Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-15
A GREEN GOODS GAME
Worked Successfully But One Of the
SWindlsrs is in Custody

MIKE AGNIC WAS THE VICTIM
HE SAW HIS MAN ON MARKET
STREET AND AFTER A VERY
EXCITING FOOT RACE SAW HIM
ARRESTED ON WATER STREET
STRANGER REFUSES To TELL
HIS RIGHT NAME-IN THE JUS
TICE OFFICE-COMMITT IN
DEFAULT OF BOND.
Several weeks ago two strangers
dropped into Mike Agnic's saloon in tbs
North End, and took several drinks
One Of the men produced four ten dol
lar bills, which were attached to each
other at the corners, bearing the ap-
pearance OF not having been properly
cut after being printed.
i've got a lot of this stuff, and l
want to get rid Of it, said one Of the
men.
According to Agnic's story he exam
ined the bills, and satisfied himself
that they were good enough to be ac-
cepted as legal tender anywhere. He
counted out forty dollars in good Amer
lean money, and handed it out over the
counter in exchange for the four ten
dollar notes. The strangers succeeded
in getting him interested, and the re-
suit was several conferences on the
subject of an exchange of the new
bills in larger quantity, for Agnic's
money, the terms as matter of course
being made sufficiently attractive for
Agnic They offered him s1,4OO Of the
new bills in exchange for $500 in cash.
Agnic had in the meantime learned
that the bills which he first changed
were good.
The final meeting was held in Agnic's
sitting room. He counted out $500, but
according to his story the two swind-
lers ran out, without leaving the prom
ised bills behind, and he was left to
mourn his loss.
Why did you not get after them
then, or make some complaint to the
police" asked the reporter, to whom
Agnic told the story.
"Oh, they got away" was the I'M
satisfactory reply, but the only reply
he could be induced to make.
At any rate, Agnic parted with his
coin. and had mourned it as irretriev-
ably lost until yesterday afternoon,
when he was sauntering leisurely down
Market street, and CHANGED to run
against one of his men face to race
The recognition was mutual me
stranger took to his heels, running to-
ward the direction of the river evil
IDENTIFY with the purpose of escaping
into Ohio. Agnic is not built for a
sprinter, but he managed to keep at the
heels of his man. and his cries of stop
thief added to the general excitement
which was caused by the race. The
man was finally caught on Water street
and detained until officer Ed. Michaels
arrived and took him into custody.
When the stranger was searched at
police headquarters, only S33 was found
on his person. A warrant was made
out in the name of John Smith, the
prisoner refusing to give his name. He
asked to see a lawyer, and c. P. Flick
was secured. The prisoner was taken
before Justice Fitzpatrick. Agnic had
retained Attorney Addleman.
The proceedings before the squire
were very interesting, because of a
squabble between attorneys relative to
the correct mode of procedure under
the law. Mr. Flick demanded an i'm
mediate trial Mr.. Addleman asked for
a continuance until to-day to enable
the prosecution to summon witnesses.
Mr.. Flick found a provision in the
chapter of the Code pertaining to trials
before justices, which he held guaran-
teed a prisoner immediate trial, and
provided that when the State asks con-
tlnuance the accused must be released
upon his own recognizance, or without
recognizance. Mr.. Addleman dug
through the Code until he found a pro-
vision which he thought sustained his
view of the matter. There was sharp
passage of repartee, during which Mr..
Flick asked Mr.. Addleman If he offered
his view of the law against all the au-
thorities who had written on the sub
ject. Mr.. Addleman retorted that the
opinion advanced by the attorney for
the defense was simply the opinion of
c. P. Flick, and he had not heard of
him writing very much law.
The attorneys argued the difference
between the terms ease pending" and
trial pending. "as found in the statutes
and also the difference between post
ponement' and continuance" Mr..
Flick agreed that there might be
continuance" under the law. II the
trial" were pending" The justice
stopped the technical argument.
stand up and be sworn" he said to
Agnic.
did this man get $500 from your"