Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-07-20
A Thrifty Tramp.

Several of our lawyers were visited
yesterday by a young, eifeminate-look-
ing fellow, who represented that he was
on his way from Omaha and wanted
So. 40 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.
Another lawyer gave him twenty-five
cents, which at first he was inclined 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 on diff
ferent restaurants. Finally he called on
Dist Atty. Bailey and repeated his
request for So 10. MIR. Bailey was at
first inclined to give, although he re-
marked that So 10 would not pay his
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 be 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
about the town, and in going out slipped
under the door a card on which was
written vile language. Mr.. Bailey, CON
vinced that the fellow was an impostor,
reported him at headquarters and ac-
companied Detective Dwyer to the
Whitney landing, where the boy was
arrested just as he was going to Troy.
Chief Maloy searched him carefully, and
i 4 Il tnrtnc in
which were entered the places which he
had worked" the names of his victims,
the amounts received each day, and va
rious other data of curious interest.
"What's this?" said the Chief, as nc
pulled out two cigars.
" Cigars" replied the prisoner; take
one. They are not very good-ten-cent-
ers; generally smoke twenty-fve-cent-
ers."
"You are first class fraud" replied
the Chief, and the boy was not in posi-
tion to deny the charge. He said how
ever, that he only beats" 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 glrllsh
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, N. J.-but never for any
offense. 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, as far
south as Galveston, and has pretty
thoroughly worked Kentucky and the
Western States, and has just been max
ing the tour of the Central Road. His
cash account shows that from the 7th OF
last December to May 0 he took $449.'
05 above expenses; from May to May 8
his net receipts were $3505. His best
days work was at Galveston, March 16,
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 in
clude railroad and steamboat officials
newspaper men, United States Sena
tors, bankers, lawyers, etc.
On being taken to the Police Cour
this morning Frank La Belle" was
sent to the Penitentiary for six months
as a vagrant-Al5any (N ~ Times.