The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-10-15
WASHINGTON DEAD BEATS.
How They Trap the Unwary Stranger
at the Capital.

How They Trap the Unwary Stranger
at the Capital.
Il have just returned from trip to
Washington l have lost nearly all my
confidence in human naturh. l shall
avoid that place as much as possible in
the future"
The speaker was the agent Of a large
manufacturing house in this city, and
whenever the tariff tinkers get to work
in Congress he is sent to Washington to
look after the interests of his firm.
g" have had considerable experience
In Washington" he continued, d" but my
last trip beats anything L have ever
seen. / did not know that there were
so many tr4mps and dead beats in the
country.
Il had scarcely finished registering at
Wi lardS when man in the la stage
of intoxication rolled up against me
and claimed my acquaintance. He was
so changed that l did not at first recog-
nize him. His face was bloated, his
ewes bloodshot his clio hing dirty and
everything about him stamped him as
drunken 5 t.
u recognized him as man 1 had
met a few years ago-a young man OF
promise then, but with too great fond
ness for Washington whisky and gam
bling. gave HIM n dollar and hurried
away upstairs to my room.
I Rad been there half an hour when
there was knock at my door, and IN
response to my summons a decently-
dressed man walked in. 1 did not know
him from Adam. He apologized Tor
disturbing me ut that hour-it was after
eleven o'clock-and said that he had
met me with Colonel So-and-so the last
time 1 was in town. He saw my name
in the register down stairs and thought
he would call to pay his respects.
" Curious to learn why he wanteo 70
or n
stranger, 1 did not follow my first
inluu Sc and KICK him out Of the
room.
/ " After making few perfunctory in
ouiries about affairs in New YORK, ne
came to the main point. As l might
' have known, it was my money he wanted
1 f,r.,et lust how he worded his request,
. but his embarrassment, which l believe
he said was u porary, wa caused by
the failure of the malls to bring an ex-
Dected remittance. Twenty five dollars
would help him out. HIS manner
was perfectly cool, and one might nave
imagined that l had asked him TO dc
me favor.
Il told him, however. that was
shott of funds, and / kept all my none,
in New York. He waved his hand anc
said:
"'Oh. it's OF no consequence.
ION nv arrival here few days ag'
1 a
s2S. He said in noie that he owed |
hill for furniture, and h, should take l
as a favor IL would take up the draf
and allow him to pay for 1t by some ser
vice he might be able to render me L
the future.
u met hundreds like him. The
dress pretty well, and the majority c
them have seen better days.
1t ia wonderful how quickly the
spot a stranger. They do not wat 10
an introduction, but throw themselVe
in your way and begin conversation
the slightest provocation. Ihey nav
many ingenious ways, and have reduce
the art of deadbeatism down TO
science. They could give the most g
=. perienced bunco man poi,
If was asked once was asked MI
times for a ten poraTy an an
what's more rrmarkautc. D.. ne OF II
amounts requested, with the cNcepjlo
noted, exceeded $40.
What makes these Washington dea
beats moe dangerous is their froPueI
disguises. Their former position
many cases gives them n sort oi ho'd c
members and senators, and tacy n
re- re, eived in places where the profes- ion
uindler would not dare show n
ace.
p. =" Senator Smith may introduce "
to one OF these persons without think
of or really knowing his true characte
an before YOU have been iii coHNerS
\ tion long he II stsike you "a loa
\ His story is always pla 9ibi'. al
meeting him as you do you general
at ceme down. .,
at - have paid for my experience" &"
NJ philadelphia Times.