The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-26
BRIAN HUGHES FINDS $5O,OoO
Practical Joker Fined $40 for Gre
atInG a Disturbance.
From the New York World.


From the New York World
ut has always afforded me much pleas
ure to sound the depth of the public's
credulty."
So has said Brian Ct. Hughes, the rich
paper-box manufacturer, who lives at
the Waldorf-Astoria. He is the inveter-
ate practical Joker who palmed off Bow
cry vagrant on the judges at the cat
show as the aristocratic Nicodemus, worth
$3.50, and Nicodemus won the blue rib
bon. In sounding the depth of the pub
lies credulity," Mr.. Hughes pretended to
find vast treasure hidden in a desk
that once belonged to a woman of the half
world. He kept up this joke, of which
the newspapers were full, until the public
administrator got after him and he had
to confess.
Mr.. Hughes and his family are at the
Monmouth Hotel, Asbury Park. There.
too, are Nanny" Friend, the lawyer, and
James Burdette, the professional humor-
list. Saturday Hughes said TO Friend
and Burdette:
IT'S getting dull here. We must wake
up this pious community"
SO they Matched a plot to find a large
sum of money in the ocean. Hughes filed
a shotbag with brass filings, tied it. dab
bed 1t with red sealing wax, stamped the
wax with the eagle on silver half dol
lar, and marked on it in big figures. "SO9
co.," ~
Having every confidence in his fellow
conspirators, Mr.. Hughes hid the "treas-
ure' in his bathing blouse when he went
into the surf yesterday. The water was
crowded with people; thousands were on
the beach and board walk. Hughes drop
ped the bag in shallow water picked ii
up held it high above his head and veil
ed as he walked to the beach:
Hi, look what I've foundi s5OOOOi
With the official stamps of the United
states! 5000! 1t must have dropped over
board from man-o-warr'
So great was the crush around Hughes
that the board walk broke down under
the weight of people
That's my money! exclaimed an ex-
cited man. I'm prove it. Give 1t to me. "
Il guess not" reaorted Hughes. ms
treasure trove. l found it in the ocean.
No one can claim il :"
On the outskirts of the crowd was Man
ny Friend, who approached Policeman
Finnerty.
That man looks like a crook" said
the lawyer. There's something strange
about this. Anyhow, that money belongs
to the United States"
Finnerty instantly plunged through the
crowd 10 Hughes. Friend hurried TO the
station house nearby. -
There's an insane man on the beach in
citing riot" said he. The captain of
police caf.ed out the deserves six men.
When they reached Hughes he. Finnerty
and the man who claimed the money. Were
IN red-hot argument, and hundreds were
taking sides with one or other Of them.
Hughes time had come he had sound
ed the public's credulity;" the joke was
Com.lete.
"Ha, IA, har' he burst out laughing.
You people will believe anything. I've
fooled you all. This Is not money, see,
Nothing but brass filings. liza, ha. han'
The police captain did not laugh.
Il arrest you for raising a row. coli
Letting crowd and breaking the Sab
bath" sad no.
why ms all Joke" fanersd Hughes
Come with me-" reiOrted the pol ceman.
ana be- took Hughes a. his dripping bath
lng suit before Justice Borden
The Justice road Hughes a severe lee
lure ana iined him $40 FOR dls0riarly con
duet. riot and violating the Sabbath .,
HUGHES fuefully paid.