Wichita eagle., 1889-03-01
AMONG sAwDusT MEN.
How They Deff7ud yerdant Creatur
from tho Rural Districts.

doings of sawdust men, related to Phlla-
delphia Press correspondent the following
instructive incident: was standing in ting
Pennsylvania ferry house, foot of Court
land street, early enc morning just as the
passengers of q through train landed in this
city. Among them was man whose ap-
pearance 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 very long
frock coat of a military pattern and of the
color known in the South as s. butternut.''
He wore round topped hat with very
broad brim. His hair was long and hung
down upon his shoulders. He had sandy
mastache, and he carried valise. OBJ
served him closely. for he was a delightful
ly fresh subject.
Suddenly became aware that / was not
the only person who was taking an unusual
interest In the strangers affairs. Two men,
standing together in such position as to
be somewhat withdrawn from general OBJ
servation, were watching the new arrival
sharply, though warily. IL had an indIstlnct
impression that one of them had once been
pointed out to me as man who would steal
if circumstances permitted. As 1 after
wards learned, they were Jim johnson and
"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
left the ferry-house he was followed at
respectful distance by Messrs. johnson
and Sweeney. This settled the question in
my mind. and l joined the procession.
After some delays we reached hotel on
Broadway. Sweeney and johnson then
withdrew and remained to await the de-
velopments. The stranger registered at
once and went to his room. Shortly there
after he received call from 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 few
blocks, then crossed to the Bowery and pro-
ceeded down that thoroughfare. L was
short distance behind them and was Won
dering what should do to save the country
man from his impending fate, when l near
ly ran against L. A. Newcombe, formerly
of detective agency He had come up
side street in time to see Brady and the in
nocent go by and was looking down the
street after them with an amused smile.
"Heres a grand steal going on" said he.
"Come along and We'll see If this gentle
man (pointing to Brady connects with the
countryman." They turned into Brocme
street, and shortly afterwards Brady
joined the stranger and they proceeded
short distance in company, when they again
separated.
''All this rigarnarole,'' said Newcombe,
is 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 shivering on the corners. 1t is done to
get him in a state of mind suitable to the
game about to be played on him. This man
is evidently from the far West or South. l
don't sympathize with him at all, but I'll
save him if l CAM
Accordingly we lodged Brady, who was
retracing his steps, and came up with the
countryman. my friend" said Newcombe,
ado you know that you're going to be swim
died out of all your money!"
''No, sir, did'nt said the countryman.
swell, you are. The man who just left
you is to return with another who is to sell
you some counterfeit money. Am right!"
'Supposin' you be" was the reply, sit
amt none o. your business, and don't you
forget it. That's my advice to you, young
man, and you can gamble on it. / amt no
tenderfoot and I'm all right"
"You think you are" said Newcombe,
but if you buy counterfeit money of these
men you will find that you have been swim
died"
''NObody don't pull any wool over my
eyes," said the countryman, and was pro-
ceeding to give Newcombe a history of his
many marvellous exploits, when Brady and
another man hove in sight coming up the
street. When they saw Newcombe they
turned about, walked rapidly toward the
Bowery and finally broke into a run. The
man from beyond civilization was surprised.
He seemed to be a decent sort Of fellow,
and Newcombe invited him down to his
office. There the man from Arizona told his
story. His name was J. L. Normandy. He
had been lured to New York in the usual
way There's lots of boys out my way
who have been roped in by these fellers,"
said he. - You see, out there we don't make
much money, and when we do make any it
comes in heap Just about the time a man
rakes in little pile he hears from New
York. Somebody wants to sell him lot of
green goods, and though he can point to half
a dozen men who got left On that racket he is
just fool enough to think he can get the best
Of it That was the way with me. I've got
81. 900 in my pocket, ana ] expect l came
pretty near losing it. At the same time !
wanted to make winning pretty bad. They
sent a sample Of their money out to me.
That's what catches the boys. You can't
tell 1t from the genuine article"
Likely enough said Newcombe for
it's as good bill as ever was made"
He then proceeded TO give Mr. Normandy
a few points on the workings of the sawdust
game. The writer as he is called, sends
out his letters to addresses in commercial
directories or to men he hears of from local
crooks. The countryInan comes to the city
with all he can raise, goes to a hotel and IS
met by some such man as Brady, to whom
he is induced to surrender the correspond
ence. The affair is then in charge of the
s'boodler," man who holds the money. In
this case Brady was the "steerer." He
takes his man as far as the turning point"
so called where he is left till he is suffi-
GENTLY nervous to be run into the joint and
f1eeced Once inside, he is shown the money
fnotes fresh from the Treasury Department.,
and by this time his only thought is to get
hold Of them and get out Of town. He is in
variably induced TO express the valise 10 his
home for fear the detectives VIII arrest him
for having counterfeit money. Il is need
less to say that the valise which goes by
express is not the one that contains ths
money.
Human Electricity.
8 49, L.
Biologie woman was exhibited from whom
N Fere rould uuder certain circumstances