The sun., 1898-01-23
JOKE ON BRIAN HUGHES.
fHE PROFEssIONIB PRACTICAL
JOKER BADLT HOAIED.

mis latte eeheuse % Mako Nzspey ~ Cashins
the Ulsins or Supervisors er the School Ccn-
SOS Proves . veritabie eBVouerunE-serry ne
Didnt Stay 90 the other sias OF ths Rewsry.
Brian q. Hughes, o manufacturer In Centre
street, who 10 best known to fame In New York
90 practical Joker. and who was brought 10 the
attention OF tho general public when no entered
q male cat in the female class in cat show in
this city and received prize for the ami
NAL without its sex being discovered BY
the Judges Of tho show, figured in .
case yesterday in the Essex Market Court
where the laugh was all on him. In
nearly all tho Jokes played by Hughes, such
as dropping false teeth in glasses OF beer in bar
rooms and sending false teleRrams announcing
births and deaths, HuRhes's principal recom-
pense has been tho laugh he enjoyed after his
practical Jokes. He was as solemn as an owl In
the police court yesterday as ho told MAGISTRATE
Crane how he had been swindlod out OF S16250.
Hughes appeared as complainant against
Alexander Grossman Of 174 Forsyth street,
whom ho charged with being the swindler.
Grossman was the leader of the Henry George
movement during tho last campaign in the
Eighth Assembly district. According to
Hughes's version OF the alleged swindle he saw
o chance some time ago to make some money By
cashing tho claims of the supervisors Of tho
biennial school census. The supervisors were
appointed early last October to take the census
Of school children in each Assembly district.
They were to receive S3 day for each actual
working day.
At tho conclusion Of the census, when all the
claims Of tho supervisors were sent to Charles r.
Skinner, the State Superintendent Of Education,
1t was discovered that the appropriation Of $780,
600 msdo for the purpose was not sufficient to
pay the bills Then It was determined to scale the
Notwithstanding this action there was yet do
ficiency, and 1t 10 probable that the bills Of more
than 40 per cent, OF the superyisors will not be
paid for some time to come. Tho bills of the
superyisors In New York city were payable in
the office of the Comptroller.
per cent, commission. Through an agent in
he hs
Of tho supervisoFs In the Eighth A,ssembly dis
Lincoln @ League. the regular Republican, orseni. If
zation Of the district. Friedel assigned his
claim to Abraham Germansky. q Canal street
certificate Of appointment, which served as 9
check for tho amount due. Grossman is alleged
told him that he could cash the certificate In the
State Bank In Grand street with profit to both.
oasd eS on
~ don't care about giving you all the amount
Of the claim" said Hughes. d, .r.. =.
have replied; 81 have q lot Of bills to pay"
"How much 10 the claim T. asked Hughes.
1T is just S2o2.50." Grossman is alleged to
have replied.
Hughes looked over his list obtained from Al
bany and found the figures correct. You are
Louis Fredelf he asked.
Certainly" Grossman is alleged to have TO.
piled.
Hughes then handed out tho money, minus
| his commission. Grossman signed an assign.
ment Of tho claim, according TO Hughes. When
Hughes presented the certificate in the Comp
| troiier's ofhce on Friday afternoon clerk COM
pared the signature on the assignment with the
signature of Friedel on file. =.
"There'sa q niger in the woodpile." said the
| clerk.
Payment was refused, and. after . search
| through the east side, Hughes found the real
Louis Friedel late on Friday night. The alleged
| found and arrested later.
When Grossman was arraigned In the police
| court yesterday, Hughes said to Magistrate
Crane: / am out the dough. I confess was
| the Bowery was all right. but they are toe
slick for me over here. It's my funeral, and
am supplying the hearse coaches and flowers.
Grossman was held for examination. Hughes
said afterward that he had cashed about fifteen
claims of a like nature where the amount due
had been scaled down, and that he was out Of
pocket In each instance.