The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-15
OLD MAN REFUSED
TO BELIEVE HE WAS The
VICTIM OF "CON MEN,
Aged Detroit Citizen Fleeced of $6,00l
by Clever Crooks, Was About to
Hand Over Another $4,000 Wien
Intercepted by Police


Jacksonville Times-Union)
Said to have been robbed of S.,
in cash by band Of confidence n
in Kissimmee a short time ago,
aged, retired farmer and contractor
Detroit, Mich, was returning to
gang with a similar amount of mol
when the police detained him b
last night. The old man, refusing
believe that he is the victim OF
clever plot, protested violently agai
the action of the local officers of
law.
The scene at police headquart
last night probably has never seen
equal in the history Of the departing
The old fellow refused to believe
was in the hands of friends and
clared in no uncertain tones that
local police wished to abuse him +;
get possession Of his money.
To begin at the beginning. say
police, the victim became acquain
with some Of the members of the c
F, fidence gang a short time ago. HI
II years old, very feeble, and he
, accumulated considerable veal
The confidence men found it an e
, matter to victimize the man who
| tended to spend the winter in Flor
They used the time-worn bu. S
effective race horse "wire-tappi
game. The victim is thought to h
been taken to an attractively I
nished bungalow. One Of the roc
was filled with the furnishings o
"book-making" establishment.
Same Old Game
He was told that il he would
$4,000 on a certain race horse
he would be sure to win $25, 900.
sight of so much money in the roo
stacks of it-and the smooth
OF the men thoroughly convinced
that what they told him was true.
The aged man is said to have
posted $4,000 in cash and a check
another $4,000. The following da!
I later he was told that he had
the $4,000 but that the "compa
was in doubt as to whether he re
had the other $4,000, in which amt
he had written the check. He
told that all he had to do was to s
: the cash, ito prove his honesty"
he would receive the $4,000.
course, as usual. it was the inten
Of the gang to rob the old man
: the entire race track scheme
e faxed"
However, he went to his home
and drew the money from the b,
He arrived here early last night
intended to leave for the sout
r part of the State on a later troi
! The police learned Of the N;
t and got in touch with the old n
0 niece, who conducts a boarding h
Y in Jacksonville. There Chief R
a and Lieut.. W. B. Cahoon trie
: convince the aged man that he
/ being victimized. He refused to
T. ten to the officers, although they
n planned the situation to him very
: fully.
r Seeing that he could not be
o WINGED, Chief Roach sent Alto
+ Robert Kloeppel to the old
= thinking that he would understan,
y situation better IL It was told to
in German.
Later Kloeppel telephoned TO
# police headquarters and stated
q the old man had gone to pawn
l. and had purchased revolver
d ing stated that he was tired of "
& foolishness.
8 Arrest Ordered
0. Chief Roach, thinking it woul
e, best to detain him here. orderet
p arrest, on the charge Of carryi
n. concealed weapon, when he cam
le Of the pawn shop. He was put
9. detention room at police headqua,
&c When searched, $6,051, all in &
|. backs. were found pinned to hi
rs derclothing.
lg When this money was remove
II old man became frantic. He dec
ut that the entire police department
~ everybody else. who happened
standing around, were crooks. Fl,