Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-01-30
A JOKE ON BOB"
A True Story Of the Early Days and a
Lottery Ticket

A few nights ago there were assem-
bled in one OF the popular resorts OF
the town a half dozen old timers or
Moss backs" as they call themselves
who were swapping stories on each
ether bringing to mind many amusing
and ridiculous events long since past
One story in particular brings back
60 mind the paImy days when business
was not so rushing but that the good
natured people Of the town could get to
gether aud patch up Joke on one of
their number. which would Oftimes re-
salt in furnishing sundry quarts OF
champagne his story has to do with
sne of those events.
During the middle eighties. the
Louisiana lottery scheme was flourish
ing and most every part of the United
States contained people who coveted
me capital prize of S30O,00 Lewiston
was no exception to the rule but his
tory does not say how many unlucky
tickets went into the vaults of her
citizens.
THE best joke l remember is on
bob conveived the idea that if he
bought just one ticket there was n pos
sfbflity of enticing the capital prize his
way. Somehow or other several of us
put our heads together and We safely
conjectured that Bob had a ticket in
the safe in his store and right hen
We started in to have some fun and we
gA
ming The Teller then and Charley
Kress was postmaster Abram Binnard.
who was "A partner of Bob was let
into the scheme and when we thought
n vas time to spring the joke we let
her go. In the meantime the number
of 'Bob's' ticket was found out by
Binnard.
" bob was in the habit Of inquiring
of Leland. what the news was each day.
He was in front of the store on Second
and Maiu one day and seeing Leland
coming up the street on the rush with
n Walls Fargo dispatch he stopped Lee
hnd asiug what was the matter. I4e-
land said oh nothing some lucky fool
In town has bought one OF those lottery
tickets and Just got a message to find
cut who holds the winning number.
bob said. hold on what is the win
ming number I've got one of those tick
sts myself" why it's 1143T' said Le-
and. "Bob's" eyes began TO glow and
Ais form to trmble" say Leland, be-
Heve that's the number OF my ticket,
wen go into the store and see" In the
meantime L.eiand's fellow conspirators
were congregated in the postoffice
across the street to the number of over
a dozen waiting patiently for the de-
velopment OF the plot.
"Bobs" lottery ticket nestled In the
bosom OF the barge iron safe of Grostein
q Bnnarfs the safe one of those anti
auated affairs. the certainty of open
ing which Is like the proverbial Jack
pot In poker game stood In the
rear of the store: "Bob's' excitement
was such that he did not attempt to
open II himself but called into play the
services of Binnard. who essayed to
open the cssket containing the precious
ticket All his efforts to work tn com
bfuation proved futile adding fuel to
"Bob's" already glowing excitement,
Upon Binnard's failure. Sam" Reeds
services were called into action on the
apparently refractory combination.
Sam twisted and twirled the nickel
sphere but all In vain, "Robs" impa-
thence now b0rdered on frenzy and he
excftedIy called for sledse hammer:
his brother Louie. who was standing
by, went to the blacksmith shop and