Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-07-31
SHEEP MAN LOSES
LIES SAVINGS
BUNCO MEN WORK SAME OLD
RACKET ON ANOTHER
BUTTE MAN

The same old racket about hav-
ing money to give away to the poor,
and Of looking for an honest man
to distribute it, was worked again
in Butte the other day. Ii was also
worked several years ago in that
city on a sheepherder by the name
Of GOngu-
The latest victim is another sheep
herder-Frank Ercer-62- year-old Swiss
two strangers Ercer has been herding
sheep at Martinsdale and recently
worked on the Selway ranch near
Dillon. He had little more than 81 400
in his poke. Following his friendship"
meeting with the two strangers he had
50 left as he hurried hither, thither
and yon with deputy sheriffs, looking
for the bunco artists.
Meets Stranger
According to the story he told Sheriff
Larry Weir, he had been stopping tenn
porarily at a Butte hotel A few days
ago he was approached by a young man
who struck up conversation. His new
found friend" was probably Russian,
he thought. He was about IS. They con-
versed in English
Whether the bunco man knew in adj
vance that Ercer had any money, is not (
certain. Officers believe that he did
and proceeded to set the stage for the |
take"
In any event, the sheepherder met /
the man again the next day. In the 4
meantime, the stranger had asked him 1
if he were looking for a job. Ercer re-
piled that he was
Well I don't have to work. Ercer
quoted his new acquaintance as saying.
MY uncle was a millionaire in Texas
and left me plenty"
Large Fortune
The conversation went from one
thing to another, but before they got
through the bunco man dropped the
inside information that his uncle had
called him to his bedside before he died
and told him that he was leaving him
large fortune. There was only one
condition. 1t was that he would give
away at least $4,000 to the poor.
Nov am looking for good honest
man to entrust the money to- said
MIR. Bunco. There the first days con-
Versation ended. But it was enough. It
had planted the thought in the sheep
herders mind that maybe he was just
the man the philanthropist was looking
for
They met the next day in a Butte
restaurant. The sheepherder thought
they had met by accident. Now he
knows they didn't. The stranger said
more about giving away the
money, but asked the sheepherder If he
could direct him to the Milwaukee de-
pot. In fact, he would deeply appreciate
1t if Ercer would go with him so he !
would be sure to get there. The sheep
lerder obliged.
Meets Another Stranger
On the way to the depot they met !
man the stranger knew. He joined !
he party. All three started for the de- !
pot. On the way the younger stranger /
.he man identified by Ercer as a Rus /
scarborough up again the matter of
finding man whom he could trust to
give away the $4,000. He finally got to
The point and said to Ercer: Il believe :
you're an honest man and could handle
the job. But my uncle cautioned me
not to turn the job over to anyone who !
wasn't financially responsible. He should :
have at least 81 ,400-(the exact amount
he sheepherder had in a Roundup =
sank).
To make long story short, both q
strangers agreed that Ercer was the .
light man for the Job If he could show q
lis financial responsibility. Have you a
sot any money!" the young stranger b
inally asked. Ercer-his interest con- q
iderably aroused-replied that he could 3
how that much cash. B
Get Your Money" Il
We'll, tell you what we do" Ercer
quoted the rich heir as saying, You a
end and get your money and show us o
What you got and wen give you the a
10000" y
He further declared, according to y,
1rcer, that they would each take $1,000 q
ut of the twenty grand-leaving a res -
due of 81, 400 for the poor-and go on al
rom there. He also stipulated that ..
Tcer might take $40 a day out Of the -
und for his wages as he went about -
-- ------= Il