A Smooth Young Rascal

Confidence Scheme Worked Well in Chico

A confidence man, whose work was rank, but who succeeded quite well, visited Chico a few days ago, and after securing a few dollars from various ones about town, departed presumably for the north.

On February 21st this individual made his appearance at the Union Hotel and engaged accommodations. He represented himself as a hard worker and harness man of St. Louis, and told Mr. Alan that he wanted to have a larger room in which to display his goods. After making all arrangements he assumed a very sorrowful expression, and told the landlord a heartrending story about having been robbed in Marysville the night before. He claimed to have lost by this robbery $200 in money, a diamond pin worth $200, and a fine gold watch worth about $1000, together with nearly all of his clothes.

But he said his father was one of the wealthiest men in Missouri, employing in his wardware and harness factories over 2000 men, and he would immediately send to the “old man” for a fresh supply of the “needful.” Mr. Allen listened to this story with much uneasiness, and after the young fellow had registered the name W. L. Johnson and gone out to look after “customers,” the proprietor of the Union wrote to L. C. Jacobs of Marysville, at whose hotel the young bilk claimed to have been robbed, and asked about the truth of the story.

Pending a reply Mr. Allen watched his guest closely and found that he was telling the same story to many business men about town, and was raising considerably ready money on the strength of his smooth yarn.

Finally a reply came from the Marysville landlord, stating that a young man, whose description tallied exactly with the fellow in Chico, had been in Marysville where he gave exactly the same story, with the exception that he gave the name of F.R. Burns, and had said he had been robbed in Sacramento. That settled it with Mr. Allen and he promptly “fired” the young beat out of the hotel.

The manner in which the young fellow had conducted himself came to the ear of Constable Geo, and that officer placed the fraud under arrest, but as none of his victims cared to prosecute the case he was permitted to go. …

It is presumed that the young fellow went from here to Red Bluff, as he is evidently working the towns all along the road, and all the parties are warned against him. He is apparently about 26 years old, smooth shaven, and when here wore a light suit and light hat; has an abundance of nerve, and becomes acquainted very fast.

— Chico Weekly Enterprise, March 3, 1899