Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1885 — A VICTIM OF BUNKO. [ARTICLE]

A VICTIM OF BUNKO.

An Aged Philadelphian Beaten Out of $9,500 at Atlantic City, N. J., by a Sharper. (Atlantic City (N. J.) special. Charles Field, Sr., who is over 85 years of age, and who has been in business in Philadelphia for over fifty years, was victimized out of $9,500 by a brace of bunko men in Atlantic City. Mr. Field has spent much of his time here during August, and is a familiar figure. In the afternoon he took a stroll after dinner, and met a young man of good address, who, after a courteous hand-shaking, stated that he was an old friend of the Philadelphian, alleging that he had been a clerk in the Penn National Bank,, and since his resignation had been abroad. He hid brought several fine pictures from Europe, which he would be pleased to have Mr. Field inspect Mr. Field, having nothing else to do. went with the young man, who entertained him with stories of the sights he saw across the water. They were kindly received by a. stont woman, and were ushered into the office—the art emporium, as his friend called it. Here he was to a game played on a board with numbers on it, and with a spinning arrow, presumably a sweat-board. Two other gentlemen were introduced, and they played the little game, each winning over SIOO. Mr. Field was invited to join them, and he lost over SIOO, but continued to play. During the progress of the game the young men kept Mr. Field interested by talking over the affairs of -the bank and its earnings and investments. After playing some time the bunko men coolly asked the old gentleman for bis check for $9,500, drawn to himself; as the collateral for a grand prize he had drawn on the sweat-board. Thinking that the bunko man was really an old friend he told him to fill out the check and he would sign it, which he did. The check was on the Pennsylvania National Bank, where Mr. Field has been a depositor for over fifty years. On leaving Mr. Field the bunko steerer took the first train for Philadelphia, presented the check at the bank, and, after being identified, received the money.