Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-09-27

Taken up-Strays.
A greenback distributor came to
town last Saturday. He drove up.
under our sanctum window on the
north side, and began calling with
loud voice. He stood up in his bug
gy with box of greenbacKs before
him, the lid came back SO as to form
q table on which to make exhibition
of his wares. He had sets of small
green boxes in size about 2x3 x4
inches, made to slide endwse into
cases. In presence of tho crowd he
put into one cf those boxes S.
greenback, Glide the box into the case
and laid the box on his table. Then
he took up smaller greenback, fold
ed it, put it into another box and
placed it beside the Other He did
the same with another box contain.
ing smaller money. Then he told
the crowd that any man could have
his choice for 81. After little hes
itation a man gave him the 81 and
took the SIS box. The greenback
man had made smaller beginning
than this. He had given away ten
cent pieces, quarters, halves and now
had given away dollar. LOCKERS
on had gradually become excited.
Next our man held up in plain view
$50 greenback. He folded it care
fully, put it into box, and placed it
on his table. In the same manner he
placed SO bill, 50 and 81, and
offered any man his choice for SIS.
The words were scarcely out Of his
mouth when man said 'I'll take
it" and paid his money and took his
choice. For his SIS he got the $40
bill. That was another advance in
the exciting game. Then our seller
of greenbacks hold up $50 green
back, placed it in box and the tox
on his table. 1t was done slowly,
and in full view. Any man would
have sworn he put the $50 bill in
that box. A $40 bill was put IN
another, SO bill was put in third
and ST bill in fourth and they
were all in plain view beside each
other. A little change was made in
the relative positions of the boxes
but by movement so slow that no
one could lose sight of the box con-
tanning the $50. Greenbackcr than
offered any man his choice for $40.
Several were eager to buy but it was
not easy to raise $40. Finally two
men raised S25 and our man sold the
choice for that. The purchasers were
sure they had the $50 but when they
opened their box they found it con-
tanned only 81 bill. Our man then
began with small amounts, saying he
was going to begin again and go up
as he did before. We left the crowd.
In about three minutes we looked to
see what success he was having, but
he was not there. OFF south the
street was in cloud of dust as il o
team had been driven over it with
great speed. In few minutes more
our greenback man was looked for
and could not be found. He came
back on Monday, however, in COM
pany with deputy sheriff Willis, of
Boscobel. He has two partners.
He was taken before squire Baldwin
who put him under $500 to 90 into
court. He appeared without Attor.
ney but the Attorney who figured
conspicuou>ly in the late Greenback
county Convention was present and
pressed himselfinto service. Charley
Bennett was his active counselor at
law also. lie gave his name as John
Wheeler. Two bruisers are his COM
panions. As soon as Wheeler's case
was disposed of the crowd suddenly
bounced forward as great reformers
They wanted warrants for all the
men who had grabbed st Wheeler's
boxes. That didn't pan out very
well aud then they BEGAN temper
ance men and wanted warrants for
somebody who had sold liquor. That
hattened out and there was talk that
they were going to get warrants for
all who had not walked circumspect- |
Iy to church on the Lords day. |
Their convention was greater than |
Paul's. They didn't mind being in
prison but with deep religious zeal in |
bonds they would have all the world
as bound with them. A badge of
Masonry worn by the chief was put |
to duty also.
Yesterday Wheeler was arrigned
before Judge Cothren. The Judge |
would not keep jury here any long
err to try him and this fellow with his
roughs, who are doing the people |
more damage than any thief within a
range of fifty miles was allowed to
go on his own recognizance of $3.50
to appear for trial at another term of
court.