Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-09

RippIes on the Current of Life in the
MetropoIfs

nipples on the Current OF Life In the
Metropolis.
All accounts agree that no one persisted
Of thirst in New York City on Sunday last
Likewise, all agree in saying the day was
the dryest in a generation. Notwithstand-
ing the amazing drouth. the authorities OF
the town, in cahoots with newspaper re-
porters, managed to pull of an oficial bur-
glary, in order to test the grating propen-
stiles Of the police. District Attorney Je-
rome selected the house to be burglarized,
placed therein the booty, consisting OF $3.50
In money and $3.50 worth Of silverware.
suitably marked, and turned the job over
to the Herald reporter assigned TO the
duty.
The Herald selected a reporter who went
under the name Of Kid Rawley and for ten
days mingled with the criminals Of the
Bowery, where he picked up a pal named
Villiers. They approached a detective, told
him they were about to commit a burglary
and offered to divide with him IL he would
help them dispose of the stolen goods. The
plotters say the detective agreed to the
proposition. but the latter declares he re-
ferred them to police headquarters. The
newspaper men then proceeded to a house
on the upper west side and pulled of"
their little affair. The supposed burglars
met the detective afterward, but he had
three companions Will him.
1t Is declared that the employees Of the
newspaper promised to give the detectives
800 II they would give their assistance and
protection in case the burglary was traced
to them. Instead, the detectives placed
Rawley and his companion under arrest.
They were arraigned today, and the district
attorney had them released on his recog-
~nizance.
G. S. Cowenhoven, the reporter who went
under the name of Rawley, for more than
a week mingled on terms Of intimacy with
thieves and crooks and masqueraded sue
cessfully as one Of their number. In that
capacity, according to the Herald, he dis
cussed with accredited detective sergeants
plans for the protection OF himself and his
supposed associates in the commission OF
crime, and the price to be paid for immu-
nifty from arrest. To one detective a sum OF
money was paid as his share Of the pro-
ceeds Of a supposed procket-picking ex-
plot.
One Of the most extraordinary books ever
designed is now being made for a picked
number of Stock exchange men. 1t is to be
a book of caricatures Of the members. The
artists are to be such we'll known carica-
u 1870 no SeoAf WA NhA oNAhh ~
ers and Davenport. Each member pays 800
for his copy OF the book, in addition 20
which he gets the original drawing of him
self. There will probably also be short
burlesque biographies of the men. After
the limited number of copies OF the book
have been struck of the plates will be de-
stroyed. Only one copy will be sold to each
man. Offers of SIS premium are already
being made for the copies.
A FIRE in a pipe-maker's shop the other
day, relates the Post, spoiled the propri-
etor's stock of meerschaum, and incl
dentally disposed Of the idea, common in
most smokers minds, that the commodity
is very expensive. Meerschaum itself is
not very expensive. That used by the
manufacturer in this country is imported
as a raw material from Austria, and most
Of it is obtained in Asia Minor. Usually
there are three or four different l. ddes,
running from the rough and mixed to the
pure and finely grained article. There is
no duty upon it. The chunks, not unlike
Camel coal in shape, are packed in oblong
boxes about two feet and a half long, a
foot wide and a foot high. The raw ma
terial is quite brittle and has to be soaked
in water before it is used for modelling.
Meerschaum pipes are expensive because
much Of the material from which the
bowls are made has to be thrown away
before a piece is found that has no flaws
in it. The shavings, however, are never
wasted. They are used to make a cheaper
grade OF pipes, which are known as chip
meerschaums.
Two bunco men rambled outside the
bounds of Manhattan borough in search of
fodder. They struck a dairyman named
Thomas J. Nearn. The first one, repre-
senting himself as a New York business
man in want of a country place, called on
Nearn and offered such a liberal price for
his farm that a deal was soon made.
The two were looking about the farm and
the purchaser was telling Of improvements
he proposed to make when Bunco Man
No. 2 put in an appearance. He was
roughly dressed and professed to be a
drover anxious to buy stock. He acted
as II half drunk and soon began Dragging
Of a new game he had learned in New York
last week. Then, producing some cards, he
began throwing them clumsily and offering
to bet that no one could pick out the
Joker"
The farm buyer made several wagers and
won easily, and then found II easy to per-
suade the farmer to try his luck. The
manipulation of the cards suddenly grew
skillful, and very soon the proceeds OF
Farmer Nearn's last milk check, about
$50. was in the droyer's pocket.
With the loss Of his money came the
realization that he had been vlctimized.
"I've got some more money In the house,
said Nearn, "and I'll get It and try my luck
again. That dod-gasted Joker can't fool me
allus."
He made a ouiek trip TO the house, and
on his return pulled out, not a roll" but
a revolver, which he leveled at the bunco
men and told them to throw up their
hands.
They saw determination in the old mans
eye, and up went their hands. His hrst
care was to relieve them Of their revolvers.
This done, he said:
Now, hand over my money and all the
other cash you've got about your measly
carcasses."
They handed 1t over.