Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-15
FOOLED BY A FAKIR.
WALKED OFF WITH A HATEFUL OF
THE CROWDS MONEY.
His Performance Had So Paralyzed the
Spectators That They
Failed to Protest.

One of the slickest articles that ever
struck this town held forth last night
at the corner of Broad and Pine streets,
says the Nevada City Herald" He had
a team from one of the local livery stables
and the usual gasoline torch and valise.
With the voice of Midway Plaisanee
"spieler' he began by announcing that he
was an honest man, and would ra ther
throw his money in the street than take
dollar that did not belong to him." In
stead of leaving in disgust at hearing this
shameless assertion, the crowd drew
nearer, anxious to have a good look Mt
such freak They drew still nearer
they wedged in tight and blocked the
street, and they were his'n.
He offered some trumpery for sale and
threw all the small change he received
into the street for the boys to scramble
for. 1t took. They liked it, and hollered
for more. He sold some trifling gal
vanic batteries at a dollar apiece and
then gave the purchaser back his dol
lar
The crowd grew quite enthusiastic and
the fakir grew bolder His next move
was to boldly ask who would give him
dollar outright, to throw away, get drunk
on or spend as he pleased A couple OF
men timidly pushed their way forward
and actually offered him dollar each.
He took the silver and chuckled with
glee. Then pretending to repent having
begged anything, he called the donors
up and returned each mans dollar, and
gave them dollar besides as reward OF
merit.
The crowd began to cheer, and were
disappointed when the fakir again offered
the electric belts" for sale. But 1t was
only for a few minutes, and then he
again asked who would give him dol
lar outright and expect absolutely moth
ing for it," The crowd fell over each
other in their haste to reach the fellow S
buggy and make their contributions. He
would take a dollar from some one, add
a few more dollars to it and then wrap
the whole in a greenback, making nice
little rolls, which he put into his hat:
They came so thick that he was Obliged
to ask the people to wait until he could
get their Christmas presents wrapped
up. When the dollars finally ceased
pouring in the hat was full.
He placed the tile where all could see
it and began a song and dance" about
what good people they were and how
much he apprecia ted getting into such
liberal town. He would not be outdone
in generosity. He would make each one
of them a present of one of his famous
galvanic belts. Yes. he would, by ginger!
He talked so rapidly that few could
catch the drift of his proposition, but
they all stepped up and took the pack
ages he offered them, thus accepting val
ue for their money. Then they fell back
and waited till the gentleman threw
the hatful of money out into the crowd.
But he did not do it,
No.
Instead, he said: Now, suppose you
were in my place. What would you do
with all this money!
Someone on the edge of the crowd an
swered, Keep it."
"That's a good suggestion" said Mr.
Fakir, and in trce he had dumped the
hatful of money into his valise and snap
ped the lock.
He paused a moment and cody lit
cigar In the flame of his torch, and the
crowd hesitated, paralyzed at his nerve.
In that moment of hesitation they We're
lost Cor their money was) for the faklr
suddenly seized the reins and drove swift
ly around the corner.
He did not leave town. though, and APP
parently had no fears for his personal
safety While he was skinning this town
a confederate did the same thing in
Grass Valley, and the two went away
together on the early train this morning,
several hundred dollars richer for their
visit to the mountains