The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-07-19
Il BOY TRAMP.
Profits of a Trip from Louisiana to -1tdaiy
Curious Diaries.
"

from the Albany IN. W Times.I
Several of the lawyers were visited
yesterday by a young, effeminate-looking
fellow, who represented that he was on
his way from Omaha, and wanted $2.7O
to help him toward Portland, Me. At
one office he asked very respectfully for
copying to do, and the good-hearted
lawyer, having no work for him, gave
him half dollar to buy his dinner. An
other lawyer gave him 25 cents, which
at first he was inclined to refuse, but
finally accepted, asking for his bene-
factors business card, that he might re-
turn tie money AT other places he got
orders for dinners on different restau-
rants. Finally he called on District
Attorney Bailey, with a request for
81. TO- Mr.. Bailey was first In
clined to give it, although he
remarked that s2.7 would not pay
fare to Maine. The boy, who is perhaps
seventeen, but quite small of his age,
said he could go for half fare. The more
the District Attorney thought of it the
less he felt ike granting the request,
and finally handing him 25 cents,
told him that would get him dinner,
and that was all he could do. This sum
the boy handed back, as he had dcne at
one or two other places about town, and
III going out slipped under the door
G5td GIN which was written vile language,
Mr. Bailey, convinced that the fellow
was an impostor, reported hum at head
quarters and accompanied Detective
Dwyer to the Whitney landing, where
the boy was arrested just as he was
going to Troy Chief Maloy searched
him carefully, and on his person discov-'
cred two diaries, in which were entered
the places which he had "worked, the
names Of several of his victims, the
amounts received each day, and various
other data of curious interest.
What's this ?" said the Chief, as he
pulled out two cigars.
"Cigars, replied the prisoner. "Take
oncl They are not very good ten cent
ers. I generally smoke twenty-five
ce1tefs."
You are a first-ciasa fraud" replied
the Chief, and the boy was not i'll po-
sition to deny the charge. He said, how
ever. that he only beat those who can
stand it. He said he was born in st.
James parish, La, Of creole parentage.
The name he goes by is Frank Taylor,
although in his diary he calls himself
Frank La Belle which may be pet
name of his own, derived from his girl
ish appearance. In fact, he says he has
been three times arrested on suspicion of
| being a girl in male attire, the last time
! in Newark, y. J., bnt never for any
other offense He says, further, that he
has trayelld nth Mrs. Bowers, playing
in "Lady Audley's Secret. !"
His diary shows that he has visited
cities as far west as st. Paul, as far south
as Galveston, and has pretty thoroughly
worked Kentucky and the Western
States, and has just been making the
tour of the Central road. His cash ac-
count shows that from the 7th of last
December to May 8 he took in S449.O5
above expenses; from May to May y
his net receipts were S35.05. His best
days work was at Galveston, March 10,
when he took in $3.50. He remarks
that Galveston and Houston are the best
and most generous places he has met
with. The names of his victims include
railroad and steamboat officials, news
paper men, United States Senators, bank
ers, lawyers, ETC. On being taken to the
Police Court this morning Frank La
Belle was sent to the penitentiary for SIX
month as n warrant