October 21,1983 Page 3
Spilyay Tymoo
Local merchants hoodwinked by con man
By Pat Leno
It is not too often that a
young, non-local Indian man
decides to set up a law practice
in Central Oregon. But when it
does happen, then it could
p ossibly appear in local
newspapers as a hum an-
interest story—“a boy makes
good” sort of thing. But when
that same young man is
apparently a con man and
passes himself off as an
attorney, passes large bogus
checks and acquires thousands
of dollars worth of merchan
dise for literally nothing, then
the story becomes something
quite different. It's news, hard
news. Beginning October 6, the
bizarre story of Thomas Two
Youngman, which affected
many Madras and Warm
Springs merchants, began to
unfold.
Checking into Kah-Nee-Ta
R e s o r t on O c to b e r 6,
Youngman represented himself
as a well-to-do Canadian
Indian attorney who intended
to set up a law practice in
Madras. Initially, Youngman
hired a local Indian woman,
Janet Tom Billey, to work in
his office as a secretary. She
was told that she would be one
of two secretaries needed to
take care if Y oungm an’s
Ferlin Good Rider aka
paperwork.
Youngman’s next step was to
go to Madras where he looked his work would be prog
for office space for his law firm
and a house in which to live. rammed into a computer,a
which was being
Billey accompanied Youngman computer
shipped from Canada.
since she knew the area better
Billey described Youngman
than he did. Youngman told
as being well dressed, wearing
her that he had been through suits with a western cut,
the Central Oregon area a few cowboy boots and a Stetson
years before and that he was
hat. He spoke in a quiet and
impressed with the area then, confident manner and he
thus his return. While he
appeared to have a good
looked at various offices, he
knowledge of law. She said he
discussed how he would run
didn’t
appear to try to fast-talk
his office. He stated that all of
anyone with whom he came
Thomas Two Youngman
into contact, his speech pattern
was slow, clear and distinct. He
was not the typical fast-talking
con man sort, according to
Billey.
The outlandish chain-of-
events which followed left local
merchants open-mouthed with
shock and anger. Youngman
purchased $600 worth of
c l o t h i n g a t R a n s o m ’s
Department Store in Madras
with a bogus check drawn on a
ficticious Canadian bank. He
also purcnasea merchandise at
Olson’s Saddle Shop and
purchased a used car from Guy
Davis Chevrolet valued at
$8,000. Youngman reportedly
paid for the car with a check
that had been made for the sum
of $ 16,000. So at the time he
purchased the car he also
received $8,000 in cash and
checks from the dealership. All
Y oungm an’s checks were
reported to have been drawn
on the same ficticious bank.
Madras merchants were not
the only ones to be taken in by
Youngman. The Information/
Gift Shop in Warm Springs
reportedly sold Youngman
thousands of dollars in beaded
items and he reportedly cashed
a sizeable check at the Kah-
Nee-Ta Resort in payment for
lodging and food. His checks
were reported to have been
written for an amount well over
the am oun t o f purchase.
Youngman is notorious for
his underhanded dealings. He
is wanted throughout the
N orthw est for the same
scheme. However, Youngman
is known in other states as
Ferlin Good Rider, Carl Good
Rider, Dewayne Gladstone,
Dewayne Strong, Felix Aripa
and John J. Red Horn. His
usual method o f operation is
to arrive in a town boarding an
Indian reservation at the end of
a week, usually Thursday or
Friday. He writes checks
during the weekend and usually
leaves town before the banks
reopen, several thousand
dollars richer in cash and
merchandise.
In the past, he passed himself
off as an attorney from another
tribe, a BIA agent or new
attorney wishing to set up
pratice. He also passed himself
as a professional cowboy.
According to local law
e n fo rc em en t o ffic ia ls ,
Youngman (whose real name is
Ferlin Good Rider) is currently
being sought by the FBI, Royal
Canadian Mounted Police and
various state and local law
enforcement agencies. Local
police feel he left the Warm
Springs area just in time, as an
article concerning Good Rider
appeared in the Oregonian just
after he reportedly left Warm
Springs.
According to an unidentified
tribal employee, this was not
the first time he had been here.
In 1981, the person said he had
posed as a member of the U.S.
Army’s Special Forces and he
was here to set up a camp for
troubled youth. He was seeking
monies with which to start and
run the camp. He reportedly, at
that time was being pursued by
law enforcement officials. He
also cashed a number of checks
at various stores in the area. At
that time there was also the
question of his checks being
worthless.
Not only did local merchants
get taken by Youngman/Good
Rider, but Janet Tom Billey
also suffered. After being
umemployed for most of the
summer, she thought she had at
last found a job. He took her
hopes of being employed with
him when he left.
Youngman/Good Rider is a
native of Cardston, Alberta
Canada. He is an Indian from
the Blood Reserve. He weighs
about 170 pounds. He is 5 feet 9
inches tall. He has been
reported to carry a handgun.
He sh o u ld be co n sid ered
dangerous. The FBI asks
residents living near or on
Indian reservations to contact
them if they should have any
in fo r m a tio n on G o o d
Rider/ Youngman.
Thanks so much
Family, relatives and friends,
Perhaps you sent a lovely card,
Or sat quietly in a chair.
Perhaps you sent a floral piece,
If so, we saw it there.
Perhaps you spoke the kindest words,
As any friend could say;
Perhaps you were not there at all,
Just thought of us that day.
Whatever you did to console our hearts,
We thank you so much, whatever the part.
The family of Ruby E. Coone
Tourneys scheduled
Invitational
3-on~3 tourney
The Wind River Warriors October 28
A ll- In dian In v ita tio n a l
basketball tournament entry
deadline is October 25, 1983.
Entry fee is $125.
The tournament, with both
men’s and women’s teams is
scheduled for November 2-6,
1983 at Great Plains Hall in
Arapahoe, Wyoming.
Trophies will be presented
for places one through six in
the men’s division and one
through four in the women’s.
For m ore in fo rm a tio n
contact Clara Blackburn at
2 5 5 -8 2 4 3 in A r a p a h o e ,
Wyoming.
Entry deadline for the Warm
Springs 3-00-3. tournament is
Friday, October 21. The fee for
entry is $50 per team.
Spilyay Tymoo photo by Shewczyk
Young Dancers
Registration for the true
double elimination tournament
takes place Friday, October 28 Little Miss Warm Springs contestants are getting ready fo r the competition by practicing their
a t th e W arm S p r in g s dancing techniques. Daisy Ike tells them they must move back and forth. Dancing and drumming
Community Center from 5:00 practice is held each Monday night at the Community Center.
p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Games begin
that night at 7:00 p.m. and
continue through Sunday.
F or m ore in fo rm a tio n
contact the Warm Springs
Community Center at 553-1361
or Intertribal Sports at 553-
1141.
Employee Halloween costume
contest 8 c t © ^ r ^ ~ —