The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-14
CHELSEA PETE'S
 NOTABLE FEAT "Conned" General Logan Out
 of $500 UNDER SLEUGH'S NOSE After Twenty-one Years in Sing Sing Greatest Confidence Man Re-
 turns to Scene of
 Former Exploits.
From the New York Telegraph.


 Chelsea Pete is back.
 Unfortunately, Chelsea Pete reached New York too late to take part in the farewell ceremonies in the Fifth Avenue hotel. In the olden days the Fifth Ave nue hotel was Chelsea Pete's favorite hunting ground.
 Chelsea Pete was sent away in 1886. For twenty-two years Chelsea Pete made mats and brushes in Sing Sing, and yes terday he came back to New York to look the game over and figure out what there was he could do in these stirring days of automobiles and skyscrapers.
 "Theyye sure lifted this old town up into the air." remarked Chelsea Pete, as he glanced at the Flatiron building the other day.
 It was in the Fifth Avenue hotel, back in 1S79 that Chelsea Pete conned Gen. John A. Logan out of $500. It was clean work, however, and there was never any comeback Later he got mixed up with a bunch of burglars tools and was lald away for quite a long stretch.
 In his day Chelsea Pete was one of the best known Icon mem in this country He took his title from that section or Boston from which he came originally, and from Portland, Me-, to Los Angeles the smaller fry in the underworld looked up to Chelsea Pete as one to be highly regarded as a clean-cut professional.
 How He Got General Logan.
 He was always a swell dresser" was Chelsea Pete The top hat and frock coat, with coy little boutonniere nest ling in his lapel formed Chelsea Pete working costume. He was good talker also, and all he ever asked, according to in a conversational chance at his victim
 The way in which he got check out of Gen. John A. Logan in four minutes and half is still talked of by the men in Chelsea Pete's set as record bit or work.
 Chelsea Pete learned that the general was in town, and he spent all Of one forenoon in the Lenox library reading up on Gen. Logan, the civil war, and the friendships of the idol of the Union army.
 In the afternoon he walked jauntily into the lobby of the Fifth Avenue hotel and gave the house detective the naughty eye.
 You gotta get away from here," said the house detective. There's notnln doin in your line around here."
 T came here to see Gen. Logan, an old friend of mne," said Chelsea Pete. and he bulied his way past the detective and up to Gen. Logans room.
 Made Use of Tears.
 There was tears of joy in his eyes when he was admitted. He clasped Gen. Logan affectionately by the hand.
 "Of course you don't know me, of course not" cried Chelsea Pete. But you'll know me when 1 tell you my name. My father rode at your side for years during the civil war and leaped from his horse to give it to you when your horse was shot under you"
 In two minutes he had Gen. Logan throbbing with tender sympathy for the son of an old comrode, for Chelsea Pete had been wise in selecting a name for the occasion, and there was no chance Of being caught.
 The house detective was still on the job, however, and broke angrily into the room
 Gen. Logan, that man is one of the best-known crooks in this town," said the house detective, but he got no fur ther.
 ''Iis just like that all the. time, gen. eral" sobbed Chelsea Pete. You know father died very poor and ever since I've been trying to get on here in New York; these copperheads have been bounding me just like this.''
 The General Indignant.
  gan at the bewildered house detective. Leave here at once and don't come back here unless you are invited" At the end of just four and a half minutes after entering the room Chelsea Pete left with General Logan's check for $500 in his hand.
 Cash that for me-" he said airly to | the man at the desk, while the house detective ate the ends off his fingers in | sheer rage.
 Chelsea Pete operated all over the coun- I try, but eventually drifted into burglary and bank work He tied up with band | of reckless peter men, and was known l as one of the most daring safe blowers | in the country. He was caught some where upstate turning a trick in bank and was sent away.
 Finds New York Changed. | Chelsea Pete spent yesterday with some | of his old-time pals He took a look in | at the old Fifth Avenue hotel and ap- | peared really grieved at the thought of | having come back to New York that was changing so rapidly and so radically. They've changed their methods since | you went away said friend to Chelsea | Pete yesterday. You'll find they're mov- | ing rather quickly these days. It's no good trying to work the bank these days. Nothing but inside jobs go there. The con | game isn't what 1t was, either. You'll have to get office and $70O worth of ] mahogany furniture the installment plan and start promoting mine or an oil field The old hand-shaking game is a dead one."
 But Chelsea Pete hasn't quite decided | just what he will do yet. He finds friends from all over the country in New York these days, however, and there's no req son why he shouldn't be tipped wise to the best lines of work.