The sun., 1902-03-10
THE RETALIATION OF REUBEN.
MR. WISSIG OF DE ATE MOVED
TO REFLECT on CITY JAYS.
He's One OF Them In the opinion OF MIR.
Wagner OF Grand Street Cashed
Check on . Bank which Doesn't Exist
for q Town Constable From Nowhere.

Nobody can convince me- said the
Hon. Phil Wissig of de Ate yesterday, in
relating how he had been swindled out Of
1925, that the farmer jays and Rubes are
not turning and getting hunk with US city
blokes. We are getting to be the real
suckers
Mr.. Wissigs recital Of the swindle which
caught him was dramatic and vehement.
About a week ago a man who appeared 70
be a well-to-do farmer called on him in his
saloon In Grand street, introducing himself
as Constable John Hopkins of Pittsteld,
Mass
Il Jest come here to York. said he, -ter
see the sights an buy seeds fer my fairm,
I hev 200 acres Of ther best land In Berk-
shire. l amt putin up any place par
ticular, jest goin' tew different PARTS o
teown nights. / heerd you was somethin'
Of politician deown here an l tho't I'd
come in ter see yer. / wuz in ther Legis
later myself years ago. Hev a drink with
me everybody
Constable Hopkins produced a roll Of
bills, treated literally and made friends.
He came back on the next day treated again,
and took Wissig and his friends, Charlie
Wagner, the Grand street drygoods man,
and Louis Cells of the Hanfield House, to
Bowerv theatre, where they occupied
box, and he acted the host in a manner
which caused Wissig TO remark that he
was thoroughbred.
The stranger told some remarkable
stories about fishing and hunting near his
home and Wissig. Wagner and Cells ac-
cepted invitations TO visit the farm this
summer and go fishing.
aWhy IN two hours aaid the Consta bla
you kin ketoh three hundred Of the finest
pickercl you ever saw. Some OF EN-
weighs at least ton pounds,
Wagner almost tainted with Joy and
insisted on being allowed to buy bottle
of wine.
1t came out the next day that Mr. Hop
kins was expecting letters from home and
had directed that they bo sent To Wisslg's
saloon.
he, -an' | sent hum for draft. expect
IL in a day or two. l wish you'd put any
letters fer me in the safe. You can't b. too
careful in this we're city
Certainly" said Wissig, they'll be safo
here"
Two letters came on Friday addressed TO
Constable John Hopkins, care of p Nssigs
LIQUOR shop, Grand and Forsythe Streets
and bearing a Pittstield postmark. When
Hopkins opened them Wagner was present,
-Ah, here's the chock," said Hopkins
seemed 70 be a check on Pittsfield bank
for 1925. made payable to John Hopkins
Il got a great boy, he continued, Jest
look at this letter he wrote his dad, and
he handed the letter to Wissig. Ii read
DEAR POP: / got yure letter. ] went
down TO the bank and got them 20 make
me out the check so that ] wouldn't have
TO spend the money. All the folks is well
Send them horses along soon az you can
We will need them plouRhn' Hiram Eli,
called down yesterday and said ne would
buy that ten-acre piece near the pasture
home Monday. Your loving boy. RKuBEN.
L wonder where | could cash this hero
check?" remarked Hopkins when Wissig
had properly admired this literary effort.
4Ach. I viii cash id righdt away said
%6h, no. said wissig. -Mr. Hopkins
is in my place now. Allow me 10 cash it,
He handed over the money and Hopkins
after buying several rounds of drinks,
said he had TO 20 after his horses and de-
parted, promising TO call again the next
day
Wissig sent The check to his own bank
for collection. he was astounded sew
eral hours later when messenger from
the bank informed him that there was no
such bank In Pttsfeld a. the check was
drawn upon, A telegram was sent 20 Pitts
field and elected the Response that Hopkins
was swindler and Wssig was not his
only victim.
Zach, vissig,' said Wagner 10 the Hon.
Phil when he heard this, how couldt you
be such a suggerH You vas a regular
farmer yourself
why you wanted to cash that check
yourself replied Wissig, Indignantly.
"Ach, dot vas only a choke answered
y q