The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-07-14
A THRIFTY TRAMP.
From the Albany Argus. !

From the Albany August
Several Of our lawyers were visited yesterday
BY a young, effeminate looking fellow. who re-
presented that he was on his way from Omaha
and wanted $2.70 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 Q half dol
him twenty-five cents, which at first he was in
cIiued to refuse, but finally accepted, asking
for his benefactor's business card, that he might
return the money. At other places he got
orders for dinners at different restaurants.
Finally he called on District Attorney Bailey
and repeated his request for $2.70. Mr.. Bailey
was at first inclined to give 1t, although he re-
marked that S2.70 would not pay fare to Maine.
The boy, who Is perhaps seventeen, but quite
small OF his age, said he could go for half rare.
The more the District Attorney thought OF IT
the less he felt like granting the request, and
finally handing him twenty-five cents told him
that would get him dinner, and that was all
he could do. This sum the boy handed back,
as he had done at one or two other places ABOUT
town, and in going out slipped under the door
acard Oh which was written vile language. mr..
Baily convinced that the fellow was an imposter.
reported him at Headquarters and accompanied
Detective Dryer to the Whitney landing, where
the boy was arrested Just rs he was going to
Troy. Chief Maloy searched him carefully. and
on his person discovered two diaries, IN whlcn
were entered the places which he had"workea,
the names of several of his victims, the amounts
received each day, and various other data OF
curious interest.
whats thisf' said the Chief as he pulled
out two cigars.
"Cigars replied the prisoner; "take one?
They are not very good; ten centers; gen.
orally smoke twenty-five centers.
"You are first class fraud" replied the
Chief. and the boywas not in position to deny
the charge. He said, however, that he only
"beat" those who can stand it. He said he was
born in st. James parish, La, OF creole parent
age. The name he goes by is Frank Taylor. al.
though in his diary, he calls himself FRANK
La Belle" which may be pet name OF his own,
derived from his girlish appearance. In fact
he says he has been three times arrested on sus-
picion of being girl in male attire-the last
time in Newark N. J.-but never for any other
offence. He says, further, that he has travelled
with Mrs. Bowers, playing in 'Lady Audley's
Secret"
His diary shows that he has visited cities as
far west as st. Paul, az far south ~ Galveston,
and has pretty thoroughly worked Kentucky
and the Western States, and has Just been
making the tour of the Central road His cash
account shows that from the It'll of last Decem-
Der to May he took in $449 06 above expenses
from May 2 to May his net receipts were $780,
05. His best days work was at Galveston,
March 10, when he took In 1850. He remarks
that Galveston and Houston are the best and
mObt BeutTOuS plbCob uc iuct Wth' Aho
Of his victims include railroad and steamboat
officials. newspaper men, United States Sen
ators, bankers, lawyers, &c.
On being taken to the Police Court this morn
ing Frank La Belle" was sent to the Peniten-
tiary for six months as vagrant.
A story told of Gov. Duval, OF Florida. will
never wear out. He WAS the son Of a"poor
white" in Virginia, stern strong, taciturn
man, the boy huge growth OF fifteen. At the
cabin fire, at bed time, according to the custom
of putting on backlog, the old man said, be-
tween whifs of his silent pipe-"Tab, tine
boys nickname) go out and bring in that gum
backlog and put 1t on the fire."
Tab went out and surveyed the log. he
knew 1t was no use explaining that 1t was toe
heavy, nor prudent for him to return without
having 1t on his shoulder. His little sistel
passing, was not surprised that he requested
her to bring him out the gun and powder horn
as possum or coon might have passed, or the
brother might have seen bear signs. Sht
brought the gun and Tab started. He found hi
way through the woods into Kentucky-thil
elected to Congress. After an absence OF eigh
years, now man OF immense size and strength
long given up as slain by bear, he started Il
Washington by way of his old home, to see tn
folks. Entering the little cabin yard near BET
time, he saw the identical gum log. H
shouldered 1t, pulled the latch string, and witt
his load stood before the old man, pipe Il
mouth, and quiet as usual. "Here is the gun
back. log father" "Better late than never-pu
it on the fire and go to bed, was the reply