The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-12-07
TALE OF TREASURE
THAT FADED AWAY
Taxi Cab Trips Failed To
Locate the Ducats
CHASE MADE FOR GELT
Young Art Kaufman Wires
From MoberIy, Mo-, %. x;
But Coinless

Promised the chance to dip into
the pot of gold at the end OF the
rainbow-lured onward by glowing
tales Of being enriched with heaps
of golden lucre-the young Mankato
taxi driver, Arthur Kaufman, 212
Pleasant street, has been left
stranded at Moberly, Mo-, without
sufficient funds TO come back home,
by the peusdo millionaire couple
Mr.. and Mrs. F. P, Emerson, alias
Frank 2. Davis, alias F. P. Morton.
Telephone messages and tele-
grams between Moberly and Man
kato last night and early this morn
ing established the fact that the
gray haired Emerson, with his dark
skinned French Indian female mate,
had slipped away from young
Kaufman, and escaped the reach
ing arm Of the law. @
"A telegram from Arthur was re-
ceived by Sheriff Ario about six
o'clock last night. In the telegram
he stated that he had arrived In
MoDeTiy yeBIGrday eyenfng adu rhstf
he would be home about Saturday.
Ending the message with: Every
: thing is o. K-s'H
Warrant For Woman
A return message was sent to
the chief of police of Moberly TO
tell young Kaufman to come home.
Later at about 9p. m. a message
was wired to Moberly by Sheriff
Ario ordering the arrest OF the
half breed Indian woman, compan-
ion of Emerson, on warrant
4.
At an early hour this morning
telephone message was transmitted
to the Kaufman home from Arthur
requesting that funds be sent to-
him to- come home on. He had been
given the slip by his fanciful mil
lionaire passengers, he said.
Later still this morning a mes
sage was received by Sheriff Ario
from the police chief at Moberly
stating that the mysterious couple
had shaken the Missouri mud from
their feet and disappeared. A con-
tinued search by the Missouri au-
thorities was Immediately ordered
from here.
Saturday morning following glow
ing promises Of big pay by the
big couple for making the trip
south in quest Of unlimited wealth.
What IL Their Game
Just what the "game" being play
ed by the eccentric man and woman
has proved a puzzle to the authori.
ties OF Mankato and Blue EARTH
county That they are attempting to
perpetuate a gigantic confidence
game is the general belief OF au'
thorities here. It Is suspected they
are flooding the middle west with
a string Of worthless checks.
Setting themselves up as people
10 great stretches Of oil lands
throughout the southern states, and
possessing large notes against peo-
ple In various states which they in
tend to collect-the alleged daugh-
ter OF an Indian chief and her sup
posedly distinguished white-haired
husband have worked the confidence
or almost everyone with whom they
have come In contact, both In Man
kato and elsewhere.
Activities In Mankato
An investigation Of the couples
movements In Mankato showed that
they first came to Mankato on
November 5, and registered at the
Stahl House, under the name OF f.
p. Morton and wife OF Oklahoma
City. Okla. They stayed at the no.
tel only one day and paid for their
room rent in cash.
The latest glowing scope they at
tempted In Mankato came to light
today with the story Of their stay
at the Stahl house. A mere $4,000
was offered Joseph Stahl, owner OF
the hotel, for the establishment.
During the day they stayed at
the Stahl House. Morton as he pre-
scented himself there, told the pro-
prietor that he would like to look
the place over with the probability
OF buying the hotel.
Price Was Satisfactory
They asked Mr.. Stahl his price for ,
the hotel and when told. the man
and woman both declared that they |
were satisfied with the figures. Mr.. |
Stalil escorted his DISTINGUISHED |
guests about the place and they |
waxed eloquent N their praise OF |
the establishment.
"Just the place we have wanted |
for some time" enthusiastically de-
clared Morton, or Davis, or Emer-
son. Now we don't intend to enter
the hotel business for financial gain.
but this will be an ideal place where
I can be in the lobby and meet
people as they come and go.
The daughter Of the former Indian
chief was delightedy with the ar
rangement OF the Tobms the kitchen
and the rear or tha hotel. In the va
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