, 1889-06-04
A NINE-DOLLAR HUSBAND
The Cruel Ioke Perpetrated on
Poor Widow Smith.
She Is the Bride of Sneak Thief
Graham a Few Hours.
A Mock Marriage, Followed by
Extortion of Money.

oIuIhf uIdndmi al UNUSUALLY Sly SHedh
thief of infinite effrontery and exceedingly
taking ways was liberated from the county
jail Friday afternoon, that day marking
the expiration OF a thirty day term I'M
posed for color Misunderstanding to dis
tinguish his property from other peoples.
Like the busy bee, Graham improves
each shining hour. He is an impression
able fellow and as the free air OF the street
percolated his lungs and lodged dust in
his hair and teeth he thought up and
adopted good resolutions. He would no
longer be a commonplace pickpocket, but
would attain notoriety as an operator in a
more exalted line. Why not do some
thing original and thus startle the world
and achieve fame at once2
Graham was without funds, but money
was not required in the scheme he had
evolved. He posted himself on the cor
ner to view the passing panorama and
perfect his plans. A Mr.. Anderson. a
laborer at the new shops was the first sec
ton Of a panorama. Graham accosted
him and inquired if a boy who desired a
good situation was numbered among his
acquaintance.
Anderson knew Just such a lad-the
son OF Mrs. A. NJ. Smith, a poor lonely
widow who Iuus the Artesian laundry on
Eddy street between fifteenth and
Sixteenth. Anderson accompanied
his employing friend to Mrs.
Smiths Here all chatted while
waiting for the return of the boy.
Graham said he wanted to engage the boy
as driver for the gig of his brother, who
was a Greeley doctor. As Mrs. Smith
had resided in Greeley four years, she
knew the physician, and she and Graham
spoke of many mutual acquaintance in
the prohibition town. When the boy APP
peared he was promptly signed as the
doctors coachman and promised SIS per
month and a suit of clothes. Graham
seemed in a hiring mood and engaged
Anderson to work on his farm for $25 a
month. Mrs. Smith and son readily re-
membered the farm after its location was
described by Graham.
During his visit Graham talked of his
wealth freely. He owned 800, 900 worth
Of realty, and water rights valued at 500,
600 or 5000, 900, Mrs. Smith did not re
member which. His team was the fastest
in the region and had hauled him from
Greeley to Cheyenne in half q dav.
Graham was drunk when he called on
Mrs. Smith Saturday and she quarantined
him. He hung about the laundry some
time, assuring Mrs. Smith that such love
as his was not to be spuined. He did
not become sentimental, but offered the
poor woman and her children a good home
at his mythical Colorado ranch. She told
him to go away; that she did not want
anyone to ~tyrannize over her little flock.
Early Sunday morning Graham re-
newed his suit. AS Kid Wilson of New
York might say he was good as four
kings and an ace against a bob tail flush,
for he had enlisted q confederate who
vouched for his good character and ma
terial resources. This pal is described as
about the size of Monte Cutler with a
fringe on his upper lip Just large enough
to justify the use of a mustache up. He
gave the name of Birmingham. and IN
like the majority of men, wasn't big
enough for his clothes-a new suit of some
dark cloth. Birmingham gave it out
that he was a Cheyenne druggist and had
been selling fly paper, soda water and
other medicines here for five years.
The love making proceeded with occas-
sioual unnoticed interruptions. Mrs.
Smith was unable to withstand the bland.
ishments of both Graham and his urbane
friend and finally consented to again enter
the matrimonial ring. Birmingham now
de Seloped into mot exactly a Justice oil
the peace, but some kind of an officer"
He blandly asserted that no permit for
the affair was required in a territory and
volunteered to join the pair at once. Mrs.
Smith and Graham arose and assumed
the usual friendly attitude, while Bir-
mingham, the all around athlete, opened
a bible and repeated something which the
old lady and her bright eyed little daugh,
ter aver cannot be found in the good
book. He wound up by declaring them
CONFORMITY Joined as man and wife unit
the expulsion of the contract" Bir
mingmam then requested Mrs. Smith &C
sign a document he had prepared. She
fatty refused to do this because she car
not write. The master of ceremonle.
then asked for a fee of ten dollars, but he
didn't get it.
Birmingham now disappeared ant
Graham became grand hiki at the laun
dry and continued In authority until yes
terday forenoon. After breakfast Mon
day morning he vent to Charlton's stabl,
to look at his team. He returned will
the report that he could not get it for
drive until the charges we're paid. WoulC
his wife lend him $l5 until the mail cam,