Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-10
TIE LATEST DODGE.
LOOK OUT FOR THE MAN WITH THE
BROKEN ARM"
He Works 1t to Perfection, and His
Acting Puts Booth in the
Shade.

The devices resorted to by the impecuni-
Gus class 10 raise the wind are as numerous
as is the grand army Of the dead broke.
There is probably no community that has
not by experience had some knowledge of
the means, in part, that are employed by
those who toll not, neither do they spin TO
draw from the sympathetic and the confd-
ing of their hard earned store. 1t is pro-
verbal that no place has had its wits more
sharpened than this city of Sacramento by
the legion of swindlers One would think
that here at least the begging games have
been so often played that really there is
nothing new to be devised with which to
pull the wool over susceptible eyes. The
fellow who runs hurriedly into a counting
room, bareheaded and armed with hand
full of notes, collection book, pen over
his ear and haste in his every movement,
has played the town frequently, and de-
celved some of our shrewdest business
men. The chap with the note from the
downtown husband TO his uptown wife.
directing her to deliver his dress suit to the
y,
goodly number of swallow tails. The
widow collecting for a charitable society:
the committeeman soliciting for the "suf-
ferers; the uniformed messenger with a
package on which charges are to be collected;
the fellow who wants to saw wood for a
meal and disappears with the saw; the
blind man who sees, the deaf who hear,
the lame who run, all these and a
hundred more have had their day, and the
average Sacramentan is proof against them
and their devices.
But the mother of invention is prolific,
and she every now and then gives us a son
who is just little smarter than any of his
brethren.
The latest proof of this is found in the
woe OF an M-street housewife, whose ex-
perience with tramps, beggars swindlers and
cheats, have sharpened her wits to that
degree that up TO few hours ago she would
have wagered the cost of her contemplated
summer vacation that she could not be
taken in"
She came down to the front door yester-
day TO respond to the sharp summons of the
bell, and fully resolved to keep the tramp
bal" up, If, after reconnaissance the Wis
itor should prove to be one of the sharp
gentry. But the sight that met her inspec-
ton touched a too susceptible heart and
the door flew open in response to the char
liable dictates of her soul. He was swar-
thy fellow of good build, fairly clad, and
wearing countenance that would have
deceived Satan himself it was so doleful,
and pitiful and full of unutterable woe.
About his head, and Just peeping from
beneath his hat was a well-arranged
bandage with here and there a suggestion
of stain of blood, as if the attempt 10 con-
Ceal it had failed without the owners
knowledge. His right arm was in clean
ly and nicely bandaged splints, extending
both sides of and beyond his finger tips,
which had that pale and whitened ap-
pearance so peculiar to fingers that have
long been deprived of their dexterity by
the enforced ldleness consequent upon the
slow mending of a broken arm. More
than that, the elbow of this same right arm
rested tenderly and enforced in the broad
belly of sling well drawn up, and speak
ing as plainly as language itself, not only
OF broken arm, but of a dislocated
shoulder.
Madam, am begging, and that is the
simple, undisguised truth. But | can't
help IL for l am in need, and must have
assistance. For the love of God will you
give me something?"
- How were you injured, sir?"
was working on thrasher, madam,
and that was how it happened, and l lay
several weeks at the farmhouse, until able
to move about. | couldn't stay there any
longer. have friends in Nevada, if l can
but reach them"
Why don't you communicate with
them ?n
Alas l have, but they are unable to
send me means, and l must work my way
TO them. For mercy's sake, give me a lit
tie aid on my way"
EtfThpra - 10 CoYyptu uoo,,;+a1 ,rbo.o
Don't say that to me, madam. l am
not resident here and cannot go there If
l can get little money | will not trouble
your county, madam"
Have you applied to the Towards"
They have no means to assist strangers
madam but, if you can't help me, good
day. ! will try elsewhere. Surely. in a
Christian land, a crippled man will not be
allowed to starve."
That was the straw that broke the cam
els back. The son of the lady whisper
ingly protested that the man was an i'm.
poster. bat the mothers heart appealed
too strongly TO her humane instincts ia
permit her TO entertain such a suggestion
The scant purse came forth, and the spare
change was poured into the palm of the
suppliant, and with many blessing on the
good wOman's head the rascal departed Il
was not much she had to give, and she re-
marked 10 her son, lat least If he is FRAUD
he can't get very drunk on that"
Three hours later the son, having bust
ness down town, passed the Lafayette sa
loon on X street, and there, in front of tina
retreat for the weary and thirsty, was he o
the broken arm and dislocated shoulder
who had had such perilous match with
thrashiug- machine. He was full to tbs
muzzle with beer and such, and in hi
crippled right hand he swung aloft tn,
white ana polished splints, and waved tn,
symbols of his triumph, as he related how
he had done for a sympathetic M.stree
woman.
The chap is doing" the town with thi
new racket, and there is pressing necessity
that some vigorous man, who hates frauds
should be at home, and proceed to breal
the impostor's arm in dead earnest.