The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-12-10
JUDGE AND BUNk0 MEN.
a NEW YORK CITY JUDICIAL Off
GERS EXPERIENCE.

Two smooth Tongued Sharpers Make
Sad Mistake In sizing Up" Man
and One Is Arrested and Sentenced The
pal" Meets Later Fate.
At the Lawyers club few nights ago
gudge Rufus b. Cowing and Judge Henry
a. Gildcrslecye were spinning yarns on
the queer experiences they have had with
the thicving fraternity, when not known.
Judges Glderslceve and Cowiug are two
jolly and most entertaining compan-
ions They are very popular wherever
they 70 and now and then meet with
sharper who tries To iugratiatc himself
in their good graces To the extent of rs
many dollars rs they may happen 10 have
in their pockets.
Judge Gilersleeve WAS telling how he
was approached by a buuko luan Il few
years ago at the Pennsylvania railroad
depot in Jersey City. and how he crossed
the ferry with the hand shaker who
thought he had made a great capture,
Judge Gildersleeve Is "A famous sports
man and n sharpshooter. He has won
many prizes with his rltle at national
and international tournaments, and has
written dozen books on rifles. marks
manship and game, big and little. He
was returning from Il trip to Penusylva-
MIA, where he hid had a very pleasur-
able time shooting with party Of Phil
adephia lawyer friends.
He had hardly got Off the train at
Jersey City when he felt a vigorous slap
on the buck.
why, hello my dear Mr.. Thompson.
dclplua, eh2 How are all the folks at
hone:'
When Judge GilderSleeve got a chance
to say a word he replied meekly:
YES. Just in from Philadelphia. /
guess the folks are all well. They were
when left them, anyway"
Now I've met You in Philadelphia,
am sure. Don't You remember me:"
THE JUDGE GETS EVEN.
Knowing what sort of character he
had to deal with, Judge Gildersleeve led
him on in a modest, innocent way.
why, you must be mistaken" said
he to the bunko man. My name is
Johnson, Joseph w. johnson, and keep
a store in Philadelphia.
"Why, beg thousand pardons," and
the bunko man bowed low and disap-
peared,
GAVE THE TIP To HIS pal
Then came the pal, just as Judge
Gildersleeve expected He was just
stepping aboard the Desbrosses Street
ferry when he got another slap on the
back
MY dear Mr.. Johnson, how are you
and what are you doing over here? You
don't remember me, but | knew you
years ago in Philadelphia and bunko
man No Q piled his tongue in the most
voluble manner, Judge Gildersleeye as
senting to everything he said. The
bunko man had got Judge Gildcrsleeve
to promise that he would meet him again
when he saw he Conduit get him to join
him in quiet game or liquid smile.
"Now, my dear Mr. johnson, don't
forget to meet me, will your said the
bunko man as he stepped ont of the
ferry house on the New York side.
Officer arrest this man." said Judge
Gildersleeve to II policeman standing by.
Say, you old jay, what do you mean?"
shouted the bunko man, red with anger
I'VE will meet again, young man, in
a short time, | hope | will give you my
name and place of business-IIenry A.
Gildersleeye, judge, Part 3, court of gen
eral sessions"
whats the charge, judge" asked the
policeman.
suspicious character"
The next day the bunko man was sent
to the island for six months by Justice
Power, of the Tombs.
THE "PAL" SENTENCED.
Two months later Judge Gildersleeve
had the pleasure of meeting the man
who was king of the New York ''hand
shakers" kid" Miller. Miller was the
man who first addressed the judge i'll
the depot at Jersey City.
"Miller, Eve met you before" said
Judge Gildersleeve.
Not guilty." replied Miller,
"Well, l got off n Pennsylvania train in
Jersey City one day two months ago, Will
"a gun and basket and dressed in my
hunting clothes. | had been on little
pleasure expedition, and you saw fit t.
interfere in the business of peaceable
law abiding citizen. Your companion
is now serving Il term on the island. and
the strangers who come to town will be
better off if you follow suit. One yeal
in the penitentiary," and the bunko king
was led away, and if ever a face looked
queer it was that dazed bunko mans.
The two bunko men who tried to cap
ture Judge Gildersleeves shekels hat
worked New York and vicinity for
long time, yet did not know the face O
the criminal court judge. In the Gus,
of Recorder Smyth the "hand shaker
was fresh in from the Windy City, ant
hadn't looked the city officers over 81
closely as his calling would seem to war
rant.
Judge Gildersleeye told me that so faI
rs he knew he and Recorder Smyth wer,
the only criminal Judges that had eve
been approached by the New York bunkt
men.
The only other experience Judge Gil
dersleeve ever had with the crooks out
side his courtroom was during the Cen
tennial in Philadelphia. He had hi
POI II,,ets picked while going over the ex
hibition grounds. He had just beer
made a judge Of the criminal court il
this city, and some Of his friends, wht
remember how Judge Gildersleeve fel
over the theft, do say that for lonl
time pickpockets received very littl,
merciful consideration when they wer
sentenced according to the jury verdicts
New York Herald