The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-25

Washington Citizens Under Arrest-Clcver
Practical Joke.

Potentate, Frank w Cunningham, the
head of Acca Temple. OF the Mystic Shri-
ncrs. has received a lctte-, which reads
thu..
WASHINGTON. D. G.. Feb ~. 1896.
Frank W. Cunningham. Esq. Potentate
Acca Temple, a. \. .. y. NJ. 5, Rich
mOnd, Va.
Ills and Dear POtcntatc.--It is the in
tention Of Noble a. G.. White and myself
10 invade the Oasis of Acca Temple under
date Of the 22d, and 23d inst. and, during
our stay in Richmond 10 domicile our
selves at the celebrated Jefferson Tav-
ern where we shall be most happy TO
await the arrival OF Ruler of the Tribe
of Acca, and bow in humility and sub
mission before his august Highness,
Great is the Tribe and Kindred OF Acca,
and greater still the high and mighty
POtcntate of that distinguished band OF
Arabians, Most serene and potent ruler,
as thy servants will enter thy domain
after the sun has sunk TO rest. and as
they know not thy abiding place. and not
being m with the police. We PROSTATE
ourselves before thee. and beg thee TO
order out the two Imperial Representa-
tivos and cause our Potentateship TO be
escorted 10 our tavern, where we Will be
prepared 10 lay before YOU and your es-
cort "A few hgs. and sundry bottles OF
Camcrs MIX. that the dust of the desert
may thereby be removed from parching
threats.
Be pleased 70 grant us this dispensation
look Pleasant" get out your Grew. %
take them up the street to "Charlton's,"
where they can get some Cunning ham,"
and see Louis l.. Ecker '-"Nuf Sed"
except that we leave here Saturday after
noon, February p. Washington's birth
day.
Yours in the faith
HARRISON DINGMAN
Mr.. Dingman is the Potcntate of Almas
Temple. OF Shirncrs. of Washington, ANA
both he and Or. A. G.. White are promin-
ent citizens and Masons of that town.
The Mystic Shriners are invcterate
practical jokers. and thereby hangs a tale
Capt. Cunningham and Chief Of Police
Howard. who Is also q Shriner. pat their
heads together. with the result that Mr.
Dineman ana Or. White found them
selves very quietly approached by the
Chief and Police Sergeant Otey. when
the Was hngton train came In at 40 Sat
urday night. ana told that they were under
arrest as suspicious characters. As they
did not know the officers in their per-
sonal capacity the Joke was an instant
success, and they went along under pro-
test 10 The jefferson. where. they had
assured the Chief ana sergeant they could
identify themselves instantly. When they
entered the Office OF the hotel. under
the escort Of the police. Potontate Cum
bingham. and Sundry Shr:nors. including
Mobiles. Street. Ecker and Written. were
in hiding, enjoying the CONSERVATION OF
the visitors.
Potentate Dingman registered himself
I'm a big. round hand-but Noble White
was 50 agtated that he wrote white"
after his name instead of washington. ."
Then up stepped the jokers; explanations
were made. and the laugh was on the
Washington visitors. who enjoyed IL as
much as their Richmond brethren. All
hands then went 20 dinner. and enjoyed
the figs" "camcFs milk" and other
Arabian delicacies. which were waiting
for them, thanks 10 the thoughtfulness
of their Richmond fraters. through
Messrs. Ainslie and Webster. managers
OF The Jefferson.