The Sunday globe., 1901-05-26
"CON" GAMES.
OF the National Capital in Read
able Prose.
HOW congressman WORK THEM
Mr. Walkers indignation al the Capitol Police
and His Experiences with the Con Men,
Other interesting Experiences, as Narrated
by a Bright and Capable Washington Cor
respondent Up 10 His lob.


by a Bright and Capable Washington Cor
respondent up 10 His lob.
An exceedingly bright correspond
ent of New York newspaper resi-
dent of this city, thus dishes up some
of the ICON" games Of the Nations
Capital:
A few days before Congress ad-
journed the Capitol police suspected
a certain person of being confidence
man, and at the conclusion of his talk
with Representative Waters, Of Cali
fornia, took him in custody. He was
taken before the lieutenant in charge
and warned not to set foot in the Cap
itol again under penalty of arrest. All
this was very unpleasant to Mr.. Wat
ers and he has a Crude against the
Capitol police. 1T seems hard luck"
he said, in the cloak room that after
noon to a party of Californians, that
every time get good chance to oper-
ate on a confidence man some police
man comes along and rescues him.
These officers ought to know that
If a confidence man can get anything
from a Californian he is welcome to 1t,
and the chances are largely in favor
of the Californian beating the con
man at his own game. These eastern
sharps must think that because a man
halls from the Golden State his pock-
cts are bulging with ready money and
| he is always a fit subject for a quick
touch. The next time | get con
man in a corner and see a Capitol po-
liceman approaching, am going to
flag him and keep him away until get
/ through. Who knows" he concluded
| regretfully. ct might have secured a
gold watch or a diamond pin from
that fellow this afternoon"
"Oh, yes" said Representative Bar
ham, also from California, "you are
doubtless too wise for the best Of them.
but | will bet you get stuck like the
rest Of us casionally."
"Well, III confess" responded Mr.
Waters, they do get the better Of me
once in a while, but | have had some
lucky escapes. Now there's Needham;
If there is anybody easy in the dele
cation it is Needham. He is so soft
hearted that any one could move him
to pity and make him open his heart
and purse as we'll. Some time ago o
young man came to me and repre-
sented himself as being from my dis
trict.
"T live within a block of you al
Los Angeles he said, and l know
your friends, the Blanks, and Captain
Star and number of other people you
know we'll. Here I am, stranded ir
Washington and no way to get home
Can't you get me a pass to Los Ange
les? / felt moved almost to tears by
the distress so evident in the young
mans countenance, but 1t occurred tc
me to investigate a little before re
spending to his appeal. L want to dc
what can for you said l, and vii
see if / can secure you transportation
Come around some time tomorrow
and I will let you know
"As soon as he had departed l tele
graphed to Los Angeles and receives
the reply that he was an imposter
The next day he returned and | said
Young man, you have made a mis-
take. You are not from my district
but from Needham's district SO
am he replied, striking his forehea,
in his vexation. Go see Needham
said l, his heart is as big as his body
so | will he said, and so he did. Ant
what does Needham do? asked Mt
Waters, glancing around the circle in
uuiringly. Why Needham gets him
pass home"
, At this there was considerable laugh
ter at Mr.. Needham's expense, in tn
midst of which he stepped through
J the doors. You should have been her
: to hear the story Waters has been tell
! ing of you" suggested Representative
} Metcalf. Mr.. Needham's curioSit
, aroused, he demanded the story and
! was repeated. YES" he said, rueful
p ly, "and that isn't all That felloN
) came TO me for pass and told him
J never asked for passes but in eonsid
] Grafton of his family and the sad Gil
cumstances in which he found him
self | would write note to the agen
J of certain railway, introducing hin
and he might explain the circumstar
, ces and perhaps would get a pass H
J departed rejoicing, but the next da
= returned in the deepest detection. H
had presented the letter and his re
! quest had been denied. OF course, un
= der the circumstances, l could not re
lubt Ills BGuNlC nlAll lAlfiN Wv NOhlA ~
acceptable and let him have 1t, afte
which he departed with effusiv
thanks"
"Well, you were easy" was the gen
eral response to Mr.. Needham's story
But that was not the worst of it,,
he continued cheerfully. 81 met M
friend, the general passenger agent
some time later" he said, "and askeu
him why he turned down this poor
but honest, Californian" Turn hin
downl' he exclaimed in astonishment
why, gave him a pass straigh
through to Los Angeles' This shool
my confidence in my California con
stituent and an investigation revealel
the heartrending fact that he was no
from California, but hailed from NeV
York. He had sold the pass and spen
the money, and, worse than all, wa
congratulating himself on havinl
found such a soft thing"
Speaking of confidence men," SAT-
another member, 81 think Washington
is a splendid field for them and an
surprised at their absence. There ar
very few confidence men worthy Of tn
name in the city, for all who are opeI
ating here now are satisfied with from
$40 to $50. One of the cleveres
schemes | heard being worked las
winter was by a young man from tn
Pacific coast, as he said. He arrives
in the city one day last spring and I'M
mediately sought western represen
tative to whom he introduced himsel
as the son of an old friend. They ha'
several drinks, and the young maj
exhibited a large roll Of bills, care
lessly remarking that he was in Wash
In oton FOR pOod tima and ha nronOe