The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-22
Marlin County Man Victim;
Lost Ms Ready Cash
EASY PREY OF SHARKS
August Rigenhagen SwindIed
While On Trip to Duluth
Last Week

August Rigenhagen, a retired farm
er OF Triumph. Martin county, was
buncoed out Of $500 in cold cash
last week by a gang Of Duluth and
Superior gamblers and confidence
men. The scheme which separated
Mr.. Rigenhagen from his money was
the somewhat ancient fake horse
race. pool-room layout with a sure
tip by wire which horse would win.
II seems Mr. Rigenhagen was on
his way home from Winnipeg. where
he had gone with a daughter. says
The Fairmont Sentinel. He is I'M
able TO give a very coherent account
Of what transplred and relatives be-
lleve that hypnotlsm played a large
part In the plans Of the swindlers.
Either on the train or at the depot
in Duluth, Mr.. Rigenhagen fell in
with some very agreeable strangers
who showed him much courtesy and
attention and incidentally learned
that he had recently sold his farm
and was possessed of considerable
ready cash in the bank at Triumph.
The Old Story.
Processing friendship for their vic
tim, the sharpers informed Mr.. Ri.
fenhagen that they could give him
inside information which would en-
able him to win large stakes by bet
ting on certain horse races. Natural
~ Mr.. Rigenhagen was incredulous.
but his suspicious were allayed when
he placed $50 on a certain horse and
very promptly won, doubling his
money.
The stage was then set for the
big winning. Mr.. Rigenhagen was
told that a big race was TO be pulled
of. The swindlers took their vic
tim over TO Superior, Wis, 10 GER
tain gambling rooms which were fit
ted up with pool room accessories, in
Guiding telegraph wires which were
supposed TO bring the information
direct from the race-track and made
betting on the dark horse a sure
thing. Long odds were given and
by putting up $500 Mr.. Rigenhagen
stood to win $4,000. He drew this
amount from the bank and placed
II in the hands of the sharks.
HAIRY as 10 Details.
While Mr.. Rigenhagen is not able
10 give full details OF what happened
in the later stages OF the game, Il is
likely that the usual tactics, a fake
raid by the police. a rapid duck and
getaway with an understanding to
meet later and divide the swag. were
employed. Certain II Is that the
swindlers kept Mr.. Rigenhagen In
town three days after getting his
money before they disappeared and
he swoke to a realization that he
had been swindled. He arrived home
Sunday.
There IL no doubt that the swind.
lers comprise a gang which infest
the cities at the head of the lakes
and prey upon the unwary. They
are doubtless so firmly intrenched
that with the scant details MI. RIgen.
hagen Is able TO give that they are
In safe possession of the money and
Will eyade punishment.
Lost Proceeds OF Farm Sale.
Much sympathy is felt for Mr..
Rigenhagen. an honest, unsuspIcious
old gentleman who has worked hard
for competency and had retired
from the labors Of farm. life to spend
a comfortable old age. He Is sew
enty-one years old and has resided
In Martin county for thirty years.
He recently sold his farm In Galena
and In living now In Triumph The
money he lost was the proceeds from
the first payment on his farm and
while II constitutes heavy loss, Il
does not wipe away all OF the fruits
OF his years OF toll