The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-05-23
CUTE.
George franklin. An AtI-Around Circus
Nan, in the Tolls.

George FrnnkIin. An AiI-Around Circus
Nan, in the Tolls.
In flaming characters on the hotel
register yesterday appeared George
Franklin. John Robinson's Big X. r.
Shows" The gentleman who wrote the
name was q fluent talker. well posted on
circus doings and at once proceeded to
make himself agreeable to everyone
with whom he came in contact.
He inquired for a typewriter and given
the proper directions. Here he had d
number of contracts written for beef and
various other supplies for the big show.
He called upon 5. u. Brann. w. H.. Jor
dan. Hi Astlc. the Maceueen and sever
al others. making the customary rates
for such entertainments. and endeavord
to negotiate "rake-ofis." a commissions.
in SOM cases. but as near rs can be
learned, failed in each instance. One Of
the principal reasons for this being that
he had the typewriter agreements. when
everybody knows that circus agents are
always supplied with unlimited printed
principal document.
Franklin even went so far as to open
negotiations for a fine gray team
for the band wagon of the circus. and
spent ii good deal of the afternoon in
driving around town behind them.
STILL MORE SUSPICIOUS.
When the western papers were read
during the day many persons saw the
following accounts of one Lester. who
claimed to be agent for Sells Brothers
circus:
LIVINGSTON. May o0.-This evening a
man arrived from the west on the pas
senger train and registered at the .Alber-
marie as William Lester. Sells Brothers
Big Show. \ few minutes later he
vent to Harvey's meat market and or
dered GOO pounds Of meat for the show.
On the strength Of the order he Dor
rowed $40 of the proprietor. but the lat
ter became suspicious later and had the
officers look the man up. 1t was found
that he had no contract blanks of any
hisii Va t"i' tAitii- "a ~ tI'f' lItt "
was a circus man. He was ordered to
return the money III 60 to Jail. but he
was unable to return more than SD of
it. However. he WAS allowed to 90 at
liberty.
At BUTTE.
From Livingston Lester jumped TO
Butte. and among his work was detailed
the following. which was developed by a
row he had with Fred kerth. a bill pos
ter. whom he also tried TO swindle:
Butte. May 2l.-Among others with
whom he has done business III the city
is Henry Nickel. the butcher. with whom
he entered into a contract 70 supply the
circus with meat to the amount Of sGu0.
Before awarding the contract. however.
Lester demanded Il commission on the
amount, claiming that all agents got a
rake of" Mr.. Nickel accepted the
opposition and agreed to d commission
of ) per cent. making Testers share $50.
Of this amount he was paid n half in
two payments. n of $40 and h other
Of -. he visiting the shop twice during
the day TO draw money. of which article
be appeared to be unusually short for a
contracting agent. He also made a con
tract with the Eagle bakery for a supply
of bread and arranged for the usual com
mission. The bakery man. however. re-
fused to pay in advance and gave Les
ter a due bill for the amount. with the
agreement that. when he paid for the
bread. he would leave Testers rake off
with Dan Tewey, proprietor of the South
ern hotel. where Lester is stopping.
The baker appeared to be suspicious of
his man and in the event that his sus-
-. l.. x,11 l.
will not be any of the losers.
Several days ago the Spokane papers
contained an account of the transaction
in the city of a man representing him
self to be contracting agent for Sells
Brothers. but, as it was found out when
too late. he proved to be an impositor.
This man followed Testers plan Of
making contracts and collecting COM
missions on the same. This fact came
to the knowledge Of kerth. and this. to-
gether with a letter he has from Peter
Sells. cautioning him to be careful
about making contracts for bill posting
with men pretending to be agents. made
him think that Lester was not what he
claims to be. As nobody preferred any
charges againt Lester. the chief was
compelled to turn him loose. although
half inclined to think as Kerth does.
Lester says he will remain in the city
until next Monday. and advises all who
doubt him to telegraph 10 Sells Brothers
and receive proof that he is all right.
These statements were shown to
Franklin yesterday. and he quietly said:
That fellow is not Sells agent, as l saw
the regular man in Minneapolis ten days
ago."
Franklin registered at the Macqueen
early yesterday morning. and claimed to
have come from the east. but it has
since been shown that he came from the
west.
IN THE TOLLS.
Late last night Franklin became in
toxicated. and while some ladies were
passing along Park street used very
rough language. He was arrested for