Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-09-20
A HOTEL BEATS TACTICS.
How the Continental Hotel People were
Swindled by u Sharper.
Philadelphia Times.

Swindled by Sharper.
Philadelphia Times.
About ten o'clock on Sunday evening
dazzling gold-headed cane entered the
Continental Hotel and confronted clerk
Lowry, closely followed by an individual
about thirty-one years of age, with a
small black moustache and the faintcst
suggestion Of an imperial. This was
topped of with natty straw hat and n
dark suit and white vest. In il bold
hand the new arrival inscribed his
name upon the register Charles j.
Wilson, Conn., and was given room
No. 276, for which he transferred the
financial equivalent. He appeared
soicitous about the gold-hcaded cane
and wished il to be put into the safe, but
gold-hcaded canes are such common
things mt the Continental that he was
advised to take il with him to his room,
where IL would be lust US safe. lie
then retired. About o'clock on Mon
day morning the annunciator was pull
ed vigorously by No. 276, who said he
wanted to see the clerk. Mr. Weston
went to learn his wants, ZIG, in II state
Of great excitement, complained that
somebody had entered his room and
stolen his pantaloons and vest, his watch
and chain, ten dollars in money, and
had left him i'll ID Of u fix. lie had
foolishly left tile key Of his door out
side when he retired and Of course
didn't blame the hotel people.
But there he was. and it would never
do for him 10 go ont into Chestnut
street in that Highland costume, and he
had no money TO buy other clothing.
Besides, he wanted to 80 to Washington
on the O'Clock train that afternoon.
Clerk Weston rcmcdicd the deficiencies
in the apparel line from his own ward
robe, and 80 bill from the hotcldrawer
TO nay his fare to the national capital
and u good breakfast put the unfortu-
nate guest on good terms before he and
the uold-headed cane took their de-
parturc. The fellows bearing ap-
pearcd gcntee his story was straight
enough, and nobody had any suspicion
pcning to look out Of the window on
Monday afternoon, saw the awning on
Ninth street strewn with fragments Of
cloth. These were collected and found
to resemble the material of which the
supposed stolen trousers were composed
On Tuesday morning Wilson appeared
ut the Continental again. lie wore
Il linen cont, and enquircd after Weston.
When the latter appeared Wilson was
told that news had been obtained re-
gnrding his effects, and he was asked to
go soc about them. Weston engaged
him in conversation along Chestnut
street until Lieutenant Crouts Office, ut
the central station, was entered. lie was
then informed how his dupicity had
been detected, and was asked where was
the blue coat he had worn Sunday night.
Ito finally owned up that it was nj y
cheap lodging house on Market street,
near Second. The cont and two Others
were brought around. Wilson was then
searched and the watch and chain he
had claimed to be stolen were found
hidden in his Undertaking.. There
was also long list Of names of people
III Washington who Ind given money 20
him to ~ to- Colorado 70 visit his brother.
Several railroad passes, hotel checks
for tho Mansion and Howard houses,
and memoranda showing that he had
been travelling through Connecticut
and TO Rockaway. Conoy Island, Long
Branch and other places on railroad
passes, which he had begged on various
pretenses; also slip Of paper showing
that hc was about making u claim Of
$40 upon the Continental hotel folks for
the stolen clothing, otc. lie claimed
that he had como from san Francisco
in 1876, owned property there and was
expecting money every day. Magis-
trate Smith committed Wilson to the
house of correction for year.
The Continental people have since
learned That ho has played the same
game IN other cities.