Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-05-22
A PROFESSIONAL LEG BREAKER.

A PROFESSIONAL LEG BREAKER.
Ofall the odd means Of gaining a livcli-
hood in the world that Of al Individual who
was in the city ~ few days ago is probably
entitled 10 the championship. The name
he was last kIown to fame as travelling un-
der was Johu l.. Wells, and he attracted
the attention ofa reporter, who knew his
peculia. history, while in the aci o.! board
ing Rocl: Island train al the Union Depot
night before last Wells il I, professional
cripple, not OF the kind whc wear = p?acard
and hold hat in .heir laps at corners. bH;a
more tnlcrprising person altogether, who
make; It good living bloodsuclinS corpora
lions and cities. He first attracted 4ttcn-
tion III Dclroig, Mich, where 2 number OF
wears ago he brought suit against n local
railroad for damages done in being elected
from the train, resulting, he claimed in tho
breaking of his iog. The case seemed To be
all straight, ami the company compromised
with !.in for -, 900 rather than to stand the
exDcuse of q lawsuit. Some time after he
fell OF & bad spot on an indianapolis, Ind,
pavement, again breaking his leg, and
the city compromised for respectable
consideration rather than stand q suit
which seemed sure 10 go against them.
III 1881 he came to Lcadville, Col, fell down
and broke the much-suilerlng leg, and sued
the city SoHe waftings Of his crookedness
had reached the benighted camp, and it
employe2 detectives to look up the mans
record Their Investigations showed that
he had, in different parts of the country,
broken his leg about twelve different times,
aslocatad his hip eight times, and injured
his spine twice, for all Of which he received
valuable considerations. However there
was nothing besides this 10 nyalidate his
claim, and the city gave him six hundred
dollars 10 withdraw it.
Leaving Lcadyilc he went TO Colorado
Springs, Col, where he promptly hunted up
9 defective spot on one Of the pavements,
and sustained Il compound fracture Of the
right leg below the knee. His fame, how
ever, lad preceded him. and . vigilance
committee called TO interview him upon the
matter and 20 anoiut him with tar aud
feathers, wheTcupon he leaped out OF
window aud took TO tall timber Oh his
manned member. He was not heard of
again until the papers Of Cincinnati, Ohio,
:; little less than two years ago, contained IN
account Of j. II. Wells falling into IN oprn
scllttle hole on Vine street, and sustaining
cruel fracture OF his leg. Shortly after
the court proceedings published contained
reference to a suit entitled Wells vs.. the City OF
Cincinnati and claiming $4,000 damages Again
his peculiar history ventilated. ana again he
made so good Il showing. despite the obvious fact
that lie wa. Il swiudler that the city was glad to
compromise on the basis Of $500. II he has prac-
ticc,l his peculiar profession since, he las not been
heard from in this section Of the country, but his
go,,! clothes ana wcil-icd look conveyed the I'M
urtS Ion ;h.t there more or less suffering
among corporations some where.
Wells is perfect martyr in his cause and Will
lie patiently on :. swcltcrng summer day with
hi leg cnveopcd i'll plaster of paris handagoS
waiting for the city 10 come to time. In dlsloct-
iions u: the hip he is said to DC great, and his cvl-
dent agony IS warranted to move the hardest
Hearted Of committeeman. Wells has :. rather at
t.atliye iitt!c wife who helps him out materially
in his business, and generally appears on the
RACED. edge of starvation account OF the ac-
cidcut Taken al in all it is doubtful If the
country contains another pair cf such unique and
clever sharpers. The reporter who noticed Wells
shuddcred for the cxchequcr Of the Rock Island
as the lcg broken mounted the platform, but he
was evidently ont on holiday, and his departure
was marked with 40 fracture or other disasters
L-,uxus Ciyy Star