Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-30
loWAN WHITING IN CALIFORNIA
ALMOST LOSES $4,000 TO
j CROOKS.
PREPARING TO HAND
= HIS CHECK TO CROOKS
Police interfere and Save Otis G. JAMS
son, Farmer Of Andrew, Large Sum
" Thrive Men Placed i" J.i'-J."''e"
Thought He Was Bunoo Proof and
: Relates Experience Of Brother.

Los Angeles, Cal. March 30.-With a
10000 certified check ready to hand
over to three alleged bunco men, Otis
c. Jansen, farmer Of Andrew. Iowa.
was taken under the protection OF the
police department, and the three men
to whom he wanted to give the savings
Of lifetime were placed in Jail.
The discovery Of the plot. the con-
,viction that q crime was about to be
committed, and the final arrest and
denouement were made thru the de-
tective instinct Of Special Officer Harry
Raymond He saw Jansen sitting on q
Central park bench with one Of the
men, heard their conversation and be-
came convinced that the middle aged
farmer required protection.
. The three men In jail have been he
hind the bars before. Their Bertillon
pictures are in the rogues' gallery. say
the police, and they are said to have
many aliases. They are known in the
present case as James Stillwell. Nat
Nittleton and William Arthur.
r When Raymond saw Jansen and
Stillwell in the park he sat near them.
Their conversation attracted his at
tention. and he telephoned for Assist
ant Chief George Home to come and
see them. They followed the two men
and saw them go to bank and ask
anxIousiy If the draft had come. They
followed them back to the park and an
hour later back to the bank. They
then made the arrest. An hour later
the other two men were taken to Jail.
Two more are still sought by the po-
lice.
At the police station Jansen at first
bitterly reproached the police for pre-
venting him from making his fortune.
Later he. admitted he was we'll pleased
and asked to be permitted to sleep in
the police station for a few nights,
where he might be safe. Home insisted
that the money be sent back to JAMS
sens bank in Iowa for safety.
Jansen said his family has had ad
ventures before with bunco men,
MY brother Tom. up in Cana d., was
robbed Of $4,000 three years ago by
some OF. these slickers," admitted JAMS
sen. when heard about 1t laughed.
for he was such a big fool as to let
EN- do 1t to him. But now kinda
sympathize with old Tom"
The trick used was old and simple.
First, one, OF, the. men met Jansen and
got speaking acquaintance with him.
Then they took a walk. A third man
sauntcred upland was recognized as a
friend by the "city Teller"
Then Trey picked up a telegram and
looked at it's contents. 1t told Of riches,
and they hurried to the man to whom
1t was addressed. He was so glad to
get 1t that he, offered a reward.
No; they Would not take his money.
but if little tip were to be forth
coming they would be delighted. They
got the tip-the germ Of the bunco plot
After that, fast work. The victim.
stung by the gold bug. was sent home
to mortgage the old farm and come
back for the killing.
In this case. Jansen did, but instead
OF bringing the money with him, or
dered 1t sent by draft in the mail as
soon as mortgage could be registered
and a troublesome title examined. That
delay saved him. The police did the
rest