The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-15
SEVERAL ST. PAUL UNDERWRITERS
SELL AN UNKNOWN MAN A
CASKET.
HIS TEARS HELPED DECEIVE.
WHEN HE HAD MADE HIS FUR-
CHASE HE BORROWED A
LITTLE MONEY.
OUT THE MONEY, BUT NOT CAsxETs
The Man Who Gave the Name Of
Nelson Spent a Busy Day and
Goes Elsewhere.

The police are looking for an indi-
vidual who answers to the name Of
Peter Nelson Hans Hanson or any old
name that comes handy. Nelson pre-
tends to be in much trouble, and has
incidentally caused a number of the
undertaking firms considerable trou-
BILE. Aside from the trouble given the
undertakers, he also touched up three
of the funeral directors to the tune Of
$3.50 each in cash. Nelson spent
Thursday and yesterday morning in
visiting undertaking establishments
and making arrangements to bury his
brother Some places visited he
changed his plan by making arrange
ments to bury his sister, but as this
was simply a part Of the play, he was
not at all particular as to which OF
his relatives were mentioned He
would visit the undertaken, weep r
few tears, and announce that his
brother or sister had died and he de-
sired to select a suitable casket. He
selected a coffin valued at $50, and
after giving the address where the
funeral director and casket were need
ed, would borrow $3.50 from the under
taker until he reached the house. His
touches Thursday, as far as reported
to the police, aggregated $3.50, although
it is possible all the reports are not in
yet.
Thorsell & Thaung, at 32 East Sew
enth street. sympathized with Nelson
in his aff1iction and loaned him $3.50
for a few minutes. To make the play
strong Nelson mounted the wagon
which was to take the casket to the
residence on Dayton's bluff, but left
the driver at a store on East Seventh
street and did not return.
]. ]. Hurley, on the West side, also
gave up 81 to the CRATER. E. w. Shirk.
at 322 Wabasha street, sold Nelson a
casket for a couple of hours, and for
two hours a driver for the firm hunted
in the vicinity Of Bass lake for the
house where Nelson's relatives were
house where Nelson's relative was sup
posed to be in readiness for the coffin.
Nelson wanted the loan of $3.50 from
Shirk, but as the clerk had nothing
but a check he was not successful, so
far as money was concerned. GuthunZ
& Rockstroh, at PIG East Seventh
street, fell for a small amount on Mel
sons story.
The police. as soon as notified of the
work. headed off Nelson's scheme by
telephoning the various funeral direc-
tors to be on the lookout, and the man
with dead relatives will have to get
another line Of business in order to
work with much success while in the
city.
Nelson is described as thirty years
| old, FIVE feet nine in height, fairly well
| dressed, with small, sandy mustache.
| He also has the art of being able to
weep copicusly as soon as he enters All
undertaking shop. The police say that
| Nelson attempted to secure a gallon
! jug cf whisky from the saloon kept by
Joe Gaines.>a ION st. Peter street, and
| gave the bartender at that resort the
| dead relative talk but as he did not
have or make any effort to produce
the money for the liquor he was told
|. to drift out of the place. Nelson. it is
claimed, has been touching up the I'M
dertakers at Minneapolis on the same
game and did fairly well in that city.