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Story
March 10, 1889
The Helena Independent
Helena, Lewis And Clark County, Montana
What is this article about?
P.T. Barnum is tricked by a confidence woman who begs for money twice in New York City, first giving her change out of sympathy, then having her arrested for the scam but ultimately withdrawing the complaint due to his soft heart.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
MR. BARNUM "TAKEN IN."
He Has a Confidence Woman Arrested, but Soft Heartedly Relents.
New York Herald: The victim of the latest confidence game is Mr. P. T. Barnum, the showman.
Mr. Barnum met with his adventure about two weeks ago. He is staying at the Murray Hill hotel. Every morning it is his habit to take a constitutional spin of about two miles on foot. It was while enjoying this exhilarating recreation that he was "taken in."
On a beautiful cold day he left the hotel and started down town. On Thirty-seventh street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, he was accosted by a red-faced, middle aged, poorly dressed woman, who asked him if she was on the east or west side of the city. She showed him a piece of paper on which was written "Bellevue Hospital," and added, "I am on my way to my sister's house at No. 153 West 24th street, to tell her that my husband has broken his leg and is in the hospital."
"Why, my good woman," remarked Mr. Barnum, "you have got about five miles to travel."
"Well. I have a good pair of legs. I think I can walk it," observed the woman.
Mr. Barnum's heart was touched, and he pulled out a handful of change and gave it to her. She refused to take it, saying, "Oh, thank you; it is too much. I can walk."
Mr. Barnum insisted on her taking the money, and she accepted it. When he returned to the hotel and told of his adventure he was laughed at and was informed that he had been "played for a sucker."
This view of the matter met unexpected confirmation yesterday. Mr. Barnum was returning to the hotel after his daily walk when the woman again accosted him. She showed him a slip of paper on which were printed the words "Coroner's office," and asked him to direct her to it. She said that her husband was dead. Mr. Barnum replied that he had no money with him and asked her to accompany him to the hotel. She did so and Mr. Barnum had Policeman Taylor, of the East Thirty-fifth street station, arrest her. She said that her name was Maggie Morgan, 40 years old, and that she lived at No. 218 East Eighteenth street. She was arraigned in Yorkville police court, but Mr. Barnum relented and withdrew his complaint.
He Has a Confidence Woman Arrested, but Soft Heartedly Relents.
New York Herald: The victim of the latest confidence game is Mr. P. T. Barnum, the showman.
Mr. Barnum met with his adventure about two weeks ago. He is staying at the Murray Hill hotel. Every morning it is his habit to take a constitutional spin of about two miles on foot. It was while enjoying this exhilarating recreation that he was "taken in."
On a beautiful cold day he left the hotel and started down town. On Thirty-seventh street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, he was accosted by a red-faced, middle aged, poorly dressed woman, who asked him if she was on the east or west side of the city. She showed him a piece of paper on which was written "Bellevue Hospital," and added, "I am on my way to my sister's house at No. 153 West 24th street, to tell her that my husband has broken his leg and is in the hospital."
"Why, my good woman," remarked Mr. Barnum, "you have got about five miles to travel."
"Well. I have a good pair of legs. I think I can walk it," observed the woman.
Mr. Barnum's heart was touched, and he pulled out a handful of change and gave it to her. She refused to take it, saying, "Oh, thank you; it is too much. I can walk."
Mr. Barnum insisted on her taking the money, and she accepted it. When he returned to the hotel and told of his adventure he was laughed at and was informed that he had been "played for a sucker."
This view of the matter met unexpected confirmation yesterday. Mr. Barnum was returning to the hotel after his daily walk when the woman again accosted him. She showed him a slip of paper on which were printed the words "Coroner's office," and asked him to direct her to it. She said that her husband was dead. Mr. Barnum replied that he had no money with him and asked her to accompany him to the hotel. She did so and Mr. Barnum had Policeman Taylor, of the East Thirty-fifth street station, arrest her. She said that her name was Maggie Morgan, 40 years old, and that she lived at No. 218 East Eighteenth street. She was arraigned in Yorkville police court, but Mr. Barnum relented and withdrew his complaint.
What sub-type of article is it?
Deception Fraud
Biography
Crime Story
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Confidence Game
Barnum Tricked
Swindle
Arrest
Withdrawal
Maggie Morgan
What entities or persons were involved?
P. T. Barnum
Maggie Morgan
Policeman Taylor
Where did it happen?
New York City
Story Details
Key Persons
P. T. Barnum
Maggie Morgan
Policeman Taylor
Location
New York City
Event Date
About Two Weeks Ago And Yesterday
Story Details
P.T. Barnum is accosted by a woman pretending her husband is injured then dead, gives her money the first time, has her arrested the second time but withdraws the complaint out of soft-heartedness.