Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-02-04
JUDGE AND BUNKO MEN.
A NEW YORK CITY JUDICIAL Off
GERS EXPERIENCE.

Two Smooth Tongued Sharpers Make .
Sad Mistake in ''SIzing Up" a Man,
and One Is Arrested and sentenced-Ths
"Pal" Meets a Later Fate.
At tine Lawyers club few nights ago
Judge Rufus B. Cowing and Judge Henry
A. Gildersleeve were spinning yarns on
the queer experiences they have had with
the thieving fraternity, when not known.
Judges Gildersleeve and Cowing are two
jolly and most entertaining compan-
ions. They are very popular wherever
they go and now and then meet with q
sharper vino tries to ingratiate himself
in their good graces to the extent of as
many dollars As they may happen to have
in their pockets.
Judge Gildersleeve was telling how he
was approached by bunko man a 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 Giidersleeve is famous sports
man and sharpshooter. He has won
many prizes with his rife at national
and international tournaments, and has
written dozen books on rifles, marks
manship and game, big and little. He
was returning from a trip to Pennsylva-
mia, where he had had a very pleasur-
able time shooting with party of Phil
adelphia lawyer friends.
He had hardly got off the train at
Jersey City when he felt vigorous slap
on the back.
"Why, hello, my dear Mr. Thompson
So glad to see you. Just in from Phila-
delphia, eh? How are all the folks at
home?
When Judge Gildersleeve got chance
to say word he replied meekly:
"Yes, just in from Philadelphia. i
guess the folks are all well. They were
when l left them, anyway"
snow. 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 modest, innocent way.
why, you must be mistaken" said
he to the bunko man. my name is
johnson, Joseph W. johnson, and keep
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. 2 piled his tongue in the most
voluble manner, Judge Gildersleeve as
senting to everything he said. The
bunko man had got Judge Gildersleeve
to promise that he would meet him again
when he saw he couldn't 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 out of the
ferry house on the New York side.
"Oficer, arrest this man" said Judge
Gildersleeve to policeman standing by.
"Say, you old jay, what do you meanT'
shouted the bunko man, red with anger.
1--WE will meet again, young man, in
short time, hope. will give You my
name and place of busines Henry A.
Gildersleeve, 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 in
the depot at Jersey City.
''Miller, I've met you BEFORE" said
Judge Gildersleeve.
''Not guilty." replied Miller.
"Well, got off a Pennsylvania train in
Jersey City one day two months ago, with
a gun and a basket and dressed in my
hunting clothes. l had been on little
pleasure expedition, and you saw fit to
interfere in the business of peaceable,
law abiding citizen. Your companion
is now serving term on the island, and
the strangers who come to town will be
better of if you follow suit. One year
in the penitentiary," and the bunko king
was led away, and if ever face looked
queer it was that dazed bunko mans.
The two bunko men who tried to cap
ture Judge Gildersleeve's shekels had
worked New York and vicinity for a
long time, yet did not know the face of
the criminal court judge. In the case
Of Recorder Smyth the "hand shaker"
was fresh in from the Windy City, and
hadn't looked the city officers over so
closely as his calling would seem to war-
rant.
Judge Gildersleeve told me that SO far
as he knew he and Recorder Smyth were
the only criminal judges that had ever
been approached by the New York bunko
men.
The only other experience Judge Gill
dersleeve ever had with the crooks out
side his courtroom was during the Gen.
tennial in Philadelphia He had his
pockets picked while going over the ex-
hibition grounds. He had just been
made judge Of the criminal court in
this city. and some of his friends. who
rsn,suahse hcV Judge Gildersleeve felt
over the theft, do say that for a long
time pickpoc':ets received very little
merciful consideration when they were
sentenced according to the jury verdicts.
New York Herald.
Treasured HooE.