Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-02-04
sl(liGtellanp.
70 -
PRACTICAL JOKES.

aud the Law Concerning Them.
Not the least curious thing about the
attractive subject of practical joking is
that whenever, through the stupidity or
brutality of humorous Iuflian, per-
son is killed or disfgured for life, the
newspapers chronicle the occurrence
under The heading, ga Warning to
Practical Jokers." II the wag had
been MANNED or slain, or if the neigh
bors had logged him or lynched him,
then there would have been some ex-
cuse for the headline. The practical
jOker's doings take vide range, and
are performed at the expense Of all
classes of the community, Thus in
January last Mr.. W. I. Timmons, of
South Carolina, having been rejected by
his sensible sweetheart, undertook to
move her heart by writing letter TO
the press in another persons name, an
nouncing that his lifeless body had
been found in Adams Run. The only
person seriously affected was his
brother, who instantly bought coffin
at Charleston and travelled to the spot
to discover the hoax.
at Jefferson City Mo, stranger put
up at the Monroe house, and sold the
landlord pair of new boots for SD.
The landlords intimate and wsgeish
friend induced LumofouH shoemaker
MIR. Joseph Flick, to go and claim the
boots as having been stolen from him,
and the hotel keeper gave them mp, and
when subsequ emily he encountered his
guest, had him arrested and summoned
Mr.. Flick as witness Then the joke
came nut, and it cost Mr. Flick S12 costs,
while the guest has an action pending
for damages for false imprisonment,
The late Count Bellavitis, an eminent
mathematician Of Palua, some time be-
fore his death prepared letter to a
friend at Rome, informing this friend
that the writer had inst died. Count
Bellavitis left p space in this strange
epistle Tor he date to he erred, ami
had instruction. pr pared fer his execu-
tors that when he died the day was to
be filed in and the letter sent to its
destination. The Instructions were
faithfully obeyed and the grim joke was
completed, and the first intimation the
Roman friend had of the death OF Count
Bellavitis was the rec ipt of letter
from him stating the fact.
A facetious young lady of philadel-
phia several years ago issued hundred
or more invitations to dinner in the name
of one of Mr.. Child's near neighbors-
skillfury arranging the list of invita-
tons so as to include fifty assorted
pairs Of mortal enemies-and then
kindly ordered magnificent dinner
from restaurant for the occasion.
Adecidedly sensational practical joke
was pcrpetrsted in Brazil on the occa.
sion OF the introduction of new safety.
brake, Dom Pedro, who was on the
train, being an accomplice. At one
part of the line where it passes through
cutting bounded by rocks, gigantic
construction of lath and canvas, painted
to represent mass Of fallen rock, was
placed on the rails so that the driver
would catch sight of it just as he
rounded curve. He did, and stopped
the train in hurry, SO that both the
joke and the trial were successful. But
suppose he had jumped of?
When the steamer Potosi left Ply
mouth recently for Australia practical
j. er cried out, "Man overheard p
A life-boat was lowered, but the falls
became entan led and five men We're
plunged into the water, two being
drowned.
At Linthwaite, Ensland, John Diskin,
boy of sixteen, thought it would be
great finn 10 scare his mate, lad OF
fifteen, by throwing rope around his
neck and putting the end of it round
the machine shaft. The object of the
joke was dashed 70 pieces
In Sixty-fourth street, this city, in
August last, Pie'ro FIanchi's mates
undertook to wake him from his nap b.
VIII cling truck with q man on it
against him. 1t struck him On the
head and killed him.
At Chicago Mr.. NJ 3. Gonld, prom
inent business man, resolved TO scare
the janitor 10y oyer5nrniug things in his
room AID hiding in the closet. While
ne WAS cbuckling with a companion
over the success of their stratae EN-, the
janitor, having vainly summoned the
alleged burglar to surrender. fired
through the door and killed him.
There died at the lndiantown IN. b.
asylum last winter Miss Clara Bagnall,
a young lady upon whom a waggish
caller pounced me evening arrayed en-
diatle. Sue fell in a fit and became a
ravinP maniac.
In Robson county, N. O, recently,
lutte James Phillips yonng friends
undertook 10 cure him of being "scary "
by visiting the house during his parents
absence, trying the doors, etc. The