Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1876 — A Confidence Game in St. Louis. [ARTICLE]

A Confidence Game in St. Louis.

J. W. Hensley is the name of a respectably and wgll-to-do farmer, living at Fprsyth, Taney County, Mo., forty-five miles from the town of Springfield. Out In that country,they are honest folk, don’t go much on style,' and are of such confiding natures as to sometimes fall victims to the wolves of society. This description will at leagt apply to Hensley, or would previous to his recent visit to St. Louis. During the past summer he has been devoting a portion of his time to fattening a drove of ctatoahogs for the market, and on Wednesday arrived in the city with them. TtteV were such plump, cleanlooking porkers that Hensley had ho end of bids for then), and yesterday morning pushed into one of the pockets of his breeches ‘ a roll of $575, asythe proceeds from, their sale. His business was concluded, and having a desire to return home as soon as practicable, he went to the Union Depot to ascertain when the first train left for Springfield. Not until eight o’clock in the evening, he was told, and as he had almost the full day before him, he proceeded to dispose of the time as best hp might ip an economical way. Walking Seemed* Ks suit him,* and wandering about the Streets in the immediate neighborhood of the depot, with a glazed cloth grip-sack in hand, he looked the; picture pf contentment and bucolic innocence—barring sex, a regular Red Riding Hood, with only the wolf wanting to complete the picture. There was a jrolt in the neighborhood, aS it turned out s who' sooh set eyes on Hensley and marked him for his victim. The stranger was not long in ascertaining that he had met with a guileless child of nature, for Hensley, with small encouragement, soon put him in possession of all the facts relative to his home, his calling, ancLthe object and result of his visit to St,.Louis. After thoroughly pumping tbfe “ gray,” tile new-comer Said: “ You must know the Robinsons, of Springfield? They’re prominent people there.” Hensley, confiding soul, did know the Robinsons, and- when thq stranger paid, “ The old man’A an uncle of mine,” and, “My name’s J. L. Robinson,” his confidence, went out with a gush and he was ready to submH to the plucking which the scoundrel was preparing* for' him. Robinson, for such he may be called, shook the honest hand that was extended by the farmer, and said that he was doubly rejoiced to Sieet him, since he, too, was going to pringfipld, afid they could journey together. •* After%oihe ftirther conversation upon ummrartant topics, the thief invited the “ grtty’j to accompany him to dinner, »ut, as Hensley had contracted for a meal at a. tayern” near the depot, hexlfclmefi and the two men separated. Aboutoin trelafik, last evening, while the farmer ,was seated jn the waitingth® djpot, Robinson came in, and rehewtn the' acquaintance by remrnking that sopie time.would elapse beftrt triiln YQUI4 start. Theconveisation ran upon several subjects for a few S, when Robinson said he had some urehases to make up town, and 1 glad to have Hensley’s company. The latter was willing to go and did go, and therein is to be found one of the most hit|t< . experiences of his life, for Robinson sras a.yillain and a thief, and during Msabee nee, after the morning’s interview, had laid his plans for robbing the farmer of <his money. The thief lea the way, and the two men were soon on Eleventh street., between Spruce and Poplar Streets, & locality well fitted to be the

scene of the dirty work in contemplation. were leisurely along, party to the scheme came running toward arern, and accosting Robinson, said: “ I hake just delivered year goods at the depot, and, let me .say, that one of the iraikages/containiufvalaablearticles, has been broken in transit, and, unless some one is by to watch, you will be robbed.” Of course Robinson had something to say upon the necessity of returning a# once to the depot, and turned about, to do so, «hen his confederate played his second card, by remykipg thathe was instructed to collect olr deiivety. At this, Robinson, with mud* fumbling, drew from his pocket pyportiffi to be 4 bond and tendered it to Uh comerfeiate. y The latter could not accept that in paytnent, as he was not prepared to furnish the change. Robinson then offered a draft for SBOO, “ drawn qp? Jfew Wk and ebrtifled,” but the commodate his new founl friend wlth a loan util they returned to the depot?

He could, and did, handing over to the voracious Robinson the entire proceeds of his pork sale, $575. The bill U Appeared was “only <571,” and the four dollars difference was returned to the farmer with the remark that he might have occasion to need ft before they returned to the depot. As the confederate turned to leave he reminded Robinson of the necessity of having “those goods” watched, saying that he would not be accountable for them if stolen. With a well-feigned look pf anxiety, which only served to excite the former’s sympathy, Robinson asked Henslev If he would not return to the depot and watch the goods until his return, as he must got a receipt for the.money paid. Without a shadow of doubt as to the honesty of the request, the farmer consented to do so and started back, instructed to “loek for some boxes marked J. L. Robinson." He failed, of course, to find such packages, but it was not until he had, ransacked almost every room in the depot that he began to smell a rat. ‘Acting on the advice of some one to whom he told his story, he hurried to the Chief of Police, and laid bare his woes. He could give no sort of description Of the thieves—whether they were tall or short, thick or thin, such effect had they had upon his mind. The Chief afforded him such small consolation as he could, but as Hensley could furnish no ground upon which to work the case, there is little hope of his recovering his money. He started for home last night upon the money returned to him by Robinson, with his eyeteeth cut, and thoroughly sick of St. Louis.— St. Louis Globe-Democrat.,