The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-11-24
WOULD TRIM GUYS
All Around Crook Wants to Do
Some Work in Mankat0.
Proposed to Give Chief $100 a
Week for Permission.
Outlined His Plan for Getting
Money From Innocents.
Would Work Only Strangers,
and Do it in "BrOokIyn.'
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Chief Donahue had a curious expert
ence about two weeks ago, and the out
come shows that Mankato's chief of
police is not open to bribery. He re-
ceived a call from Il well dressed strang-
er who said that his name was Barnes.
He announced, at the outset that he
was confidence man, and all around
crook, and that he had come to Manka-
to to engage in business for time, if
the chief would stand for it. He de-
scribed his way of doing" the inno-
cents, which is certainly novel and has
proved successful, according to his
story.
Barnes said that he dresses as a stock
man from a southern state, as for in
stance, Missouri. Then he seeks the
depot and picks out likely victim. He
is aided by a confederate. He and his
pal engage in conversation with the vic
tim, and finally the confederate pro-
poses to Barnes that they have cigar.
Barnes says that he has not time, and
the confederate after some talk pro-
poses that they match dollars, the one
winning to buy the cigars. Much urg-
ing is needed to get Barnes to do this,
as he claims he never CANDLES. Barnes
wins the dollar and goes for the cigars,
innocently displaying a roll of bills as
he pockets the dollar.
Then the confederate gets busy with
the victim, proposing that they get
Barnes to match more dollars, so to
get his money, they to divide up after
wards. As Barnes looks so easy, the
victim accepts the proposition. the con-
federate lays out system of opera
tions, and when Barnes returns with
the cigars he is persuaded with diff
Guilty to match more dollars. The vic
tim wins once or twice and Barnes con-
tinues to loose, the stakes are made
So, and the game keeps up until the
confederate has all the winnings and
the victim is cleaned out Then the
confederate pretends to get mad and ac-
cuses victim of not following instruc-
tons in the carrying out of the system
that they had previously agreed upon in
the matching. At this, Barnes gets
angry and declares that he has been
made the victim of a conspiracy to rob
him and declares that he will get the
police and starts off, The confederate
ducks" out with the money, and the
victim, who fears arrest more than he
regrets the loss of his money, also flies
and gives no trouble.
Barnes said that he had worked the
game all over the country and that it
was almost invariably successful. The
victim very seldom made complaint to
the authorities, fearing arrest. He said
that if Mr.. Donahue would allow him
to operate in Mankota he would victim
ize only out town people, and if de-
sired would do it on the other side of
the bride, so that the onus would not
come on Mankato if it was ever heard
of. He said that he would give the
chief 500 week if he would stand for
it, and would advance 500 at once.
If victim made trouble, his money
would be refunded if he could not be
stood off any other way.
Chief Donahue said that he could not
stand for it. Mr.. Barnes said that
if he wouldn't, it would be all right
and he would leave at once and make no
trouble. He requested as a final favor
to be allowed to trim" just one "guy,"
and asked the chief to happen around
and see him do it. Mr.. Donahue refused
this favor, and Barnes said that he was
always on the square with the officers
and never worked where they did not
permit him to do so. He said that he
knew all of the chiefs of police in the
cities of the country. He was well ac-
quainted with Chief .O'Conner of st.
Paul, but was never allowed to do any
work there. "O'Conner always says to
me-" said Barnes, 'Tom, you are well
come to come to st. Paul, and 1 am
glad to see you, but you must sit
around and not do any work"
Barnes took his departure cheerfully.