The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-30
BROKERS PLUGnTHE TICKETS.
MR.. AND MRS. r., L; HIDDEN, OF
PORTLAND, ARE THE VIC
TINS y
TICKETS ExPIRFFP9 YEARS AGO
They Were the Return Portions of
Tourists Tickets Sold During
the Worlds Fair.
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apparently simple line .'R. L. Hidden
and wife, Portland, Or" Near the bot
tom Of the days page at the Sherman
house there was written late yesterday
afternoon precisely the same line, in
slightly smaller and more subdued
hand Between the Ryan and the
Sherman house lay the property plot
for a rather pathetic drama, the acts
in which are presented by leading
man, a heroine, william and the usual
kind hearted person who straightens
out all the trouble. They are also
number Of other dramatis personae who
have few lines and are mostly given
to thinking parts"
Mr.. and Mrs. Hidden play the lead
ing roles. They have only been Mr..
and Mrs. Hidden for two weeks-but
that's another story. He is tall. good
looking young man, the son of Jackson
Hidden, wealthy fruit grower living
near Vancouver. B. C. From childhood
the son showed a penchant for music,
and is at present the director of the
orchestra at the Marquam theater in
Portland. He has for some time and
still takes part In the prominent musi-
cal events which occur in the coast
city.
At one of these some time ago, he
met, was introduced to and fell in love
with a bright, pretty. girl with soft
eyes. beautiful figure and fascinating
manner. In due course they were mar
ried, and host Of their friends gather
ed at the station to throw rice and old
shoes after them, and festoon their Sec
ton in the sleeper with white satin
ribbons.
This was some two weeks ago. Yes
terday morning they alighted from the
Burlington train, and were driven to
the Ryan. where they were registered,
as stated above, and during the morn
ing the gallant groom repaired to the
city ticket Office of the Northern Pa
cifc to have his tickets properly
stamped for the return trip. AS he
entered the place, his thoughts were
full of how his old friends in the West
would welcome back his charming
bride. and he felt that his orchestra
must perforce play better under his
baton, now that he was welded and
supremely happy.
Pulling out his tickets, he handed
them to Oscar Vanderbilt, the North
ern Pacific city ticket agent, who,
glancing at first the front and then
the rear side Of the ticket, saw that
the purchasers signatures, G. w. Gull
yer and Katherine Culver, appearing
in the contract, did not look q bit like
the same names signed on the back
Of the tickets. Closer examination
showed to Mr.. Vanderbilt's practiced
eye that the tickets were the return
portion Of two tourist tickets sold dur
ing the worlds fair from Tacoma to
st. Paul and return. The familiar
signature of G. G. Chandler, formerly
general agent Of the Northern Pacific,
but who died three years ago, left no
longer any doubt that the tickets were
absolutely worthless, although they
appeared from the dates to be good
until Feb. 4, 1898. Inspection revealed
however, that the expiration year date,
1894, where punched, had been deftly
plugged and colored. and 1898 punched
in it's stead. Moreover. the dates and
signatures at the foot of the contract
had ben tempered with, erased, chang
ed, and in some cases only traced over
with heavy black ink to cover any diff
ference in the appearance of inks used.
1t was a clever yet dangerous trick, and
was perpetrated upon the lunsuspecting groom
according to his tale to- Mr. Vanderbilt, by
ticket brokers on South Clark street Chi
cago. Had Mr.. Hidden, presented them at
the union depot Office at a, time when the
ticket men were busy he might possibly have
had them properly stamped and have gone
his way uninterrupted HE Knight have had
trouble with some of the conductors, for
neither Of the punched descriptions upon
the tickets corresponds to that of himself or
his wife.
Although the tickets read St Paul to Ia
coma the brokers had indorsed in ink. across
the front. Chicago toosTacoma. and after
persuading Mr.. Hidden TO part with S76 told
him the fare from Tacoma to Portland
ST or s14. for two which, added to $76, would
make $50. 1t was explained to the young
Tacoma was $780, or for two. s12S. The
chance to save the difference was too allur-
ing, and the 800 was forthcoming. and the
tickets handed over to the young people. who
left Chicago on the Burlington train at $50
Tuesday night, arriving here yesterday morn
ing as stated.
Vanderbilt was hot. He asked the name
of the broker and Hidden fshed two cards,
one Of which had upon it a guarantee for the
return of the money in case Of trouble Van
derbit refused to. confscate the tickets. but
warned the traveller that he could not use
them on the Northern Pacific train. What
were the young people to do? They had not
sufficient funds to buy two new tickets to
the coast. and the railroad mans statement
that the broker could be made to disgorge
filled the young man with righteous desire
to force the issue. Vanderbilt wired immed-
lately to Mr.. Fogarty, the N. P. agent at Chi
cago and also to Mr.. Hidden ST., abusing
him of his sons predlcament
Mr.. Hidden decided he would wait over.
and promising to return got his wife 3nl
registered for the night at the S'iA-rnan house.
Soon word came from Fogirty that the bro
kers had been seen and minated that Clar-
ence Corbett local broker, might be seen
to advantage but the latter denied any
knowledge of the affair After waiting pa
tiently for some time for word from Chicago
or the parent on the coast Mr.. Hidden de-
cided to be philosophical and wait until to-
day before proceeding farther. He is incif-