The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-05
WITH SPOONS
An Excited Crowd Furnishes a
Jewelry Faker at Wichita.
They Threw His Pewter Spoons
in His Face.
OTHER STATE NEWS.
Representative COrnell's Daugh-
ter to Practice Law.
A Gridley Merchant Disappears
THEIR STATE NEWS.
A Gridley Merchant Disappears
Strangely in Kansas City.

WICHITA, Oct. Dust in the rear of
the grand stand at the fair grounds
here yesterday. mounted upon crude
platform, was young man of medium
height with smoothly shaven, hand
some features and fuency of speech
that would have made Colonel Mulberry
Sellers emerald with envy. Before him
upon box was grip sack full OF
bright, glittering silver spoons, butter
knives, and gold rings, while around
him stood athroug of ka nsas yeomen
who had come to the fair to seek pleas
ure and profitable investments. The
"faker" harangued the crowd, extolling
the excellence of his silver ware, ever
and anon interfering the assurance:
these spoons as represented, you may,
fling them at my face" To
further clinch the proof of purity he
snatched up a timers shears and clipped
several spoons into fragments, tossing
the pieces out for the crowd to examine
the newly cut edges. AS additional in
ducements to purchasers he announced
that number OF those who bought set
Of spoons would be presented with gold
ring prizes.
And, gentlemen, he shouted, while
the pitiful sum of fifty cents will pur-
chase these beautiful and useful articles,
remember if they are not as repre-
sented, you may hurl them at my
FACET The purchasing began. Men
crowded forward, rendered their money
@ith outstretched arms, tip-toeipg strain
ing TO obtain spoons lest the supply
should be exhausted before they secur-
ed a bargain and : possible prize.
As the sales finally began to slack en-
E. FL Il
each set OF spoons he made cross, say
my to the purchaser: NOW, now, my
dear sir, you viii c9nsult your own inter
s. by carefully preserving the number
WITH the cross marked upon IL"
Mere spoons were sold with crosses on
the wrappers, aad another Iail in 81 les
came, but burst Of eloquence brought
up few more Il IF dollars, and the fax
er issued tickets to the purchasers say
ing: Now you gentlemen stand in line
Just here to the right-that's II. that's
proper, keep in line aed hold on TO your
tickets"
He was Interrupted by purchaser,
who frowned and exclaimed: "See here.
mister, how about the distribution of
prizes o us feIIeTs who've bought poons?
It's all sell, sell and sorghum talk. You've
sold us half a Lushel Of spoons; where's
the Irizs?"
lie purchasers had begua to suspec
that they had been victim zed. and the
faker was quick to detect their unrest.
The ticket holders in line then began
to murmur. 'lf everybody is to get the
same kind of prizes, what's the use Of
This monkey business of Issuing tickets
and standing us in line?'
20, they're all brass rings and pewter
spoOns," shouted a stout fellow in front.
"No, no, my dear sir; if they are not as
represented you eau hurl them at my
head" cried the faker
I'll tell you what I'll do with mine"
yelled the stout fellow s'l'II take you at
your word and throw 'em at your facew
and as he spoke he made arm length
room and let drive The first set Of
spoons struck the sellor in the face and
the blood started from several cuts. He
began to clutch for his satchel and
shears, but before. he could get them in
baud he was in perfect shower Of
spoons. The little sawed off victim
snatched up piece of plank and struck
the mountebank with il. Someone pulled
prop from under the platform and the
faker went down amid the shimmering
shower. He gained his feet and made
dash through the crowd He was a
swift runner, but the little victim was
after him like bee martin after hawk
He clutched the faker, but the later
| turned and whacked him one with the
| big shears which checked his speed. A
crowd of two hundred were in pursuit,
/ how ever, and they chased him through
exposition hall and through the tented
! quarters and finally rounded him I'D
/ painting and bleeding near the main en-
/ trance. when Sheriff Reyes put in an ap-
! pearauce, dis persed the mob and put til q
| faker in a shanty to await investigation.
Later on he was allowed to depart as
there were no charges preferred against
| him.