Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-01-26
TRUTH STRANGER
THAN FICTION
JUDGE REID HEARD STORY
FROM FARMER WHO
LOST $4,000

Probably no group is more inti-
mately in touch with what is good
and bad in the world than are Judges.
To them more than one individual
contides personal affairs of woe or
JOY. One might believe that after sit
ting in court an entire day, hearing
cases in which the most vital prob
lens of life are being discussed, in
which there are people of fine cali
bre as well as men of criminal char
acter involved, any judge would be SO
fatigued that to listen to any personal
tale of trouble would be an intolerable
hardship.
But not so with Judge A. II. Reid,
OF the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. In
conversation with the judge the other
day, he told a story that so touched
the heart that we believe our readers
ought to share it with us In telling
the story Judge Reid declared that
| all he could give was mere skeleton
lit required two hours for him to
hear it originally.
Lived Near Chiffon
This happened several years ago.
An elderly farmer living near Chill
ton, | believe, retired, having sold his
farm for $4,000. Having rheumatism
| he thought a trip south might do him
some good and so, with younger
son, went to Tampa, Florida. Here
he soon became acquainted with a
man named Wood who seemed to be
much of his sort and the two were to-
gether great deal
And that is where come in," said
Judge Reid. "When the farmer met
Wood the man asked him il he knew
Judge Reid The farmer said he didn't
know him but knew of him. 81 know
him WE'LL said Wood In fact we
were in business together and / made
him wealthy enough to retire
"One day as they were strolling
along Wood saw man behind some
bushes counting money.
Let's go over and find out what
he is dong Wood suggested to the
farmer who said that he didn't care
to- Well, I'm going over anyway,
said Wood and so the farmer followed
There they found man with large
roll of bills. who told them that he
had made SO much money he didn't
know what to do with 1t by playing
ponies. He said he knew Just how to
do it and win"
Judge Reid. continuing, said that
the stranger invited both Wood and
the farmer to go with them, declar-
| ing that he could make plenty of mon
ey for them. He led them to house
nearby and urged them to put UP
$500 bill. Both refused. The strang-
er who gave his name as Jones, said
he'd put up some of his own money
and win for them anyway. This he
did, winning the first time and turn
ling $4,000 over to the two. They then
put up the twenty dollar bills and
Jones won for them again.
Give Their Checks
This went on through several rae
es, Jones winning several hundred
dollars for them," said the Judge
Then he talked to them confidential
ly urging them to put up some of their
own money, saying that they could
make enough on which to retire
wealthy. Neither Wood nor the farm
er would consent, but finally the form
er said he would put up as much as
the farmer did" 1t required much
urging but finally the farmer gave
his check for $4,000, Wood giving the
won something like $250,O00 which
Jones received In neatly rolled pack
ages. Jones then sought to induce
Wood and the farmer to put the whole
amount back again. declaring that
what they had won would only
amount to $4,000 apiece. Both OBJ
jected strenuousy but while object
ing Jones bet the money; Wood in
sisting it had been placed on the
wrong horse; the money was lost.
This had not happened however, un-
til the proprietor had taken back the
$25O,0OO he had given Jones in order
to ascertain the validity of the checks
passed by the farmer and Wood The
checks passed through regular bank
ing channels and the farmers $4,000
was returned to the gambling house in
currency after ten days time.
Destitute, the farmer and Wood OBJ
jected to Jones bet. Jones told them
he had money, was a st. Paul man.
owned an orange ranch in California
and assured both that he would stand
good for their $4,000 or that he would
go to New York, obtain money, meet
them at Louisville and would win
back for them the $250,000 he had
list. This was finally agreed upon,
Fleecedl
The farmer, broke, was given nom
ey to reach Louisville with his son,
There he waited several days for
Jones, who telegraphed that he was
delayed. Neither Wood nor Jones
showed up-the farmer had been ruth
lessly fieeced out Of $4,000 and the
crooks had deftly covered their tracks.
The poor farmer had money enough
TO come home" said Judge Reid.
Then he came over to Stevens Point
where Wood had told him he owned
a saw mill. OF course no man by the
name OF Wood could be located. He
was told that there was a Wood at
Grand Rapids, but Of course, he did
not find the one he wanted He had
Jones address at 81. Paul but there
was no man there in the business
Jones had said he was by that name
You see, the poor fellow had no
,ne left 70 see through whom he