Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-16
COL. BIRD FLEECED.
Loses His Money in Chicago While
Bound for Porto Rico.

Bound for Porto Rico.
When Hobart Bird, OF Madison,
went to Porto Rico he was robbed OF
sum of money, and when his father
Colonel Bird, stopped in Chicago
while bound for Porto Rico, he was
fleeced by sharpers, as told in the
Evening Wisconsin,:
Col. Geo. w. Bird, the well known
democratic politician, and attorney OF
Madison, Is a living illustration OF
the fact that no matter what new and
elaborate schemes OF bunco steering
this fin de steele age may bring out,
the old and threadbare confidence
games that our fathers used to go
against, are the ones that still catch
the wisest. Col. Bird was in Chicago
last week on his road to Porto Rico,
to witness the marriage OF his son,
who Is now publishing newspaper In
San Juan. One afternoon he was
standing on the cornor OF Clark and
Van Buren, streets when stranger,
we'll dressed and respectable, OF course,
came up and greeted him cffusively.
The colonel himself tells the story OF
what happened.
"Ah, how are you, colonel! Haven't
forgot me, | see. You know Hobart
and | used to go to school together in
Madison. Just left him in San Juan
two weeks ago and told ne to hunt
you up" The young man ratified on
In n manner that left the colonel in no
doubt that he had enjoyed long ac-
quaintance with his son, and had just
with parted him In San Juan but II few
days before. "And by the way" said
the stranger, 81 have somepicturcs that
] promised to send your son. Lucky,
you can take them with you for safe
keeping. Come along to my apart
ments." And the cvorobligng col
oncl was dragged Off TO room in
South Clark street, oven his environ
ment failing to arouse any suspicious.
They discovered u very cordial
"fricnd" playing cards In the room,
but when Col. Bird was invited to join
the game just for an hour or 80, he
concluded that something was wrong
and started to leave. On his way
down stairs he was met by police
man, who promptly "pnchcd" the
III, f,,nn1 fninnIu ~
the charge Of counterfeting and pro-
ceedcd to search the trio. OF course
he found queer money In liberal guam
titles on the two pals and then went
through the colonel and relieved him
OF more than II hundred dollars in bills
and silver. He carried the coloncl's
money TO II window and examined 1t
carefully, despite the Wisconsin mans
protestations that he was innocent and
had nothing to do with the place or It's
occupants, The cop, after u close
questioning and examination, finally
said: "My dear sir really believe
that you are telling the truth. You
don't look like con man, and
have discovered that your money Is
perfectly good. Now you must pardon
my mistake and take your money back,
but get out Of here Mt once, for you
couldn't explain this SO easily NJ the
Harrison street station, you know.
And with profuse apologies the
colonel was given his money, and hus-
tied out on the street. He walked
away some blocks, shaking hands with
himself over his happy delivcrance
and mentally thinking that even II man
OF advanced years will occasionally
get into trouble on South Clark street.
He dropped into place to think 1t
ovcr-Appollinaris, mind you and
showed n ~ bin over the bar. The
man In white apron eyed him with
contempuous distrust, Say, dat
don't go here, see? Youse easy.
OATS dc worst piece nv work dat's
been showed Mt mo for II long time.
Where'd youse--"
"Flimhammcd, by gum!" gasped tho
colonel, and he tished out u pocketful
OF the most miserable counterht that
ever man bit upon.
A., l,.lltn,,s, A., Hinx,n.l l,~, fsp.n,,,