Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-28
A PECULIAR SHARPER.
A Man who Makes n Ihving Ont of
breaking Ills Leg.

breaking Ills Leg.
OF all the means of gaining q liycli-
hood in the world, says the Kansas
City star, that of an individual who
was in the city day or two ago Is
entitled to the champion
ship. The name he was last known
to fame as travelling under was John
L. Wells, and he attracted the atten'
ton of Il star reporter, who knew his
peculiar history. Wells is profession
al cripple, not of the variety who wear
a placard and hold a hat in their laps |
at corners, but more cnterprlslng |
person altogether, who makesa good
living blood-sucking corporations and
cities. lie first attracted attention IN
Detroit, Mich, where number OF
years ago he brought suit againsta a To-
cal railroad for damages sustained in
being elected from the train, resulting,
he claimed, in the breaking of his leg.
The case seemed to he all straight, and
the company compromised for $1,000
rather than stand the expense of a law
suit. Some time alterward he fell on
a bad spot on an indianapolis Clnd' }
pavement, again breaking his leg, ana
the city compromised fora respectable
consideration rather than stand Il SUIT
which seemed certain to go against
Them In 1881 he came to Leadyille,
COL, fell down, broke the much-Suller-
ing leg, and sued the city. Some
waftings of his crooiedness had reach
ed the benighted camp, and it employ
ed 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, dislOcated his hip
eight times, and hurt his spine twice,
for all of which he received valuable
considerations. However, there was
nothing besides this to oinyalidate his
claim, and they gave him 5000 to
Withdraw it.
Leaving Lcadvillc he went to Colo
RADIO springs, Cot, where he promptly
hunted up a defective spot on one OF
the pavements, and sustained u COM
pound fracture of the right leg below
the knee His fame, however, had
preceded him, and a vigilance commit
tee called to interview him upon the
matter and anoint him with tar and
feathers, whereupon he leaped out a
window and took to the tall timber on
his manned member. lie was not
heard from again until the papers OF
Cincinnati, Ohio, a little less than two
years ago, contained an account OF one
j. III. Wells falling in an open scuttle-
hole on Vine street and sustaining
cruel fracture of his leg, Shortly af-
ter the court proceedings published in,
cluded reference to a suit entitled
West vs. the city of Cincinnati, ant
claiming $4,000 damages. Again his
peculiar history was ventilated ant
again he made so good showing, de
spite the obvious fact that he was ;
swindler, that the city was glad tt
compromise upon the basis of $500. l
he has practiced his peculiar profcs
sion since, he has not been heard from
in this section of the country, but hi
good clothes and well-fcd look con
veyed the impression that there was
more or less suffering among corpora
tions elsewhere.
Wells is Il perfect martyr in hi
cause, and will lay patiently on swell
tering summer day with his leg envel
oped in plaster of paris bandagcs, wait
ing for the city to come to time. II
dislocations of the hip he is said to b
great, and his evident agony is guaran
teed to move tho hardest hearted o
committeeman. Wells has rathe
attractive little wife, who helps hiI
out materially in his business, an
generally appears on the ragged edg
of starvation on account of the ace
dent. Taking all in all, it is doubtfr
if the country contains another pair c
such unique and clever sharpcrs.