Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-10-09

A Smart Scoun4lrsl.-Ths Dubuque pa
pers of late have been ventilating one Prof
JAMES DALE OWEN, pick pocket who fig
ured largely during the State Fair at d..
buque, and one Of the most successful hum
bugging villains VIC have heard Of lately
The Times says:
HE csme to Dubuque on steamboat
from below and introduced himself to Judge
Wright the first day Of the State Fair, a.
Professor James Dale Owen, . son Of the
great Geologist David Dale Owen, and q
Professor in the Geological Department Of
the Smithsonian Institute. He had been
sent out west he said, to visit the several
State Fairs, and make . note Of what was
new and curious among the articles exhibit.
ed, and to purchase the rare Geological and
meteorological specimens that he might see in
his travels. OF course he was warmly re.
ceived by the Judge who gave him season
ticket to the Fair, and At once introduced him
to the prominent men on the ground, and to
not few ladies'. For three days he lived in
clover. He was invited to dine, and to ride,
and to sleep, and he never failed TO accept
the invitation as If were comforting an honor
upon the host.
To person Of influence he expressed .
desire to visit Walled Lake" and forthwith
passes we're procured for him over the west.
ern railroad. These he used with grand ef.
feet. He would introduce his mission into
conversation. relate how passes over the rail-
roads had been furnished him at Washing.
ton before starting, and exhibit those giving
him free ride over the Dubuque and Sioux
City road a. II 70 prove his truthfulness and
the high appreciation in which he Was held
At the National Capital"
Quite . number Of our citizens met the
worthy in Dubuque during the Fair, and
the people Of Cedar Falls, were honorsd BY
brief visit Immediately on the completion Of
his engagement in Dubuque. And il report
is true the "person Of influence" mentioned
above, resides not . thousand miles from here,
and the same individual. We believe, volun.
tcered the loan Of horse to accelerate Mr..
OwES's visit to " Walled lake" He talked
here IS he had talked elsewhere; he was 60
ing to send the Horticultural Society guam.
tity Of desirable books for the library, and,
in fact do most everything desirable. We
have not heard, however, of any ono being
the poorer for the distinguished gsntlcm.n's
presence here. The T;sss. after enumerat-
ing the scoundreps operations there con-
cludes:
And now II turns out that "Professor
James Dale Owen" was nothing less than
most skilful Pickpocket. Several Who had
money taken from their pockets, now r..
member that they missed it shortly after they
were introduced TO him. and that he contriv.
ed to make their acquaintance in jostling
crowd. He relieved one lady of City dollars
in less than ten minute after frst speaking
to her. He took eighty dollars from an ex.
hibitor Of stock, who was allowing him his
animals and it is now aseeTtained that he Was
the thief Who stole money and clothing from
the rooms Of dodgers in the Key City House.
He stopped the boltholes Of the doors with
putty, 20 that the bale could not snter them,
and Il night slipped IN the rooms and picked
the pockets Of the slsspArs. He probably
took away from the city nearly 81, 900 Of
stolen money.
And yet the strange part q IN u, that be
Vas not iatelliDent IN esaysrsatien Was
shsTp eaQagh 70 talk but kttle-eenllemanl
IN behavior, nor fne looking in Appsarancs,