The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-04
BOLD GAME
FOR DOODLE.
Geo. Rippey Attempts to Play the
Norfolk and Western.
HE WAS A CoNToRTIoNrsT AND
COULD DIsLoCATE HIS HIP AT
wILL-HE FELL AT THE UNION
DEPOT ON JUNE 81 AND LAY IN
BED SIX WEEKS UNTIL HIS
IDENTITY WAS DISCOVERED
SAID TO HAVE BEATEN THE BIG
FOUR THE SAME WAY

On June II. this year, it will be re-
memberen that an accident occurred at
the Union depot which resulted in the
following local mention being made in
The Times of the date of June 30:
\ might before last az George Raymond
was coming from Hotel RosEokn to board
the late train, he stepped on plank in
the platform, which gave way, throwing
him down and breaking his leg near the
thigh Mr.. Ray iHond is from Salt Lake
C1ty, and was on his way to Natural
Bridge when the accident happened. He
was removed to Hotel Roanoke, where
medical aid was summoned and at last
reports was resting MS easily as could be
expected. In anticipation of law suit
the railroad company had the spot photo.
graphed and to prevent further accidents
the rotten planks we're removed and re-
placed Ivy new ones.'
Upon seeing the above notice several
gentlemen remembered having seen
man trying to ft mis- foot in the hole
through which he afterwards fell and
otherwise acting in q queer manner.
The man above referred to was not Geo
Raymond but Geo. A. Rippey, CT Marion,
Ind. He had been boarding for a month
at Hotel Roanoke, and, as stated, started
to leave, ostensibly for Natural Bridge
where he was to spend the next morning
and return to Roanoke in the afternoon.
OF course his fall and what may have
been serious injury prevented Mr.. Rip
pey, alias Raymond, from taking his
'contemplated'' trip.
1t now turns out that he never intended
going to Natural Bridge, but Just what
he intended should happen did happen.
After being carried to Hotel Roanoke
DR.. Fry was Immediately summoned and
he in onjunction with DR.. Gale pro
nounced the injuries of the man as'being
fracture of the hip hone, but such was
not the case. Rippey was something of
II contortionist and had the power of be-
ing able to throw his hip joints out of
place. This he could.do and Mt the same
time cause the ball End socket of the
joint to scrape together, making grating
noise resembling that made by a tract.
ured bone. So natural were the symp-
toms that the physicians thought super
f1cial examination to he all that was nee
essary and they ut once placed the man
fiat of his back and bound the biy in
spl'nts.
The,man showed signs of much suffer
ing, especially the next day, as he was
being removed on n stretcher from one
part of the hotel to another. Everything
was done for him co make him comforta
BILE. A trained nurse was hired to care
for him and for three or four weeks he
lay rs helpless us n permanent cripple
The railroad it is said was meeting all ex-
penses and the man who was playing
bold game for Doodle was displaying an
unusual amount of patience
loving to number of people having
noticed the suspicious actions of the
stranger In inspecting the platform so
closely the officials set about making nm
investigation. The case vas placed in
the hands Of Detective Baldwin who ut
once began work on it
Raymond had registered at the hotel
as being from Salt Lake City, but after
wards stated he was from California. 1t
afterwards leaked out that his home was
in Indiana.
During his four weeks ..stay here he
took notion to have his photograph
made aboard an old cart which is well
known on the streets of Roanoke, both
by its driver and the brindle bull which
draws it. He wanted it as novelty
which he desired to send to friends in the
West, but did not realize at the time
that twas to play so importanu a part
in his after life. This picture was taken
by the detective into Indiana, where it
was recognized as the likeness of W. 4.
Rippey instead of w. A. Raymond.
1t was also learned that he had PLAYED
the same game in that State on the Big
-Four railroad and had compromised with
them without suit, receiving S., 900 for
his supposed injuries. He also succeeded
In getting snug sum out of insurance
companies in which he carried accident
policies.
1t is also alleged that he adopted the
same plan to beat the city of Chicago out
OF good sum OF money and was success
ful. One of the most remarkable things
is that he always succeeds in fooling
the surgeons who examined his injuries.
1t is alleged that this man has deceived
some of the most eminent surgeons of the
country.
When the suspicious of the railroad
officials became aroused the physicians at
once removed the bandages from his hin
and more thorough examination was
made, when DIR. Gale informed him that
his hip.bone was not broken and never
had been.
AS soon as Detective Baldwin returned
with the proof of the mans identity and
his past record he was confronted with it
and owned un to being an impostor. He
was at once threatened with arrest. but
the officials reconsidered the matter and
Rippey was allowed to depart in peace
and on Sunday morning took the west
bound train, presumably for Indiana.
Mr. ID. II. Barger, OF the Norfolk and
western offices, was seen yesterday by
Times reporter regarding the matter
When approached on the subject the
genial gentleman smiled, but said he had
nothing to impart for publication: how.
ever he did not make any denial OF the
story and there is no doubt but that the