The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-08
MONKRYED WITH HIM.
A Birmingham Man the Victim Of a
Practical Joke.


II6CblCd4 OOkSs
From the Republic
BIRMINGHAM, ALA, May 30.-There is a
worthy citizen of Birmingham who is ready
to throttle the man who says Speculation"
to him. Some months ago Abraham Stayn
moved from a neighboring city to this place
with the idea of making fortune in q
hurry in some of the rapid ways he had
heard of. His expectations were SO san
guine, and he repeated them so openly,
that a combination of leading citizens was
effected against him. Carlisle Munroe,
prominent banker, to whom Stayn had
spoken on the subject of investments, had
promised to keep an eye open. Mr.. Munroe
is lover of fun, and is suspected of being
the originator of t1e scheme, which was as
novel as it was successful.
In accordance with a preconcerted ar
rangement, = Mr.. Munroe informed Stayn
that he had discovered a good thing, but
pretty much all the stock was taken,
though he might squeeze him in. 1t was
new enterprise which had corner
in a line that would yield i'm
mense profits and the meeting of the pro-
jectors would be held week hence for or
ganization. That was ali Munroe was
willing to divulge. If Stayn was willing
Mr.. Munroe might secure some of the stock
for him. Stayn jumped at toe proposition
and the interview ended by his giving Mum
roe check for SIS 900, for which he took a
receipt, and he was happy man.
Some days later Stayn received a circu-
lar letter, "private and confidential" noti-
flying him to attend meeting of the pro-
moters of the enterprise to which he had
subscribed On the night Stayn went to
the designated place, hall which had been
hired by the conspirators. The gathering
embraced some OF the most prominent
business men of the city-mercha It's, bank
ers, railroad men and others. The meeting
was called to order and the form of electing
a secretary and committee on credentials
was carried out.
The chairman then announced that an
important communication had been re-
ceived from the Mobile committee setting
forth the grand scheme which was now
under way. This paper he then directed
the secretary to read TO the meeting. The
communication was heard with profound
attention. The Mobile committee outlined
the enterprise which, the letter stated, was
even then being put into execution. This
enterprise was the purchase of an island in
Mobile bay, where thousands of monkeys
were to be raised annually. The letter set
forth that two large cargoes had already
arrived. The plan involved the prepara-
tion of monkeys for use in the cotton fields
of the south. The report stated that it had
been conclusively proved not only that
monkeys could be easily trained to pick
cotton, but that one monkey could pick
as much cotton as three negroes In addi-
ton it was shown the comparative cost of
feeding negroes and monkeys, while there
would be tremendous saving in clothing
The report closed with prediction that in
five years all the cotton in the south would
be picked by monkeys. TIE reading was
received with grave satisfaction by the
meeting as was agreed beforehand.
The bewildered Stayn looked from one to
another's face and could hardly believe his
senses. Finally one gentleman arose and
asked some questions about the report, ex-
pressing q desire to know whether the ex-
pertinent had been tested sufficiently to in
sure its success This gave the timid Stayn
the outlet for his own doubts, and he rose
and expressed the fear that the undertaking
was chimerical The meeting, however,
was overwhelmingly the other way, and
voted for the immediate prosecution of the
work. Stayn, growing more nervous,
urged a more careful consideration. His
Imagination aided his fears and he excit-
edly asked who would train the thousands
of monkeys. 1t was a well-known fact
that Italians were the only people who
could do anything with monkeys, and he
predicted that the syndicate would not be
able to get Italians to do this training. He
dlSO pT0OICt6u Iudb IDo WOulQ Do
continually escaping from their keepers
and injuring property, thereby entailing
harassing lawsuits upon the syndicate.
Despite this speech the meeting resolved
to prosecute the undertaking and then adj
journed. Early the following day Stayn
sought Munroe and told him he wanted to
sell out. Munroe said this could not be
done right then as all the stock had been
placed, but finally agreed to give him what
he had paid for the stock and Immediately
gave him a; check for S15, 900, receiving a
receipt therefor. AS this transaction was
consummated telegraph messenger in pur-
suance of one of the details of the
plot entered with a message. 1t
was read and was from Mobile, stating
that the price Of the stock had jumped
twenty points and was still booming Mum
roe showed the telegram with great exulta-
ton, and Stayn turned pale as he begged
for the return of the stock, but Munroe was
obdurate and grimly thanked him for
doubling an investment for him.
When the joke was revealed few days
ago, Stayn was nearly tormented to death.
No man here dares whisper monkey to him
now.