Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-25
MUST BE IDENTIFIED.
4 Remarkable Joke Played Upon Two
Washington Shfintrs.
ENTERTAINED AT THE JEFFERSON
Major Howard and Sergeant Otey
Capture the Visitors and Take
Them to the HoteI-Capt. Cunning
hams Committee Does the Rest.

Mr.. Harrison Dingman. potentate OF
Almas Temple, Mystic Shrine, oil WASH
ington. d. c., and DIR. white, member
of the same body, and also MEMBER Oh
De Molay Commandery. knights Tempiar'
OF the national capital. were passengers
upon the incoming train from the Nortn
Saturday evening, and they were the VIC
Tins of one OF the best practical JOKES
ever perpetrated within the connnes Oh
the capital of the Old Dominion.
1t is a weIl-established fact that Rich-
mond has one of the finest police forces III
the country. A great many OF her ON
GERS are Masons. Chief-of-Police HOWARD
has crossed the burning sands. turned
hand-springs in the Kadosh, and per-
formed many of the highest feats In that
high fraternity Sergeant Jones Otey IL
also a Mason OF a high temperature. and
Captain Frank w. Cunningham Is poten-
tate Of Acca Temple. OF this city. Learn
ing that the distinguished brethren from
the nations capital were coming down 10
the quiet city on the banks OF the placid
James, some OF the Richmond Arabs
thought II would be capital idea 70
have the visitors arrested as they alighted
from their train. Chief Howard was let
into the scheme, and he thought 1t
pretty good one.
TO STOP AT THE JEFFERSON.
1t was ascertained that the Washing
tonians had engaged rooms at the Jener-
son, and It was arranged that the CHIEF
should take one Of his most trusted Off
GERS, who was also a Mason, and. armed
NTH NJ
arresting them, take them to the Jeffer-
son for Identification. AT the hotel Cap
tain Cunningham and q committee OF
prominent Shriners was to be ready TO
receive the guests, go through the neces-
sary process OF Identification, and then
the altogether delightful process OF enter
tanning the captives.
The train from the North was on time,
and Major Howard and Sergeant Otey,
equipped with warrants for two "crimi-
nails" stepped up TO meet Mr.. Dingman
and DR.. White.
Eve want you. gentlemen" said the
Major. CONSCIOUSLY but firmly.
What do you want with us?" asked
one of the strangers. in amazement.
The Chief OF Police, glancing down to
see II any of his Masonic Jewelry was
showing, produced his warrants, read
the description he had been furnished Of
the persons he was looking for. The
visitors demonstrated with the officers.
assuring them that they were honest
gentlemen who had come to the city on
business. They gave their names, and
stated that they had engaged rooms at
the Jefferson. This was exactly what the
good-natured Chief was anxious for the
strangers to say, and he quickly replied:
"Oh. well; II your names are what you
say they are, you can be identified at
your hotel, so we will take you right up
to the Jefferson"
/ THE IDENTIFICATION.
The visitors SILL complained of the
Outrage" that was being perpetrated
upon them, but II was no use to kick"
They were In the hands Of two OF the
brayest 'blue-coats" who ever crossed
red-hot cobble-stones. much less burning
sands. Upon reaching the Jefferson the
visitors were almost exasperated. They
were going to report their treatment TO
higher authorities just as soon as OPP
portunity presented itself, but they had
not more than gotten within the grand
lobby of that beautiful hosiery, when
they espied Captain Cunningham and the
other Richmond Shriners. The visitors
were promptly identified; then followed
| an introduction to their two brethren,
Major Howard and Sergeant Otey. There
was a good laugh. at the expense of the
| Washingtonians, and the visitors were
amply repaid for their seemingly unklnd
treatment upon their arrival. They were
cordially and Hospitality entertained while
here. and went away vowing that they
would just like 10 catch a Richmond
Shriner in Washington again.