Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-26
HISTORICAL HOAXES.
Some of the PTacttcai Jokes That Have
Passed into History.

AAUAAESS
some of the Pract.cai Jokes That Have
Passed into History.
Brooklyn gle.
The degree OF humor which people
whose humor is abnornally developed
can extract from hOaXeS aud practical
jokes Is perpetual puzzle to staid and
STEADY people. 1t is cruel sort of hum
or, which finds its keenest pleasure in
rendering other people uncomfortable
and unhappy. No matter how much the
victim of the joke may suffer, mentally
or physically, the professional hoaxer
must and will have his joke, and
this be will have reckless Of all consul
Quences. A present Senator of this State
from one of the country districts was the
TnintentiOnal cause of divorce. He
had friend who was confirmed joker.
They were both lawyers and met at GER
tain times of the year in various cities of
their judicial districts when travelling the
circuit. The Senator had often been the
victim of his friend, and waited patiently
the opportunity TO have his revenge.
One dav as the Senator entered the din
ing room Of hotel in Herkimer County
he saw his humorous uiend sitting a a
table engage in close conversation with
lady. He advanced to speak to him.
The friend. seeing him, arose and greet
ing him turned TO the lady aid said ::
MY dear, this is my friend, Judge,
of whom you have heard me speak.
judge, my wife
The Senator bowed and then stared
with surprise.
Your wife?" he inquired in a puzzled
tone.
Yes, my wife," replied his friend
"Oh, no." was the Senator's reply
THAT will not do This is not the Iad7
you introduced as your wife last term at
Otsego County. This lady is dark, your
wife is light. Oh, no; that won't do. None
of your jokes upon me-"
With that nc turned away, leaving the
wife dumbfounded and angry, and the
professional joker for once nonplussed
Toe Senator told the story, and every
where the joker was laughed at as the
joke was continued. His wife demanded
an explanation. He tried to assert that it
was but a joke of the Judges. but the
Judge wouldn't say 50; on the contrary
he PERSISTED in his statement, which was
confirmed by the other lawyer spresent, all
of whom were now OBJ aiming a revenge
The wife believed not her husband, but
his friends, and could not be persuaded
but that her husband had been unfaith-
full to his marriage VOWS. The result was
jealousy, pickering and quarreliny, which
eyentuated i'll divorce. This was severe
punishment, and successfully cured the
divorced man of practical joking.
It was Lord Norbury OF England who
made one of best wiiticisms ever made
from the bench at the expense of the
prisoner. 1t was at the time when rob-
berry was punished by hanging He was
sentencing to death a thief who had stolen
a watch: 'You made grasp at time, my
lad, but you clutchod eternity"
For cheeky defense when " caught in
the act" commend US to this story of a
Partisan thief at the steeple-chases, who
was caught by detective with his hand
in lady's pocket. Il am no thief" the
pickpocket Indignantly protested; 81 am
in love with this lady, and was only slip,
ping note in her pocket" and he pro-
duced in proof love letter hidden in the
palm of his hand. However, the lady
WIS old and ugly, and forty-two purses
were found on the ingenious Frenchman
An American pickpocket, caught on &
Third avenue car with his hand in a gen
tleman's watch-pocket, laconicaily and
smilinglv said: Excuse me, SIR"
HOW POLICEMEN HAVE BEEN FOOLED.
Nothing probe bly, gives more delight
to the criminal heart than, by means Of
some trick, to ''get square" with police
man Some few years ago there was an
old Constable in Ocean C-unty, N. j.
VINO prided himself greatly on his g de
pertinent" He wished to be considered
as he really was, very polite man. 4
well known New York thief being il
custody was taken to Court where the pc
lite old Constable stood guard at the enc
of the bench In which the criminals haC
been ushered, and in which there hap
pened to be, 1T the time, two or tire,
persons who were merely spectators. TIL
New Yorker saw at a glance the weak
ness of the old Constable, and at a mo
ment when business was at its heigh
said politely to the officer: Excuse me
sir, will you ALLOW me to pass? see m,
brother, the other witness. at the door.
So cOoley was this said, and so politel
too, that Did Department" rs he wa
called, did not for moment doubt tina
all was right, and that the speaker wa
one of the spectators. The man who sal
his abro;har" at the door made for th
opening as rapidly as consistency woul
permit, and was never seen in those part
again.
Some months ago the New York PAL
ers contained an item about Mr.. Joh
Dobbs, probably the smartest bank burg
lar in the country, against whom there
standing reward of 81 900 for his Apr,
hension. He graduated from Slaughtt
House Point, corner of Water street an
James slip, and every once in a while |
visits the Fourth Ward to look at tt
scenes of childhood Mr.. Dobbs has
keen sense OF humor, and especially d
liohts 10 fooIing policeman. His Ia
Ell OF is something very clever. On tn
occasion Close carriage, with an elega