Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-10
DAILY STORY
JAMES PARSONS, JR.

there came one day a poor devil of an
artist named James Parsons, Jr.
Two days later James Parsons, Jr.,
No. =, arrived and took room 3, Oh the
second floor. Two days after No. =
came No. 3. He took room - on the
third floor.
One would think that the agent who
had rented three different rooms to
three different men of the same name
in the same building in the same week
would have remarked to at least one of
the Parsons on the singular coinci
dence, but the receipts We're made out
and nothing was said. For two weeks
the three men were ignorant of each
others identity Then something hap
pened that led to much trouble for all
| of them. One day as the artist was
painting away the agent of an express
company walked into his room. made
him identify himself by his rent re-
ceipt and left him Il package contain
ing $4,000. With him it was an ev-
eryday matter. and after getting the
signature he went off whistling. With
the artist it was a matter TO make him
SdSp lll IL ldlt anu NblutE IL al
house had fallen on him. On the en-
velope it was recorded that the pack
age was sent by Thomas Parsons of
oxford. The artist had never been in
the town or heard of the sender.
The artist waited three days for
letter. but none came. His first thought
was to communicate with the sender.
His SncnnI 10 0n1 iny-
what the gods had sent him. He clean
ed his brushes. put away his easel and
walked out and locked the door behind
him. Then he went to the BARRIERS and
had his mustachc shaved off. TO the
clothier's and INDUCED in the purchase
of a new suit. and when he took lodg
ings it was in street four miles from
Tryon row He had vacated just in
time. He had not been gone an hour
when the eXpresSman. accompanied by
a policeman. knocked at his door. In
hunting for the man, who had walked
out the others of the same name We're
discovered. What was more. each one
claimed that the package was for him
and began to buster and threaten.
lit al liSl hdtl .ilN lISultu lIidI II
he found himself rich lie would paint
a painting to astOnish the world. His
figuring went 10 pieces in the face of
facts. He quit the brush forever as
he hoped. and went TO the country to
loaf and fish and pass for Il million
are. While the police were looking for
him in London and having all the sea-
e int
only thirty miles away and paying
court to young widow who had been
left public house. Within month
he proposed marriage and was accept
ed, and the newly welded pair went on
a briSil tour through France and
Switzerland.
Meanwhile. as Il matter of course,
Thomas Parsons of oxford had been
communicated with. He was Il mer-
chant and had sent the money to his
brother in the city for special OBJ
ject The brother was named James
Parsons. Jr. He was not at % Tryon
row. but at % Chester street. which
was the same thing. with a difference.
That made four James ParSonses who
Thomas Parsons on the outside. When
the artist did not return to his rooms
it was realized that he was taking ad-
vantage of the mistake \ reward was
offered, and some of the best detec-
tive talent was put on the case. but
weeks and months went past and there
was no news. 1t was believed that
Parsons had got away to North or
South America, and the case had been
practically dropped when he was tax
On into custody in q curious manner.
The newsboy who had brought his even
ing paper to the studio had been much
interested in the paintings lying about
If they We're daubS to others. they
We're the height of art to him. Having
seen and talked with Parsons five or
SIX times, it was not ut all wonderful
that he should remember him. With
other boys Of his class he went down
to the Derby when the yearly event
came off. BY that time Parsons and
his bride had returned from the we'd
ding trip. and he was blowing in the
last of the fortune. Nothing had been
too good for the couple while abroad.
1t was while he was seeking to place
small bet that the newsboy spotted
the artist. He was q keen little chan
and followed Parsons home. Upon his
return to the city he went to the ex-
press company. which had meanwhile
been forced to make good to the right
party, and offered to give the artist
away for $500 in cash. He was at once
turned over to the detectives and
locked up. They worked every sort of
scheme to get his information for moth
ing, but at the end of three weeks they
gave up in despair and advised the ex
press company to pay the money. Not
until 1t was put in the hands of his IA
Their would the boy locate the much
wanted man. Parsons was at once ar
rested and locked up. He had enough
of the money left to secure good coun
sci. and when the case came to trial Il
very singular state of affairs was
made known. There was a law that