The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06
AMooNLIeHr SCENE ON LAKE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

mann leaned over, and separating the let.
tuce leaves on Nye's plate, disclosed a
large diamond there.
Dear me, how carelessv' exclaimed |
Hermann, expecting to see Nye start back
in surprise, But Nye didn't dosany such |
thing. Coolly picking up the gem he re-
marked
'Im always leaving things like that |
around. Here, waitress, here's a little |
present for you,' and he handed 1t to the |
girl who was waiting on the table. Her.
mann had to get the proprietor of the ho-
tel out in the kitchen, before he could get |
the stone back again, the girl absolutely |
refusing to give it up.
Hermann always enjoyed telling this |
story on himself, and he and Nye were
great friends up to the time of the latter's
death.
Hermann entered the editorial rooms of
Park row newspaper office at about l
o'clock one morning. Work in the office
was about over for the night, and he had
come down town at the conclusion of his
performance to call on one of the editors.
This editor introduced him around the
office, and among the people he met was
the newspaper man about whom this story
| is written. This man wore on the little
| finger of his right hand plain band ring,
which he had been unable to get off for
! fourteen years. The ring was sunk deeply
| into the flesh, but did not cause pain and
| the owner did not care to have it cut. He
| had soaped and CREASED his finger repeat
| edly in the main effort to slide the ring off.
| Hermann stood talking to this man for
| about fifteen minutes and when he was
| about to leave he turned to him and said:
You haven't missed anything, have
you?"
Not l." said the newspaper man,
| s'thnnDh I ha
had empted my pockets"
Not so bad as that" said Hermann.
"But before l go think l will return this
, ring. 1t may be a souvenir of something,
and you will probably want it," and the
magician handed the other the ring, which
he had worn on the little finger of his
right hand.
The newspaper man was speechless with
surprise, and he declares to this day that
he did not feel the ring leave his finger
and hasn't the faintest idea when or how
the magician removed it.
1t was q favorite game with Hermann
to surprise policemen, and he has time
and again played tricks on bluecoats in
this city. one night several winters ago
he got mixed up in q crowd which was
watching n street fakir in Union square.
He picked out as victims two young men
/ who seemed to be together and were all
: eyes for the falIir at his wares. Then he
J waited until a policeman came along, and
when the officer was close by he gently
: extracted a watch from the pocket of one
of the young men, leaving the chain
r dangling from his vest. Having disposed
of the watch as he saw fit, he reached over
and gave the chain a yank Then as the
young man discovered his loss and looked
} up, Hermann pretended to be very much
: confused and started to edge away. OF
pD1lrSp thp CTahhpl him ant
Y of course the policeman placed the ma
e gician under arrest. That was part OF
, | Herrmann's programme, and he enjoyed
n the march to the station house immensely
= Subsequent event showed that he was no
n idle during that time either.
A | At the station house a formal charge
+. was preferred against Hermann by the
[ man whose watch was missing. Herr
t mann was searched from head to foot
t | but not a trace of the watch was found
k The owner Of the watch declared mos
k emphatcally that he had seen Hermann
r take his property, and he was equally sure
Y that the thief had not had time to dispose
d of 1t. Hermann smiled at this last state
: ment and addressing the sergeant at thu
h desk, said:
s "These men who accuse me seem to b,
1t very friendly with the policeman. Why il
y it that they take his things? 1 will SHOW
e the officer that these men are not wha
|
:, oflicer?"
I The policeman looked down at his coat
and sure enough his badge was gone. H
" turned pale for it is a serious thing TO
r a policeman to lose his badge.
Il II will tell you, officer" went on Herr
h mann This man who accuses me sto
o your badge. I saw him take it,"
it you're a liar!' promptly exclaimed tn
2 complainant but Hermann only smiled
n and said, Search him and see'
n The policeman didn't have to search tn
d youth. He began hummaging his Owl
r pockets and pretty soon with look o
a absolute amazcment on his face, haulet
e out the badge
e "You see," said HERMANN; 81 told 20,
lie so And now, officer, see what else i
r gone. A man who'd steal a badge woul
= take anything
e Holding on to the young man with on
;e hand, the policeman began searching hi
n. pockets with the other. Suddenly he hi
ID himself over the hip and exclaimed:
e My pistols gonen
" 81 suspected it, said Hermann; 18th
X other fellows got that, I'll bet"
lie They didn't have to search the other fel
H. low, either. He suddenly hauled the pc
lie licemans pistol out of his pocket, lookin
is as surprised as his friend had over tn
1t badge.
20 "And now" said Hermann, this watc
er business. This man says the thief had n
N time to dispose of it. You have searche
J. me, now search the Others"
ii The policeman searched both youn
N men, but found no trace of the watch.
IN "Now search yourself" said Hermann
,e and when he insisted, the officer did sc