Joke Is Played on Peddler

1915

Victim Makes Queer Discovery Next Morning

A peddler arrived one evening at a small town and went to the only hotel there. Every room had already been engaged, but the hotel-keeper offered him a room which he could share with a negro. The peddler agreed, and asked to be awakened early the next morning.

Several jokers overheard the proceedings, and while the peddler slept blackened his face.

The next morning, being in a hurry to catch a train he made straight for the station when he was awakened. While passing the mirror in the waiting-room he stopped suddenly and exclaimed: "Hang it all! They've called the wrong guy!"


True to the Last

"Yes," said the traveler, "my wife's mother was the most admirable housekeeper that ever lived. Poor soul, she was eaten by cannibals in Africa."
"You don't mean it!"
"Alas! it's true. Why, when the savages had thrust her into the cauldron and she was beginning to cook, she cried out faintly with her last breath, 'Don't forget the salt and pepper.'"


Can't Look the Part Now

"John, dear," said his wife, "there was a poor man here today asking for old clothes and I gave him that shabby old overcoat of yours that was hanging in the attic. You didn't want it, did you?"
"Of course I wanted it!" exclaimed John wrathfully. "That's the one I always wear when I swear off my taxes."


About Five

[From the Pea Ridge (Ark.) Pod]

Mr. French who lived one mile south of town died Tuesday, of last week, and was buried at Siloam Springs, Wednesday. He leaves a wife and about five children to mourn his death.


Detects Smokeless Powder

United States naval officers have developed a colored glass which renders visible the fumes from smokeless powder.

Heber Brothers Circus - Ponies, Dogs, and Monkeys

Ohio, 1911

CIRCUS TO-NIGHT.

Heber Brothers Will Show Under Canvas on West Main Street.

Heber Brothers' Shows, presenting circus, minstrels and vaudeville, will exhibit to-night, on the lots adjoining The Auditorium. The program presents leading acts of the circus ring and the minstrel and vaudeville stage. The band will play a free concert before the opening of the doors of the main entrance. The act and features of the show are: Rollo H. Heber and his performing Ponies, Dogs and Monkeys; the Flying LaVons, Trapeze and Roman Ring Aerialists; Big Four Clowns in Ludicrous Stunts, the Acrobatic Franklins; Burn and Burns, International Spectacular Dances; Heber Bros. in their famous Comedy Acts; the Jeffersons, in sketch "Vacation Time;" the Anthoneys, Slack Wire Artists and Contortion Equilibrists, In the Minstrels, Lon Washburn, Ed Fox, LeRoy Barrett and Geo. Heber endmen, Reginald Jefferson, Interlocutor, with other blacked face comedians introducing Funny Songs, Jokes and Dances.

—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, July 7, 1911, page 3.

Highwayman, Dressed as Woman, Aids in Hold-Up

Washington, D.C., 1913

Two highwaymen, one attired as a stylish young woman, held up John McLain of 1108 Florida Northeast, he told the police of the Ninth precinct the other night, and at the point of a revolver demanded his cash and jewelry.

McLain was going to his home, when he was accosted at Montello avenue and Morse street Northeast by two men, one dressed in woman's clothes. Both had their faces smeared with lampblack. The one in man's clothes pointed a revolver at McLain, and demanded his money. He only had 26 cents, so the highwayman took that, and pointing his revolver at McLain told him to "beat it." McLain did.

Hastily turning a corner, he met Policeman Steele about to mount the steps of the Ninth precinct station. "There's a couple of hold-ups down the street," he yelled at Steele. The bluecoat spied the pair about four blocks away and started after them on the double-quick. The two heard his footsteps and vanished around a corner. No more was seen of them.

Before they disappeared, however, Policeman Steele saw the "woman" pick up "her" skirts and do 100 yards in about ten flat. Underneath the skirts "she" had on a serviceable pair of trousers.

McLain expressed doubt as to his ability to identify the pair should they be arrested. He said the lampblack they had on their faces made it difficult to remember their features, in addition, the beskirted member of the team had on a heavy veil.

A blue broadcloth suit, furs and muff, tan shoes, and a big black picture hat comprised the attire of the one who masqueraded as a woman. The police are wondering just what the game was.

—Syndicated feature article


ROBBER WAS IN SKIRTS

With Companion, He Gets Enormous Sum of 25 Cents.

SO MR M'LAIN REPORTS

Two Masquerading Youths Lead Policeman a Merry Chase — Quarry Lost in Alley — "Highwayman" Stumbles Over His Skirts — "Victim" Is Employed in One of the Government Departments.

Held up, the police say, at the point of a revolver by two white youths with blackened faces, one dressed as a woman and wearing a heavy black veil, John McLain, of 1108 Florida avenue northeast, late last night gave up 25 cents under threat of death at Montello avenue and Morse street northeast. McLain had more money in his pocket, but told the alleged robbers that that was all he had.

Passing by the corner a few moments later, Policeman Steele, of the Ninth precinct, was hurriedly told of the robbery by McLain, and gave chase. They were less than a block away. Hearing him coming, he said last night, the one dressed as a woman picked up his dresses and both ran quickly away.

Gathered His Skirts and Ran.

Policeman Steele threatened to shoot, but the two continued running and dodged up one street and down another, After following them for about four blocks, they evaded the policeman in an alley, and he was forced to abandon the chase.

McLain, who is employed in one of the government departments and is 24 years old, told the policeman he was sure both of the young men were white and not more than 21 years old. He plainly saw the blacking on their faces, he declared. The one dressed as a woman stumbled over his dress several times, he said.

McLain was returning to his home shortly after 11 o'clock, he said, when he noticed what appeared to be a negro man and woman approaching him. He paid little attention to them until they got within a few feet of him, and then the one dressed as a man suddenly whipped out a revolver and shoved it in his face. "Give us all the money you have or I will kill you," McLain said the one dressed as a man muttered, as though trying to disguise his voice. The other one, he said, told him to hurry up in a voice distinctly masculine.

Gave "Highwaymen" 25 Cents.

Fearing that the man would enforce his demand, McLain said he took 25 cents out of his pocket and handed it to the one dressed as a woman and told the pair that he had nothing else valuable. The sound of an approaching man frightened the "highwaymen" at this time, and they took the quarter and hurried away, he said.

Policeman Steele had just left his home and was on the way to the Ninth precinct police station to begin his night's work. Seeing the policeman, McLain rushed up to him and told him of the robbery, pointing out the two forms rapidly disappearing into the darkness along Montello avenue.

Followed by McLain, the policeman rushed after the couple. He had gone only a few steps when they began running, evidently having heard his approach. They went a block on Montello avenue, and the policeman was rapidly gaining on them. Then the one masquerading as a woman picked up his skirts about his waist, and both began running faster.

Decided Not to Shoot.

Policeman Steele blew his whistle as he ran, but got no response. He also called to the couple that he would shoot unless they stopped, but they only ran faster. He did not actually fire.

Returning to the Ninth precinct police station, Policeman Steele sent out a general lookout for the two robbers, but up to a late hour last night no further trace of them had been found.

McLain described the two as being both young and smooth-faced. The one dressed as a woman was entirely in black, and had on a black veil, he said. The other was dressed in a dark suit and slouch hat.

—The Washington Post, January 13, 1913, page 3.