Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-16
Some Practical Jokes That Haze
Hoodwinked the American Public
tNew York Press)

hoaxes has cost him much money, but
IN all OF his tricks no one has ever
suffered particularly.
Probably his best known exploit
because Il was so successful, was the
career of his tom eat Nicodemus. d
tenement house eat he purchased for
! 10 cents, ard which he advertised as
the $4,000 cat, mot for sale. In its
class, Nicodemus carried off first
prize at the show in Madison Square
garden
lands the Blue Ribbon.
When Hughes decided to enter his
cat, which he termed his Dublin
brindle cat, Nicodemus, he inquired
III there would be any objection, be-
cause Of It's value, TO having it cared
for during the show, by its regular at
ltendant.N There was no objection.
ana when the show opened a negro,
probably Sam Smith, who had taken
part IN number of his hoaxes, APP
peared in a gorgeous livery. During
the time that there was a crowd in
front Of Nicodemus. Smith looked out
carefully for the smallest comfort of
the animal.
A well known florist sent flowers
every day Il celebrated caterer fur
nished the meals, at least the boxes
and baskets So indicated Spectators
spent many minutes reading the long
pedigree of Nicodemus When the
judges looked over the flowers, the
manicure set the impressive negro
and the pedigree Nicodemus binked
&C a blue ribbon attached to his wicker
cage. Aud then somebody whispered
IL TO the newspapers. and Hughes and
New York chuckled The flowers
came from "A much cheaper place than
The box Indicated; the food was the
scraps from the lunches of his em-
ployes
During the holiday time. to tell an
other OF MIR. Hughes hoaxes, at ono of
lSroadways most crowded corners he
had driven down Fifth avenue to
whore the avenue intersected Broad
way a we'll appointed brougham At
leading iewelry store the driver
stopped
A Handsomely dressed woman en-
tered the iewelry house and reap
peared a little later. She carried
box. A negro in smart livery followed
Immediately behind her The negro
was Sam smith. Suddenly a man
rushing madly along the sidewalk
knocked the box from her hands and
tipped tray sam Smith carried. The
girl screamed and jumped into the
vehicle; the negro leaped for seat
with the driver aud the horses we're
dashed into mad gallop
The Inference was that she was the
woman member of gang of thieves,
the negro was a stall and the man
rushing Town the street spoiled the
game. But whether they were thieves
or not, it had no effect upon the seru-
Pies OF the crowd. ilystanders dashed
here and there picking up the gems
and the police had to turn in a riot
call.
When the sergeant in charge foreer
his way into the jewelry store he was
Informed that the young woman had
purchased nothing. and the store de-
tectives were sure that she had not
appropriated anything. The negro
had renamed at the doorway.
Coming out of tile shop the sergeant
saw Hughes. nonchalantly smoking
cigar. NE caught the hoax in mo-
ment and gave orders 70 his men 10
clear the street. The jewels picked
nj by the crowd were paste and glass.
mounted On brass. The newspapers
the next morning told how Hughes
had put another one over