Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1891 — FOOLED BY A SHARPER. [ARTICLE]

FOOLED BY A SHARPER.

HOW “SHEENY AL” SWINDLED THE BALTIMOREANS. They Eagerly Invested In a Gold-Increas-ing Company that Promised Fabulous Returns—Yellow Metal Worth $90,000 i Disappears from a Crucible One Might and Wlttt It “Sheeny Al.” Edward Pinter, alias “Sheeny Al,” who was arrested in London for attempting to swindle a jeweler in that city by means of the “philosopher’s stone,” through which he claimed to increase the bulk of gold, is supposed to be the fellow who played the same game in Baltimore, swindling five well-to-do merchants out of nearly SIOO,OOO, writes a correspondent from the Monumental City. About three years ago a man came to Baltimore and engaged a suite of rooms in a boarding-house on North Charles street He called at the office of a successful real-estate agent and introduced himself as Mr. Gephart. He said that the agent had been recommended to him as a discreet and enterprising man. and he desired to secure his aid in developing a matter that would surely bring fortune to both of them. He then unfolded his scheme of increasing the bulk of gold, and assured the agent that he did not wish him to invest a dollar in the enterprise until all doubt had been removed from his mind of the ability of Gephart to do all he claimed. He invited tne agent to call at his rooms on Charles street, when he would substantiate his claim by pract'cal tests. The agent accompanied him, and gave Gephart a gold dollar with which to first experiment. This dollar was placed in a small crucible, and a white powder was added by Gephart. The two men took turns at a blow-pipe in increasing the heat in the crucible until the gold was melted and mixed with the chemical. It was then allowed to cool, after which Gephart took it out, gave it to the agent, and told him to send it to the United States mint to be assayed and recoined. The mint officials returned areport showing three times the amount of gold that was put into the crucible. The same tests with larger amounts were continued, and always with the same result. The real-estate agent became convinced of the value of Gcphart’s secret, and introduced Gephart to several wealthy citizens, with the view of enlisting them in the enterprise. The same tests were made before them, 'and they, too,'became convinced of Gcphart’s ability to increase the bulk of gold. A,stock-company was formed and the basement of the house of one of the men interested was selected as the place of operations. This was fitted bp with a furnace and iron vats about the size of an-Ordinary bath-tub One member of the go d-increasing company furnished about $50,000 in gold, and the other four about SIO,OOO each. They were to share proportionately in the profits. In the presence of the whole party Gephart apparently put all this gold into one <of the vats and placed it on the fire. He then put in a quantity of the powder and other chemicals. In doing this, however, he declined to permit any of the party to approach the vats, saying that the fumes of the chemicals would overpower any one not prepared to resist them, A top was put on the vat and at the suggestion of Gephart extra strong locks were procured and the vat was securely fastened with them. The same precautions were taken with the door of the basement The keys were given to the gentleman in whose house the experiment was being tried. Gephart said that the vat must not be opened for three weeks. After about the city for several days Gephart said he was called to a distant city on business, but would return on the day appointed for taking out the gold. He did not come as promised. The real-estate agent became suspicious and persuaded the party to make an investigation. They went to the cellar and upon opening the vat found the gold had all disappeared, while in was a lot of rocks and scrap-iron The men were dumfounded. The ce.lar had been entered and the gold stolen.