St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-19
SALTWATER NEWS.
A Man Who Buys Collins to Secure
Loan.

man giving his name as Tim Cliff
ford entered J. II. Cockburn's under
taking establishment Tuesday evening
and stated that his aunt, residing in
Minneapolis, had died about five miles
from the city while on visit to her Sis
ter. and that he wished coffin in which
to bury her. He at length picked out
casket valued at So and told Mr.. Cock
burn to take the coffin out to his home.
near the Door farm. Before leaving the
establishment he asked Cockburn for a
loan of s., as he had left all his money
at home and was going to Minneapolis
to notify his relatives of his aunt's
death. The money was given him, and
in return Clifford gave the undertaken
an order on his wife for Si36, which he
claimed to have in his vest pocket. Mr..
Cockburn started for the home of Cliff
ford. but no such place could be found,
and he returned confident that he had
been duped. Yesterday afternoon the
man entered Wing & Simonet's under
taking establishment and gave his name
as William Clifford, and, in sobbing
tones, told Mr.. Simonet that his wife
was dead at his home about five miles
from the city. and that Rev. NJ. E. Muir
ply had recommended him TO go to their
place of business for a caSket. The
man seemed deeply affected, and could
hardly control his emotions enough to
pick out what he desired He finally
ordered a 500 casket and trimmings,
for which he drew check on the Ma
t0nal Bank of Commerce, of Minneap-
oils, Tor $40. He stated that he was a
stranger i'll the city, and Mr.. Simonet
kindly consented to direct him to the
Western Union telegraph office. the
man desiring to send telegram to his
relatives at Minneapolis, as on the pre-
ylouS day when he victimiZed Mr.. Cock
burn. On the way back from the office
he asked for loan of 81, giving an eX-
cuse that he had left his money at
nome. Mr.. SimOnet. thinking that the
man was playing game on
him. refused to loan him the
money, but told him to come back in an
hour or two, when the money would be
forthcoming. In the meantime Rev.
Murphy was seen and he said that he
did not know the man, neither had he
recommended him to go to Wing Il
Slmonets. The check was taken to the
First National bank of this city, and the
cashier telephoned to the Minneapolis
bank, the answer received stating that
they had no such name on their books,
and that the check was worthless. The
man has not been captured. but the
police are on the lookout for him.
Mayor Durant recommended to the
council Tuesday evening that the ordi-
nance relating to auctioneerS' licenses
be changed so that the animal license
shall be $500, and proportionate rate
for less than year, and providing that
no license shall be granted for less than
$3.50. The existing ordinance provides
that the license shall be from 800 to
5000 per year. This is done TO protect
home merchants from auctioneers who
come here in the spring when lumber
men return from the pineries and re-
main month or six weeks, selling their
goods and paying very small license.
The recommendation was referred to
the ordinance committee.
An Improvement has been made in
the city fire alarm system by the placing
of an electric Taper in the tower of the
Lincoln school building. When an
alarm of fire is given the school bell
will ring the number of the box from
where the alarm is sent in.
The Madison Square Theater COM
pany, playing Uncle Toms Cabin" is
booked for an appearance at the Grand
opera house March IS.
Members of both houses of the legis-
lature will arrive at the prison about 2
p. m. to-day by special train and will
spend the afternoon inspecting the in
stitution. principally the binding twine
plant, which is now running in full
capacity.
Prof. J, f. Downey, of the State uni
versity, delivered lecture at the high
school last evening; subject, 'ShamS."
This evening G. w. G. Hyde. of the st.
Cloud normal school, will lecture OH the
subject. "Sir Walter Scott and His
Works"
William Kane, general agent of the
Minnesota Thresher company at Man
kato, was in the city yesterday.