Daily globe., 1883-04-11
BAGGSHASBLOSSOMED


the Sliclest Confidence Operator in the
West.
The list of distinguished arrivals in st.
Paul yesterday included the name of doc"
Baggs. He is one of the slickest operators
of confidence games in the United States,
and is said to never turn a corner without
taking a trick. He came originally
from Colorado, recently from Chi
cago and Immediately from Min
neapolis and Brainerd. In the latter city
he has been employed in delUding un-
sophisticated spectators in real estate,
and is supposed to have accomplished his
usual success. ''Doc" Baggs, under which
professional nomenclature he is known to
police circles in all parts of the country, is
reputed to be keen as briar in the prae-
tice of his art, successful in every venture
he has undertaken, and fortunate in the
possession of capacities that enable him to
take advantage of the laws delay, when
men not similarly constituted would aid
in the procurement of their own conviction
by honest confession.
During last summer he decoyed a gen
tleman named Otero into his parIor in
Denver, and ''done" him out of check for
a large amount drawn on the First Nation
al bank of that city. His victim was
prominent citizen of New Mexico, who had
served as a representative in congress, and
possessed of untold wealth obtained from
the sales of cattle which ranged all over
the territory, and from mines the outpour
of which daily, was fortune of more than
limited dimensions. Senior Otero, upon
realizing the transaction into which he had
been drawn, expressed his willingness to
pay the scot and drop the matter as the
best way to avoid the ridicule to which he
would be subject if the facts were pub
| lished. His son, however, to whom this
| statement was presented, refused to COM
promise the case, and accompanied by a
| detective waited at the bank to arrest
| whomsoever should demand payment of
| the paper. The latter was presented by a
friend of Baggs, who was taken into GUS
| tody, and upon furnishing the name of the
party from whom he obtained the check,
Baggs was apprehended and locked up.
| His release on bail was obtained, but the
sheriff of Arapahoe county placed deputy
named Auspitz upon his track to prevent
Baggs from pursuing his trade, and it had
the desired effect. Every place that Baggs
went the sherif's lamb was sure to go, and
| if he endeavored TO ''work sucker or i'm
pose upou the creduity of stranger, Aus
pitz was near by to warn the prospective
| victim.
The result of this maneuvering was to
render Larimer street, Denver, passably
safefor strangers, and Baggs' business un-
profitable. The latter finally settled the
| Otero claim, in the hope that the Vidocq
constantly on his track would be called
off. In this he was disappointed, and
finally after vain applications to the sher-
if to ''let him alone" Baggs left the city
Accompanied by a pair of assistants he
proceeded to Omaha, and endeavored to
secure an audience with willing victims
He succeeded in small way before the
police were apprised of his presence, and
was making arrangements to work the
state fair, when he was warned to leave
the bailiwick under penalty of arrest. He
avoided the penalty by complying with
the demand of the constabulary and made
his way to Minneapolis, arriving
there last September. He succeed
ed in his game of chance
in that city, making good round sum, ii
Is said, and having covered the field COM
pletely, disappeared, to come to the sur
| face soon after IN Chicago, where he made
his headquarters at "The Store" taking q
trick every day, and eventually becoming
so pestiferous customer to the authori-
ties that he was compelled to levant to
other scenes.
He has latterly been operating in Mime
apolis again, and Brainerd, but having har
vested these fields, turns up in ST. Paul fol
purposes best known to himself and hi:
victims, if the latter are persuaded tc
speak, each for himself
Sale OF the Livery Business of the Late
VIM. A. Judd.
P. T. Kavanagh, the auction ser, sold the
livery outft-some thirty horse ses, harness
buggies, sleighs, etc.-of the estate of tht
late VIM. A. Judd. The bidding was quite
spirited, the property being knocked
down to Hon. O. o. Cullen for 81, ,52E
cash, at which figure the sale is consid
cred good one, much better than coulG
have been obtained had the property beer
divided up. It is understood that Mr.. K
P. Cullen, brother of the purchaser, ant
who has been managing the stable since
the death Of Mr.. Judd, will continue il
charge of the business.