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Show to the supposed railway employe, j who answered: "I know that your chek is good, but It is against the rules to accept drafts or checks. You will have to pay for that express or I shall have the conductor stop the train and 1 it It off. Personally, I would like to accommodate you, but I can t afford to lose my Job." At this point in the conversation Stansbury's aeatinate appeared to be greatly oppressed, and seemed to be struggling to suppress his grief at his predicament. Stansbury, who had been listening to the conversation and watching both parties, spoke up and asked: "How much is that bill?" "It comes to $3u," answered the bogus railway employe. Suddenly, turning! to Stansbury for tho first time, the troubled shipper said in a voice choked with emotion: . Tightening the Cinch. "If you could possibly loan me that amount until wo get to Portland I would be under obligations to you for tho rest of my life. I will let you have this sight draft until we arrive there to secure your money. The favor fa-vor will never be forgotten, as it is of the utmost Importance that my dead brothers effects arrive at Portland Port-land on this train " Stansbury examined the chock, which seemed to be regular. The stranger appeared to bo suffering from some intense emotion, and his every action seemed to betokeu an honest man Handing him back the check, Stansbury reached, into his wallet, took out three $100 bills and two $10 bills, which be handed to his seatmatc. With voluble thanks his scatinate turned over the money to the. alleged railway employe, who made out and gave him a receipt He then went forward toward the express ex-press car. Stansbury and his lately-made debtor debt-or spent the next few minutes in speaking of the sights to be seen from the train window, and the scattered buildings of the small station the train was approaching. The talk drift- ' ed to business opportunities to be found in Portland, and, just as the train waa leaving the station, tho borrower bor-rower of the $320 went forward to bring back an acquaintance who was going to Portland to invest He never leturned. Finds Himself "Stung." Becoming suspicious, Stan&bury went to look for him. He was not on the train. Stansbury then had the conductor 6top the train and. after getting off, returned to Salt Lake City and reported the Bwindle to the police. po-lice. He gave a good description of the men, and Detectives Ripley, Wilson Wil-son and Goldlng were detailed on the case. The suspects were located Sunday Sun-day afternoon and taken to the police po-lice station, where they were positively positive-ly identified by Stansbury as the swindlers. The confidence men gave their names to the police as C. W. Payne and George Thomas. Both denied de-nied that they had ever seen Stansbury, Stans-bury, or that they had been out of the city. Payne had $10 when searched, search-ed, and Thomas had $1.47. In speaking of the swindle Stansbury Stans-bury said that the entire transaction I had not taken more than eight minutes. min-utes. He left the station a sadder and wiser man. According to Lieutenant Lieu-tenant Shannon, a conviction is almost al-most impossible, and the. men will. In all probability, be given floaters and driven out of tho city. NRIM LOSESJIS COIN He Is "Touched" by Swindler on Short Line Train for $320. . Salt Lake. July 11 J. J. Stansbury Stans-bury of Clinton. Mo., met two confidence confi-dence men on the Short Line train Saturday night and was swindled out of $320 within eight minutes. Tho confidence men were arrested by Detectives De-tectives Ripley, Wilson and Goldlng, Sunday afternoon, but the money was not recovered. Stansbury arrived in Salt Lake Saturday Sat-urday and spent the day visiting the various points of Interest. He boarded board-ed the Short IJne train for Portland at 11:15 Saturday night. During his stay in this city he bad met a number num-ber of affable strangers, but the acquaintance ac-quaintance had been momentary, and he had not paid much nttentlon to their personal appearance. When a few miles out of the city he was Joined in bis seat by a prosperous looking stranger, The stranger did not appear to be seeking an acquaintance, but scorned to be worrying about something. The train had proceeded but a few miles when a man who had the appearance of a railroad employe approached Stansbury's seatraate. He seemed to be angry. The following dialogue took plaice, the pseudo railway employe em-ploye opening the conversation: Baiting the Trap. "Have you the money now to pay that express?"' "I am sorry." answered Stansbury's seatmate, "but when 1 arrived in Salt Lake City I was unable to gel this Jraft cashed. The banks were closed. I will get it cashed as soon as we reach Portland and will pay you, or '.f that does not suit you. you can iold the dralt as security until we irrlve there and get the money. I am very anxious to get my dead brother's Tecls to Portland." Stansbury's . atmato then tendered a sight draft for $150. drawn on a Portland hank. |
