The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-06
A CROOKED CIRCUS
Which Escaped Attachment here by some
Rapid Running,

WRllace's show has long been known
as the worak gang Of swindlers and
thieves that was ever allowed to run at
large in this country, Day before yester.
day It was at Washington. Pa, and yea
terday II was billed to exhibit at Cam
bridge, Ohio. On Monday st, Louis law,
yer named Boyton arrived in the city,
and entered suit before Squire Phillips
for $3.50, which sum no alleged was due
him on salary. attachment was issu,
ed, and Constable Bird, Officer Bell,
Squire Phillips, Capt. Boyton and his
local counsel, ], D, Elson, went down to
the b. 4 o. yard to attach the show IS 1t
passed through, ltdid not arrive till 9
A. NJ, and having received an intimRtion
at Elm Grove OF the attachment, the cir,
Gus men made an arrangement with the
railroad authorities to rush the train
through here without stopping, which
was done, and though Constable Bird
levied on dozen or 30 Of the circus cars
as they passed, no did not secure the
property levied on, Boyton declared his
intention to sue the B. & o, Company for
$500 damages,
Boyton's connection with the show was
peculiar one, He was what is known In
such crooked shows as the 'paCifGakor,"
When the show got into trouble on &C.
count Of one Of It's robberles, Boytou
stayed behind to patch up the affair as
CheRply as possible, For his services he
was to receive $50 week, Recently he
got disguised with the show and quit, his
salary, he alleges, being five weeks hG,
hind, The owners offered him first $50
and then 500, but he declined to COM
promise,
Boyton says that while the show has a
bad name, Its reputation appears sanity
when compared with the real facts. The
concern Ia composed OF FIVE men, two OF
whom give their attention to the show,
while the others are professional robbers
and swipdlers,
They resort to any game,from picking q
pocket to a bunco game to fleece man,
and the proceeds are divided evenly
among the five. No mau Is allowed 10
leave the shows employ during the sea.
son lest he would tell the truth about 1t,
aud II persuasion aud mild Coercive meas.
ures fail the proprietors do not hesitate to
have some OF their tools employed about
the concern beat up the man who wants
to resign,
There are several States in the Union
where the show cannot 70, as their for
mer operations have given them such
bad name they would be in danger OF
m0bbing II the law did not take hold OF
them. AS soon Gs this state Of affairs be-
comes bad enough TO embNraBs the show,
1t Ii rGorganiZed under q new namo.
BOyton asserta that the show ia only
given az pretext 10 draw crowd for the
thieves to operate on, This 10 illustrated
by the fact that whom tho show was re-
Gently billed ut BOllairO, the tents were
not put up, tho weather being such that
1t wGs evident no crowd would congregate
from out Of town. The show Is the pre-.
text, u minor consideration. The source
Of revenue ia the swindllng,
Tho gangs peCulatlons range from q
dollar or two to thousand or two. The
mombera were expert in all the light fin
gerCd trlCRs,and Boyton wRs good enough
student Of human nature to usually patch
up their troubleo Cheaply or stGvs OF &C.
ton till the show was out Of the State.
He regards the treatment he is now re-
celving Gs base iugyalitude.