The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-27


Nothing is SO seasily obtained as drink.
II man is thirsty and short Of funds,
ne suggests to a friend that he would like
to borrow money for drink, and 80 times
out of 100 the friend will say: Have q
drink with me- But let him ask for mon
ey TO buy food for his family, and the
chances are his friend viii be broke,
OF, if not, he viii lend the money, but
never buy the food himself. Then there
is the sick h'Jsband, the sick wife, the
of a position the out with-the-boys
and variety of other pleas which are
put up Dolly at the Capitol and rarely
unsuceessfulIy.
Helps Every Applicant.
81 always give something to everybody. =
said one member, whose resources. how
ever, are not limited to his salary. I feel
that while they may not be worthy, If
they are not. no one is injured but myself.
while il / refuse they are injured IN not
receiving. and l am injured in having re-
fused a worthy person
Speaking Of confidence men, said an
Cher. 4 think Washington is a splendid
field for them and am surprised az their
scarcity. There are very few confidence
men worthy Of the name in this city. for
al who are operating here now are salts
fed with frC N $40 to $50.
.,One of the cieyerest schemes that 1
heard Of being worked last winter was
by young man from the Pacific Coast
50 he said. He arrived IN the city one day
last spring and Immediately sought a Wes-
tern Representative. to whom lie intro
iuced himself as the son Of an old friend.
They had several drinks and the young
man exhibited q large roll OF bills, care
lessly remarking that he was in Washing
ton fer good time ard he proposed to
have IL The next day there were more
drinks and lunch at the Capitol, and the
Representative began to think pretty well
CT his constituents. On the third morning
the young man showed up without funds.
He had been out with the boys the night
before. drank too much and lost his money
at poker. Would the Representative cash
A draft on his Western bank for $50? The
Representative would. and did
The young nlan went over to New York
on the midnight train and week later
returned. The draft was as good as gold.
On his return the young man brought
with him another roll, which he proceed
ed TO dissipate in the same manner, wind
ing up with securing the easbing OF
draft for 800. This did Tot last long,
and, accompanied by the member. he had
drafts for from SO 10 $50 cashed at a
number Of the leading saloons and hotels,
and a few banks. Altogether the amount
was for some S4e0 or $560. Again he dis
drafts were as good as gold The third
time he came he brought over a couple
of chums from New York, old classmates
at college, he explained. All three were
plentifulIy supplied with money, which
they spent literally. Strange to say they
all went broke the next day. SO they
went from saloon to saloon, hotel 10 ho-
tel, getting checks cashed- They would
enter place, have confidential talk
with the proprietor get eashed a check
fer S25 or $50, and buy drink. Then
they would pass on 10 the next place and
repeat.
Made Nice Little Haul
'AH the checks By the -chums' we're on
New York banks, and for small amounts,
and the young man from the West con-
tented himself with endorsing bis friends
paper. The small amounts and the near
ness OF the banks quoted all suspicion.
The next day, long before the New York
checks wore heard from, our Western
friend paid a visit TO all the places where
he was acquainted. He and his New
York ehums had gotten in trouble the
night before and they were in the sta
tionhouse while he was trying TO raise
money to get them all out and square
matters so their parents would not hear
of their escspades.
This plea was worked successfully on
almost everyone who had money. He
would not lock at less than $500, and new
er asked for more than $500 Where he
could not get the ready money he took
an endorsement Enquiry revealed the
fact that The two friends we're in the sta
ton and the story seemed very straight
That night the two chums were released
ard all three quietly disappeared The next
day all the checks came back from New
York and the week following saw ali the
drafts returned The EesterneT had clos
ed his account il the Western bank and his
whereabou was unknown
The Representative took out his pen
ell and figured the matter out. The first
night he met the young man the latter had
expended about So in drinks; the next
night SIS. At various other times he had
expended an average Of $40 night for FIVE
nights His chums had spent about $50
between them during their stay. All the
hotel bills amounted to aboat 500. So
the total money spent By the party was
about $3.50. Their coup netted them about
81 ESQ on the small checks and between
81. zoe and $4,000 on the Western drafts.
The Representative found himself endorser
FOR $500 Of the latter ard his friends
we're on $50 more. Altogether the Yves
tern man and his chums cleaned ND over
S, 600 and 9. sappeared.
II you want to have 8. lively time Just
ask thai Representative to cash check
on Western bank, or to meet soma old
college eaunls and he viii entertain you
for few minutes With few loud and Ye-
hement remarks on the depravity Of man
kind
PAINTINGS BY RAPHAEL.
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