The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-03-02
#isqellanaops.
The Little JOker-A Clergyman Falls
= Victim to hIs own CupIdIty. 9--

Ine Little JOAer-A CLERGY man E0llo
= Victim to hIs own CupIdity.
On Saturday morning, in Kansas City,
Mo-, soon after the Police Court had been
opened for the customary grinding out of
criminalities, a sadvisaged individual
made his appearance, attired in the garb
of a minister-that is, a suit of well-worn
black, relieved by soiled neckerchief
and plain white shirt. After watching
some time for an opportunity 20 speak
with policeman he finally gained an au-
dlence with Marshal Speers.
Hem aha can ! speak with you upon
a little matter of business2 desire it to
be kept strictly private, as it is 4 matter
wherein my future peace is concerned TO
great extent"
"Well, sir" responded the Chief of Po-
lice, leading the way to a private room,
Il am at your service. What is the trou-
ble2"
II have been robbed-swindled out of
one thousand dollars, and want the par
ties arrested and my money recovered"
"How was it done, and where7 must
know the wholestory before can give any
definite reply" replied Speers.
The man burst into tears as he pulled
out his handkerchief, and after sopping up
the salt water, in broken tone OF voice,
recited the following pitiful story:
"Oh, sir, grieve to confess 1t am
sinful man l have committed great er-
rorl I have lost all by gambling device
] am utterly ruined / am minister Of
the gospel; belong 10 the Illinois Con-
ference; my name Is Perkins. i have
been out to Colorado for my health's sake,
and am now returning.
arrived at Kansas City on Friday,
/ Al =,
train that left the Union depot at 4:40 last
evening. had just taken my seat In the
car when two we'll dressed gentlemen took
seat close to mine. observed them
making themselves soeiable with the other
passengers, and soon afterward noticed
them amusing themselves with three little
picture cards l became interested and
stepped over to see what II was. There
was enc they called the woman one they
called the pretty boy and one had q
star upon it. l watched the men and
their cards, and saw the people bet money
upon the cards and also observed q
small dirty speck upon the card that they
called the pretty boy They asked me
whether could tell which was the card
with the boy upon it, and at the same
time mixed them together, wrong side up.
thought could tell the card"
(which card did you bet onP
II bet on the card with the speck on its
back. / laid down ten one hundred dollar
bills The men produced handful Of
money; was too excited to notice how
much. They turned up the card pointed
out, and it was the woman had lost
my hard-earned money. / went down the
road little way, and by the advice of q
friend, returned here to seek relief. Can
you aid me to recover my money! / am
a ruined man if cannot recover it. 1t is
my little all I"
A fruitless hunt was made for the pro-
fessional FISHERS for fools;" they had
made their presence scarce, having proba-
bly, taken a trip to Colorado for their
health They are known to the police,
but manage to elude arrest by staying
over in Harlem as the tram comes in and
step on again as the train goes out 1t is
useless to attempt the arrest of these men,
unless the conductors of the trains are in
structed to cooperate with the police
The trick Is old it is practiced every day
on some Of the roads leading in Kansas
City. The conductors of trains could in
sure the arrest and punishment Of those
men as swindlers if they would send a
dispatch ahead of the train.