The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-02
HANDY JOHNSON HICHWAYMAN OF
 THE LOVELORN
Took Toll From Couples Who Wandered Through the Wild wood in the Moonlight


 stratford. Aug. 2A.Handy'' John son. the bold htghwayman of this. town turns out to be more of a shrewd and calculating flnancier than a sdes- perate criminal. In fact his opera tions are causing considerable amuse- ment in the town because they re- sen1ble the safe and profitable meth ods of high financiers who induce the dollar from the pockets of thAlr vic tiIns without danger. Handy's scene of operation has been the shady lanes and woody by-ways of the town and his victims have been in almost every case 1ove-lorn swains who reach the trysting place in automobiles and wander through the shady covers. Handy's method is worth attention by genial highwaymen who have a hum orous strain in their opposition. In his nocturnal peregrfnations Handy runs across a motor car drawn up be- side the road or standing in some by path where it will not be readily ob- served. This is enough for the hum orous highwayman who immediately seeks the 1ove-1orn couple who have left the automobile for a stroll in the woods. Handy is quick witted and the consternation of the couple gives him a clue as to the standing of the part ies. He accosts the couple and with his trusty revolver in his hand or with his hand on his hip pocket to indicate that there is a weapon there Handy gently fnsinuates that a cash donation would be acceptable and would seal his lips as to the identity of the lovers. If his victims happen to be local peo- pie he kSSows just what to do and if either of the actors in the love scene which he has NStched has left mate at the fireside at home the assessment Is reasonably high. If the couple is young and inexperienced with no ties other than those apparent, Handy is not so insistent but calls attention to the scandal which might follow his arrest in which case the couple would be obliged to appear and testify against him. Of course this would not be desirable and few have the hardihood to proceed with the case at the expense of their reputations even if the public veal should suffer there by. Handy has confided to some of his friends that he has discovered three motor cars with 100 rods on a recent evening. Sometimes there are two couples in the car which makes the picking more profitable for Handy
 For many moons Handy has oper- ated in this section with much profit and little danger. Some say that he has been at the game for several years. That he has escaped detection is not strange It is doubtfuI if his latest victims would have made any com plaint had they stopped to think of the ! consequences. And the fact that Handy is still at large is probably l due to the ref1Sa1 of the couple he forced to disgorge one night a week ago to come to the front and prose cute.
 1 Considerable amusement has been case and there ar e several anxious peo- case and there ar eseveraf anxious peo- pie in the town who have been at l some time or other the objects of | Handy's attentions. Handy is the possessor of information which would make trouble in some households and it Is said that money. is ready to buy l tickets for Handy and his family to some territory remote from Paradise | Green or the shady lanes of Putney. 1 Handy says that he is not afraid o1 l being tried on the charge of robbins l his love lorn victims He knows thai 1 if arrested he will have long wait 1T jail before he is tried and he fears thai ] some other charge will be raised or
 which to hold him. He has even of fered to surrender himself if he is l sure that he will get fair trial. | However, Handy has promised tc leave town and could this be estab- EHshed as a fact there are perhaps 2 1 dozen individuals in the town who | would breathe easier and many more in the adjacent city. It has beer
 suggested that tHandy be matde R | special constable with authority to col Iect tolls from those who wish to en- tov the hospitality of the town ane | if his past performances could be ac' | rented as any criterion he would prob ably bring the town in considerable revenue. a. matter of much importance in Stratford-