The Saint Paul globe., 1899-05-01
VICTIM OF COM Man
GRIFFITH WILLIAMS TURNS HIS
POCKETS INSIDE OUT FOR
A FRIEND
OLD, OLD STORY EVER NEW

The Chestnut About Excess Baggage
and a Bill of Large Denomination
Was New to the Homestead Man,
So He Gave Up $79-Later He Dis
covered That His Companion Was
a BunISO Man.
In the future Griffith Williams. of Sc
attle, will not take into his confidence his
fellow passengers when travelling on the
train, as his experience with new-made
friend yesterday cost him just $40, and
had it not been for the kindly offices and
material assistance of a couple of Catho-
lie priests who came in on the same train
he would have continued his journey PEN
niless.
1t was the same old story of excess bag
gage. large check banks closed and a
small loan. Griffith and his bunco friend
were among the passengers on yester-
day mornings overland Northern Pacific
train. They had ridden all the way from
Seattle together, where their acquain-
tance began through a casual conversa-
ton across the aisle of the car. The two
proceeded to the Merchants hotel, and
Williams friend registered as J. Mere
dith, of Seattle The latter knew-that
Is. he said he knew-some of Williams
relatives in Homestead, Pa, where he
was going, and this fact cemented their
friendship, and after breakfast, which
Mr.. Bunco insisted on paying for, the
two men set out to see the town. Mere
dith flashed $1,000 bill and other notes of
at ioI, ha
other pockets. He spent his money free
ly ard impressed Williams with his i'm
portance and financial avoirdupois by a.
frequent display Of big bills. It was
not exactly a case Of too much money"
as Griffith a little later found out. but
he placed every confidence in the affable
gentleman who had kept him company
from Seattle.
The two visited several resorts In town
and started back towards the Merchants
about o'clock. When in front of the
Endicott arcade Meredith happened to
tnlnk or something. He explained with
earnestness and exactness that he had a
couple of tons of baggage upon which
excess charges had accrued He searched
through his pockets and could find moth
ing less than the s., 900 bill. He had sev-
eral checks in his pocket which he would
He was going clear through to New York
and would drop off at Chicago and get
some change" Anyway, Meredith said,
the hotel people would probably cash a
small check for him.
Williams was very willing to accommo-
date his money friend. There was nothing
at all reticent about the gentleman with
the striped trousers as he took the last
penny Williams had, and blandly in
formed him that 1t was the "exact"
amount. This was at one entrance to the
Endicott arcade 'tNow, If you will lust
walt here for minute, 1 will run in this
building and settle for the baggage"
said the bunco. The striped trousers and
the $79 disappeared in the building Will
liams waited just as he was told to do.
not knowing there was another exit to
the arcade. 1t commenced to rain few
minutes later and he went in the en-
trance for protection, and after waiting
a while longer decided to go in and find
out what had happened to his new-found
friend. He walked through the arcade
to the Robert street entrance without
finding any trace of him. Thinking per-
haps he had in some way missed the man
with the $1,000 bill and his $79 he walked
back to the hotel ~. 1 ~-r-..,.
No, the clerk said, Meredith had not
been in since morning. Williams waited
around until supper time. Finally he be-
gan to have mfsgivings on the subject
and communicated his apprehension to
Harry Bill, the day clerk.
You will never see your money again;
that's an old game replied the well-in-
formed Mr.. Bill. 1t was not long until
Williams did commence to think that he
had seen the last Of his money He
hunted up Col. Allen and re-toId the story
to him.
Williams thought Meredith had
through ticket to New York, although he
did not see 1t. Col Allen gave directions
where he might find the police station,
and Williams reported the affair to the
police. He was entirely without money,
and Father Hardtlieb of Moscow, Idaho,
and two brother priests, who came in
on the same train, made up a little purse
and sent 1t down to the depot by bell
boy.
Williams continued his journey to his
home in Pennsylvania last night.