The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-16
STORIES Of MAG|C|ANS.
Prof. Hermann VA Once Very
Neatly Duped by a Conf
dence Man.
Though Brief His Travelling Ac-
quaintance With q Sharper
Cost Him 5000.
Vendors Of the Black Art Exemp lined by
. Native Hind0O Magician
Tricks hat Battle.

cian, who IL able to pick half-dollar pieces
out Of the atmosphere with the greatest
ease, and who can perform other wonderful
teats, Is the last person who. ii would seem
to observers, could become the victim of a
confidence man. says tho Macon, Ga. Tel
egram. The professor, too, Is an expert al
Recond-sight, but even this special gift did
not prevent him from playing into the
hands of a clever rogue who succeeded in
securing tho sum Of $500 from the exponent
Of ''the black art"
Hermann has kept silent over the occur
renee, and any a~llusion to it has been stead
lily met with a shruR of the shoulders and
the words, ut eez all Won great humbug,
my poy." But this morning / met a prom
ineIt theatrical manage who was cogni-
znnt of the facts, and he showed mo docu-
mentary evidence to prove his story, which
is this:
Hermann was on his way from Cincinnati
to Baltimore. He was comfortably seated
in a car enjoying the luxury Of two seats,
having requested the conductor to reverse
the seat in front of him. The train stopped
at a station. and while the professor was
engaged in a brown study, endeavoring to
form plans for some new sensational act in
the domain Of magic, a we'll dressed, sharp
looking middle-aged man entered the car
n took a seat opposite the exponent OF
lederdemain.
The newcomer carried a large travelling
sachel, which he proceeded to open. The
sachel was filled with a number of nickel
plated affairs, which the man proceeded to
brighten up with Il bit of chamois. Having
NOrnnIata7 this %ocL ha hooo, ~ .rI1 n
wheel here and a wheel there, keeping up
a series of exclamations. such us ''excel-
lentr' Just the thing!"' etc., uttered in a
subdued tone. This sachel contained the
bait. which was not only swallowed by the
professor, but the latter took the hook also.
Now, if there is one trait in Herrmann's
character more prominent than another, it
is curiosity. In this respect he is much
more of a Yankee than q Frenchman, and
there ia no doubt the enterprising individ-
ual with the sachel was fully aware OF
Herrmann'S weakness in this respect; in
fact, he had been we'll posted.
At first the magician gazed listlesely at
the newcomers movements, but when the
complication of wheels and cogs met his
vision he became interested at once, and,
nfter watching the stranger for a few min
uteS. Hermann began to make inquiries
regarding the machinery. but the stranger
was reticent; indeed he was so absorbed in
his work that he replied in monosyllables
loss for resources, SO he resolved to try
some OF what he calls his funny ness''
on the man. He quietly renched over,
placed his hands in the sacheI, and drew
out q handful of silver half dollars.
Ihs stranger was ~astonishod, and after n
fAw lamNvEo Hnrrr,nr,, tAJl I;,, Il l..
was. Then the stranger became confden-
tial and told Hermann his business. He
was the inventor and pntentee of a device
to be used on cable cars. He had formed a
company IN the west to forward his plans,
and was about to proceed to WASHINGTON to
dispose of a few remaining shares of the
stock to capitalists of that city. The de-
vice would BOON be used on every cable csr
in the country. and the inventor had al
ready sold stock in his organization to the
amount of 100000.
Next he explained the machinery to Hery-
mann. and SO lucid was he that the maei-
clan saw at once that a fortune awaited an
investor. The bait had been taken. Herr
mann sounded the man carefully. in regard
to the rice of the stock, and finally made
an offer for a few shares. The offer was re-
jected and the stranger turned the CONVEX
satlon into a different channel.
An hour passed in talk about theatrical
affalrs, the man every now and then fun
bling with tho machinery in the sachel, Al
last the magician began to plead for at least
q small part OF the stock, and tho man re-
Tented and said that he would allow CHS
friend to come in ION the ground tioor'' to
the amount of 5000, although he was making
q great sacrifice, but the honor of having
frof. Hermann as a s~tockholaer knocked
out all objections.
So. then and there, the bargain was made.
drew an order for 5000 on Boni-
face kingsbury, of the Continental hotel. of
Phlladelphla which he passed to the man
with the device, receiving in return stock in
the mpa At Baltimore the two men
parted. after the stranger had agreed to
alle with the magician that evening.
VI course SO great q bargain pleases Herr
mann and he could not keep his good for
tune to himself. The stranger did not an
pear at dinner, but the next day Hermann
old his secret to a Baltimore banker with
whom he was acquainted. The banker told
him he had been swindled and then Herr
mann took the alarm. He sent ttis dis
patch to MIR. Kingsbury:
Don't pay order for 5000. Have been
swindled. Hrpn,,,ns,
lie also teleGraphed to his Philadelnbia
manager, j. b. Dickson, and also to George
w. Lederer, who was also one of Herr
mann's manRgeis at that time. But II was
useless. The confidence men had lost no
time. MT: hlngsbury had paid the order.
Ihe upshot OF the affair was that the mn
glclRH refused to honor the order; K1nos-
bury sued and recovered the amount, and
now the clever conjuror never makes se-
G1alntRnces while travelling,