St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-08
received the first prize of S., the second
prize being won by Officer Budy. Time,
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THE BOSS BILkER.
L. Wilson of Sprague, Washington Territory,

L. Wilson of Sprague, Washington Territory
Cuts Wide Swath in st. Paul.
| A week ago last Friday the boss billSer Of
the Northwest paid st. Paul visit, and
reveled in the luxuries of the land a few days
at the expense of the liberal business men OF
| st. Paul and Minneapolis. He arrived in
st. Paul over the Northern Pacific railroad on
the noon train, and registered at the Sher-
man house as ''L Wilson, Sprague, w. TT
When he arrived he was logged out in the
full uniform of Montana cowboy, but il
only required few minutes work over his
toilet in his room to transform him into a
first-class merchant from the far West, with
$50, 900 in his pocket to pay for new stock
of general merchandise, which he was on
his way to purchase. The eagle-eyed Mr..
Close, one of P. H. Kelly & Co.'s heavy
weights, was the first man to get an
inkling of the presence of the
bonanza merchant from the far West,
and he soon introduced him to representa-
tives of the several other lines of goods, and
then the fun commenced. Nothing in st.
Paul was too good for Mr.. Wilson.
Wine dinners, operas, hacks, ETC.,
with little game Of draw
poker on the side with Mr.. w. the winner of
course) were on the list of entertainments.
Mr.. Wilson was at first very anxious to go on
to Chicago to meet his wife, who was to wait
for him there on her return from New Or
leans, but extreme low prices, wine dinners,
ETC., had the effect of inducing him to re-
main in St. Paul over Sunday, and it was
then that Mr.. NJ. of Powers, Durkee & Co..
put in big licks and distanced all of his COM
petitors. While they were away at church he
Toasted and wined Mr.. Wilson, and became
SO friendly and familiar with him, that it is
said he slept with him Sunday night, and by
dint of much labor and money spent upon
him, sold him about S., 600 worth of dry
goods. In the meantime, Glidden, Griggs &
Co. managed to sell him about 81, 900 worth
of groceries, and Foote, Schurmeier & Co. sold
him about $4,000 worth of boots and shoes.
After working st. Paul business men for
all they were worth, in the way of enter
tainments and money borrowed, for imme-
date expense) which he easily obtained by
showing draft on Chicago for 10000, he
left st. Paul for Minneapolis Wednesday
morning at 80 to take in the town and
business men up there, since when he has
not been seen by St. Paul parties, but Min
neapolis men were. visiting st. Paul to-day
looking up his record. AS yet il is not
made public just how much money he has
borrowed, but one man, who is engaged in
the wholesale hardware business in Mime
apolis, was heard to remark ''that he easily
borrowed $40 from me by showing draft
on Chicago for 100000"
A salesman of Powers, Durkee & Co. sa-
luted one of their travelling men, on his ar
rival in the house, with the remark:
''Have you heard the latest?"
''What do you refer too"
"What, haven't you heard about it?'
''No. Heard about what?''
cob, pshaw; of course you must have
heard how got away with them all and sold
the Washington territory man. / sold him
at least $4,000, perhaps so, 900 and possibly
$12, 000."
The latest developments were made when
the hotel clerk opened his trunk. The con-
tents were as follows:
Two pillows (borrowed).
One pair of old pants.
One pair of socks.
One pair stoga boots.
One dirty shirt.
One note written on business card from
Mr.. Simpson, as follows:
You cannot afford to buy your bill with
out first inspecting our immense stock of
dry goods.
In addition to the above the genial Wilson
negotiated number of cash loans, the vic
tins to which have congratulated themselves
that the amounts were not larger than they
really were, as it appears that the gentleman
in question was given. carte blanche to
almost everything in sight.
II the reader has occasion to walk through
the wholesale district of st. Paul or Miuneap-
oils, just wink gently at any of the statesmen,
whisper the word "Wilson," and you will
immediately get cigar, or get knocked
down.