The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-27
TALES THAT ARE TOLD.
Stories Picked Up by Reporters
in Their Rounds.
Why a Chicago Travelling Man
Never Came Back.
How Wilcoxson Lost Case in a Yves
tern Court.

man who makes Topeka and he is SO
popular that the friends initiated him
into the Elks. He carries a line of fine
crackers and confectionery.
Yesterday Mr.. Define came to town
with an especially fine line of samples.
They consisted of fancy crackers, cakes
and candies. The samples were car
ried under his arm in their original
boxes as he uses no travelling case. He
stopped in the store of friend on his
way up town and deposited his sam
pies on the counter telling the friend
that he would return in a few minutes.
The friend is a member of tlfe Elks
and he thought it would be good plan
to play a joke on the genial fellow Elk.
As soon as the plan had been Matched
it was carried into execution Unity
ing the packages half dozen fancy tin
boxes were revealed. The instigator
Of the joke called several lOungers and
said: Here boys is some fine stuff.
Come up and help yourselves They
needed no second invitation and in
few minutes the fancy tin boxes were
empty and their contents We're where
they could not be used for samples.
Ihen the packages OF empty boxes
We're tied up as neatly as possible and
Mr.. Defines coming was awaited.
In half hour he returned. He had
known grocer. Give me my samples
quick" said he. My man can't wait
long and picking up the packages he
left the store.
Here the scene changes to the gro
Gerry store. Mr.. Define, smiling and
genial walked in. Il have something
finer than has ever reached the vest
said he He was busy untying his
packages. They will be sure to catch
on with your fine trade. Here is a
box of waters that will make your
mouth water. Try one" handing the
empty box to the prospective buyer.
What, none there! Well that is too
bad. 1 had not noticed the box was
empty. But here is something that
viii make your heart glad. Jelly waf-
ers. Aren't they fine? What none
there! Well, am blasted. I am so
careless. Well we will just try some
of these mixed cakes and chocolate bon
bons- They cannot be excelled. Try
a few of them"
The merchant smiled and Define
looked at the empty box with his eyes
staring. Say I must apologize" said
he To tell you the honest truth. I
don't know how this happened" He
was handling the remaining boxes and
shaking them. I haven't a single cake
left here. If there is any man who can
tell me how this happened I will give
him house and lot. Say I will be
back tOmOrrOW-about 4 did you say ?''
Define has not been back. He has
spent the time looking for the man
who robbed him of his samples.
Have you got any bachelor but
tons?' asked a prospective customer of
a clerk in a clothing store.
Yes" replied the clerk you want the
KIND that rIvets on and does not have
TO be S6WedE
That's the kind replied the pur-
chaser as he felt for his money
They are a good thing for bache-
Tors said the clerk as he commenced
to wrap up the small bundle, but no
matter how good they are for a single
man L think every man should be mar
ried Think how much better it is for
a man to have his buttons nicely
sewed on and then there are other good
points about the life of a benedict. or
course bachelor can put on a dozen of
these buttons before a wife could sew
on one but never the less my opinion is
that every man should be married.
Ten cents" said the clerk as he
handed the customer the package and
raped for the cash boy.
The clerk continued to dwell upon the
reasons why every man should be mar
RED and give up the so called single
How long have you been married?''
asked the customer as he took his
said the clerk What made you think I
was?"
Did you ever lose a case because
you were not acquainted with the
ways of jury?" asked a fellow trav-
eler OF Kelsey E. WilcOxSon the other
! night as the two handed their yellow
passes TO the conductor and settled
themselves comfortably in the plush
seat of the smoking car of the fast
mail.
Al,ctS
the yellow card to his pocket and lit a
fresh stogie. 1T was soon after com
menced to practice law in Oakley and
| before was we'll onto the crooks and
( turns of a short grass country court -
! The idea seemed to amuse Wilcoxson.
for he smiled and puffed harder at his
StOgie.
L was just starting in nv career as
an attorney for the Union Pacific, and
l knew could not afford to lose a case
no matter how small. The company
had been losing ties that had been
piled up along the right of way The
ties disappeared by the hundreds, and
! the loss figured up until the amount
was something appalling. The compa-
ny sent their detectives to Thomas
| county, and after they had worked on
/ the case for several weeks they had
/ two fellows arrested. They were going
/ to try them and make an example of
/ them The evidence was dead open
/ and shut. The two detectives and
! three employees of the company and
| one farmer had seen them haul away
/ a load of ties during the night The
| evidence was given to me and l worked
4 it up to a fine point and prepared my
/ speech that I would make to the jury.
The day of the trial came. The
| judge, an old gray haired man, who
| knew more about plug tobacco than he
1 did about law, sat behind the bar. 1t
I was warm weather, and nobody wore
! a coat. The counsel for the defense was
! Joe Gill of Colby, and all through the
! trial he chatted with one of the by
/ ISLANDERS. The evidence for the prose-
| cution was all given, and Gill declined
| to cross-eXamine all but one witness.
| He asked that one witness if there had
| not been a great many ties stolen.
| Yes was the answer.
! " More than these two men could
| have stolen if they had worked every
| night in the year?'
| Yes was the answer.
| Il did not see just what the question
| was for, but I thought it would be i'm
/ possible for the men to be acquitted.
! The evidence showed that they had
! been seen carrying away ties and that