Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-03
WAS cLevsRss1 " CROOKS.
Hungry Joe" Who Died Recently,
Had Many Eminent Victims.

IbNt " no blCu
Had Many Eminent Victims.
Bearing a maine ON his coffin plate TN
Ter which he would never be recog.
lizcd, Joseph Lewisi, better known as
Hungry joe" was carried to the grave
recently in New York The story is told
low after suffering from Bright's dis
,nsc for four weeks the confidence man
lied in an apartment house in New
York.
Known variously under the names
VI Joseph Lewis, George IL. Post,
George Howard, Francis Alvaney and
others. the name under which Hungry
Ioe' was baptized he kept carefully
guarded, and even his intimates never
Knew his family name.
For quarter of a century Hungry
Toe" was one of the most conspicuous
fgures in criminal life He was known
wherever The English language was
spoken, but could take care of himself
m the French or German capitals as
easily. He was a man of wonderful
polish, easily made friends of his vic.
Tins and apparently succeeded for
many years in dipping even the police
Nothing has ever been learned of
Hungry Joe's" birthplace or early life
but it was back in the Cos thar he first
began to make himself conspicuous in
criminal life in New York. His schemes
to get money were adroit and we'll exc
cuted and few whom he marked as vic.
Tins ever escaped,
Probably Hungry Joe's' most nota
bic victim was Gen. John A. Logan.
The old soldier was staying NJ the
Fifth Avenue Hotel when sleek and
Olly-tongued young stranger ingrati'
ated himself into his favor. lie was
learnedly discussing questions OF inter.
national Importance when the hotel
detective stepped up and warned the
general that he was talking to the most
remarkable confidence operator in the
world. Hungry joe"
Gen. Logan was visibly annoyed ut
the interruption, and in his brusque
manner told the detective to attend to
his own business. as the man with
whom he was conversing was the son
Of one of his oldest friends. A few
minutes later Hungry Joe" cashed
Gen. Logan's order on the cashier OF
the hotel for $500 and walked away
smiling.
The late Judge Noah Davis, who tried
Boss Tweed. was also one of the early
victims. and Charles Francis Adams
fell into his net Another conspicuous
victim was Oscar Wilde. Oscar paid
Tor his acquaintance with Hungry
Joe" the sum of $1,000 in cash and
81, 800 in notes. Later he went to Capt
Williams and told his tale of woe, and
said that while he probably could not
regain his money he would like to get
the notes. Williams sent for Joe and
told him he would have to give up, and
with good grace the confidence man did
So
THAT is the first swell who has ever
sQuealed OH me-" said Joe.
The downfall of Hungry Joe" oc.
Cured in 1885 says II st. Louis Post
Dispatch special. He was arrested
charged with snatching roll of bills
from the hands of victim. Joe was
convicted and sentenced TO four years
in State prison. When he was r..
leased he went to Baltimore, but his
luck had turned and he was soon ar
rested and sentenced to the Maryland
State penitentiary, where he remained
until 1898.
Upon his release he returned to this
city and had since been living quietly
In west side apartment house. His
last public appearance was in a sen-
sational raid on a house in Soubrette
row district, when he slid down the
shaft for Four stories to
escape the police.