El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-07-27
THE LONG MAN AND SHORT MAN
How They Tried the Shell Game, And
Lost.

LOSl.
On July IS, q letter was received by
the city clerk from Farson, Leach &
Co of Chicago, stating that that firm
had been satisfied as to the genuine
ness of the city hall and sewerage
bonds which were assigned to them by
N. w. Harris 81 Co. The firm asked
that the bonds be forwarded "as early
as possible" to some bank in Chicago,
with instructions to deliver the bonds
on receipt of the agreed price.
The morning paper, in its report OF
the matter said, at has not been full.
ly decided in what manner the bond
will be sent to Chicago. They may be
expressed, or one of the city officials
may make a special trip to the Windy
City with the bonds in his grip
1t is doubtful whether the shell game
idea originated with the vice president
of the State National bank, who also
happens to be mayor of Ell Paso, or
with Ben Bighead Catlin, who is a sort
of little mayor with not much to do but
look pleasant. 1t Is surmised that Ben
has been trying to get q chance to go of
on another little pleasure trip at the
city's expense, like the one to Austin
But somebody said nay. So in an ex-
treme fit of economy the city tried
hard to cheat the express companies
our OI Guelf rlSQGIul QueS. L ne 1OD
didn't go through.
The firm of Farson, Leach & Co., has
offered to take from the city forty-6ve
bonds, each of one thousand dollars de-
nomination. Thirty of these are city
hall bonds and fifteen are sewer bonds.
These bonds are payable to bearer,
and consequently are very nearly as
easily transferred as currency.
1t was desired to send the bonds to
Chicago, so the money might be in the
hands of the State National bank ss
soon as possible. No delay should be
tolerated here for an instsnt-no, no.
So the tall man and the short man
went forth together to see what they
could see. The mayor waited while
Bonnie took the bonds under bis arm
and went boldly into the Pacific Ex-
press Office.
The package was neither sealed nor
addressed, SO Mr.. Catlin attended to
that in the express office. He was then
asked to put the valuation on the out
side. and statement of what the pack
age contained. The agent proceeded
to make out a receipt. Ben had writ.
ten on the the package. City Bonds,
What is in the pscksge?,- queried
the agent. -~.-.
'F'orty-ive city bonds,'' answered
the Little Mayor.
What is their par value" persisted
the agent.
"One thousand dollars apiece"
answered Ben.
Then 1 should say that the package
was worth forty-five Thousand dollars
instead of one thousand" said the
agent.
But Ben insisted that as he had turn
ed in the package at a valuation of one
thousand dollars, the package
ought to go through at the rate of
Sl.15. The agent insisted that as he
knew the real value of the package be
could not rightfully receive it at less
than that valuation. And as the rate
on completed bonds payable to bearer
Is oae-half that on CURRENCY, the
agent informed Mr.. Catlin that the
rate on the shipment would be $50. 60
that is, 81. 12t per thousand on forty
five thousand dollars.
Ben was surprised that the express
company did not care to make itself
liable for s45, 600 in return for a tariff
OF S1.75. He said he would 60 and see
the mayor.
He went to the Parlor saloon and
met Mayor Magoffin, and the two tack
led the Wells Fargo office. They got
no satisfaction there at all. Not only
did the agent refuse the shipment at
less than the full rate but he told the
long man and the short man what he
thought of their attempt to rob the
express company.
At the Pacific Office Mr.. Catlin had
said that he could not send the package
Rt the full rate unless he had authority
from the mayor. This looks as if the
mayor had concocted the scheme and
bad then made use of Bennie to put it
through. But when the two of them
we're sat upon, the mayor sent Ben back
20 the Pacific office with orders to
'hip the bonds at the full rate. So
8ennie trotted. He got his receipt all
light and the bonds got Off safely on the
[. j: train. The full rate was paid and
ne little game was lost, and Ben
iidn't go TO Chicago after all.
This foolish scheme to beat the ex-
'lso serious. The only proper way TO
END such bonds from one city to an
'ther is by express in the regular
ashton. A Texas state law makes the
'arrier liable for the full proved
'alue of lost or DESTROYED
'ackage, and agents are empowered |
md required to insist on the true value |
II the parcel being given. The plan of |
ending the city clerk off with the |
'onds In his grip is very foolish one. |
the city clerk should be |
obhed or if the bonds should in |
ny way pass out of his possession,
here would be no recourse for the CITY. |
he bonds would be a dead loss. On
he contrary, If the bonds are lost
lille in the possession of the express
ompany the company is liable.
1t Is understood that the Mexican
ompapy about to undertake the con-
OF a railroad from Mexico to
.tllxco, will receive subsidy of $1,000