Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-03-28
AMONG sAwpusI MEN.
How They Defrnud VerJlant Croatur
from the Rural Districts.

How They Defrnud Vertlant Creatures
from the Rural Districts.
A New York detective, chatting about tho
doings OF sawdust men, related TO n Phila-
dolphin Press correspondent the following
instructive incident: / was standing in tho
Pennsylvania ferry house, foot Of Court
land street, early one morning Just as the
passengers Of a through train landed in this
city. Among them was a man whose ap-
pearanco was so peculiar that my attention
was attracted TO him at once. He was over
six feet in height, slenderly built and
clothed in rather uncouth garments, the
most conspicuous Of which was a very long
frOck coat of a military pattern anC>of the
color known in the South as " butternut."
He wore n round topped hat with a very
broad brim. His hair was long and hung
down upon his shoulders. He had a sandy
mHstachc, and he carried a valise. OBJ
served him closely, for he was a delightful
ly fresh subject.
Suddenly became aware that l was not
the only person who was taking an unusual
interest in the strangers affairs. Two men,
standing together in such a position as to
be somewhat withdrawn from general OBJ
servation, were watching the new arrival
sharply, though warily. had an indIstinct
impression that one Of them had once been
pointed out 10 me as a man who would steal
IL circumstances permitted. AS / after
wards learned, they were Jim johnson and
I" Bat" Sweeney, who are known to the
profession as "steerers."
These two gentlemen watched the stran-
ger from the country, and watched them,
remembering the text about the man who
"came down from Jerusalem to Jericho
and fell among thieves" When the visitor
n NHa.N r.. l.. Ell
respectful distance by Messrs. johnson
and Sweeney. This settled the question in
my mind. and I joined the procession.
After some delays we reached hotel on
broadway. Sweeney and johnson then
withdrew and 1 remained to await the de-
velopmeuts The stranger registered at
once aud went TO his room. Shortly there
after he received call from a gentleman
named Brady.
After brief interview the unfortunate
and Brady came downstairs and passed
out upon the street. the latter following
some twenty PAGES behind the former. In
this way they walked up Broadway a few
blocks, then crossed to the Bowery and pro
ceeded down that thoroughfare. I was a
short distance behind them and was won
dering what should do to save the country
man from his impending fate, when near
" ran against l.. A. Newcombe, formerly
post-ofiice inspector and now senior partner
OF a detective agency. He had come up u
side street In time TO see Brady and the in
nocent 60 by and was looking down the
street after them with an amused smile.
"Here's grand steal going on" said he.
"Come along and Wen see II this gentle
man (pointing to Brady connects with the
countryman." They turned into Broome
street, and shortly afterwards Brady
joined the stranger and they proceeded a
short distance in company, when they again
separated.
An this rigamarolc," said Newcombe,
Z" IL simply to confuse and terrify the VIC
tim. There's no need in the world Of trail
ing this man through the street and leaving
him shivcring on the corners. II Is done 70