The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-24
AU. S. OFFICER TAKEN IN.
A GALLANT GENERAL FINDS OUT THE Def.
NlTION OF tTRANSPIRE."
AHYES PET MAKES A BET AND sQUEALs.

MAssILLOS, May %, 1877
Gen. ed. s. Meyer had three men arrested I'm
Massillon last week on charge of passing coun-
lerieit money by one, and robbery by the other
two According to the evidence at the prelimin-
ary examination, public opinion has concluded
that the gallant (O General was simply "gulled,"
and then, under pretence Of playing detective,
Kicked like mule" The facts are as follows
The General (2) on his way to Cleveland stopped
of here one morning last week from the early
train, and three strangers also got or the same
train. The Generals attention was called 10 the
strangers, by, as he says, one OF them endeavoFing
10 attract the attention Of a young girl that had
come as far as Masslllon, under his care short
time afterwards he noticed one Of the parties
looking over railroad chart and heard hun re-
mark that the road from Sedalia 10 certain other
point 1--WE failed TO catch the name of the station)
was straight one. The officer, anxious to show
his knowledge Of the West, where he had "fought,
bled, and" and also TO impress the stran-
ger with the fact that he had done considerable
travelling, endeavored to enlighten this wayfarer
by informing him that the road was not straight
and even went so far as to offer TO bet a dollar
that he was right. The stranger showed,his will
ingness to bet but no money was put up, Upon
referring to railroad map, the General was found
TO be correct. In short time the conversation
turned upon Texas, and as the General had so
Journed in the Lone Star State for some time,
he was naturally anxious TO hear from there.
The stranger remarked that they were already
hoeing corn there; that some people thought il
was so much hotter down there than here He
didn't think so, as people did not "transpire' 80
much as they do here. Our impromplu detective
corrected him by saying;
"You mean pespire, don't your"
stranger-"No, sir, know what am TALKING
about. mean "transplre"
Ed-'Why what Is the meaning of transpire p
stranger-"It means to sweat"
Ed bet you five dollars It don't"
strarger-"Ill bet ten, It does"
And so the betting went on until twenty-five
dollars was relched, Ed, drawed back to $50.
when another party stepped up making the bet
$1,000 by putting up $500 on the Generals side.
They adjourned to hotel the money was laid
out; dictionary was obtained, and 1t was found
that the word did mean ITO sweat" OF course
the stranger took his money, and then, great
heavens, whata change was there my country
men| This gallant () Ed. U. S. A. retired on
big pay drew himself up to his full height, and in
tones resembling the rumbling of distant thun-
der, said:
lam United States officer I am Deputy
District Attorney Of the Northern District of Ohio.
will have you arrested. l saw your roll Of
money You are gang of counterfeters"
After great deal of talk and bravado, it was
decided to hand the money over to the colOred
porter. The retired General on SlSOO year
writing on slip of paper "Transpire"- "--means
ITO sweat ~ bet $500 1t does not" The paper
accompanied the money, and the "ofiicer" told
the porter to light out" Ed, then had the par
ties arrested They had a hearing before the
Mayor that resulted in one being discharged and
the other two being sent to JAIL at the expense of
the State, in default of $500 bail
We do not recognize fraud, no matter in what
guise it may appear. If these men were suspi-
cious characters of course it is benefit to the
community to lock them up, But If betting is
crime, our model, moral strictly Republican u 8.
official has laid himself liable. This case merely
goes to show how low satellites Of the fraudulent
President will stoop 10 gain their ends and save
$500. A DEMOCRAT.