diamonds. had not lost any
, diamonds. and did not want any dia.
monds. Presume bly,. they had been sem
on approval. as Is the custom OF repu.
table dealers In jewels. upon ascertain.
ing the financial standing of prospect.
i've patrons.
Whether Colonel McAlester apollo.
gized for opening the package Is MOI
asserted by his toWnsmen. nor Is Il
known in a public way what his pro-
to the other McAlester. for whom ever,
indica ton suggested they were plainl,
intended. But the other McAlester eoi
the diamonds, got out of town and got
away.
What demands. if any, have beer
made by the firm that forwarded the
diamonds to Oklahoma nobody seem.
| to know. 1t is not believed, however
| that Colonel McA1ester would approvq
| pardoDing the scala wag that ran ava,
with them IL he should be caught ana
| convicted