Confidence Man Vanishes with Ballard Resident's Life Savings
A man claiming to represent a liquor agency skipped town after duping a Ballard investor, leaving police in Walla Walla and Seattle on his trail.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The police have been looking for A. B. Golt, who is charged with embezzlement, having gotten away with $1500 belonging to Jorgen Jorgenson of Ballard. Golt secured possession of a draft, cashed it and disappeared. He came to this city, and is supposed to have left for Portland. He has dropped from sight, and the money disappeared with him. According to Jorgenson's story, Golt persuaded him to buy a half interest in the western agency of a Chicago liquor firm. It is said that there is no such agency in the West. Golt recently went to Seattle, and setting up an office in a down town block, made the acquaintance of Jorgenson. It was determined between the two that Jorgenson should pay Golt $1500. The prospective purchaser of the agency had a draft for $1500 in his possession. He gave the draft to Golt to cash, with the understanding that he was to get back the $500, which would be left after Golt took out his share. According to Jorgenson, Golt cashed the check and keeping the entire amount, went to Walla Walla. As Golt left town about a week ago, and as he has not been seen since, it is presumed by the complainant that he has no intention of voluntarily returning.
“It is said that there is no such agency in the West, and none has been discovered in Montana, Idaho, Oregon or Washington.”
This story details a classic early 20th-century 'get rich' scam. Fraud targeting working-class individuals looking to invest in local business remains a persistent reality in Washington's evolving economy.
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