From The Toronto World September 19, 1888.

Ajeeb and His Chess

On the west side of the Grand Stand, adjoining the Dominion Organ Company's pavillion, is a great attraction. Here will be found Ajeeb and his wonderful games of chess. He does not alone play chess but also chekcers, and it is amusing and interesting to see him beat some of Canada's champions. Everybody should see him, for he is a wonder. He has been on exhibition in New York, London and Paris, where he played before large audiences. He has been brought to this fair at an enormous expense. Those visitors who have seen him unanimously pronounce that is the most mysterious and wonderful chess automation that ever appeared in this country. Mr. C. A. Boeck, the enterprising Trinity Square printer, is the Master of Ceremonines, and courteously gives the visitor all information. The admission is only ten cents, which is a mere bagatelle for an exhibition which is so interesting and will afford a lively topic for conversation for many a day. Let none of the citizens or their country cousins fail to patronize Ajeeb.

Thanks!

From The Toronto World September 22, 1888.

Ajeeb, the chess automaton, may be all right so long as he sticks to common men as his opponents, but when an editor like Mr. W. R. Climie of The Bowmanville Sun got at him yesterday he succumbed.

<AJEEB, THE CHESS PLAYER.

Visitors while on the gallery should not fail to see AJEEB, the mysterious chess and checker playing automaton. It represents a Moorish figure seated on a cushion, beneath which is a perfectly open table ; in front is a small cabinet with doors, which are all open, as well as the back and chest of the figure. Any stranger is at liberty to play a game with the automaton; the movements of the figure are free and easy, and it shifts the pieces with as much accuracy as its living opponents and with much greater success, generally coming off the conqueror. In giving check to the king the automaton makes a sign by raising his head twice, and for checkmate three times. >

The only Canadian I know is a former work colleague: Ray Stone

<The St. Louis Globe-Democrat says of Ajeeb: "All are aware that Charles Moehle is the manipulator of 'Ajeeb', but who has solved the mystery of the construction of the this mechanical wonder? Mr. Moehle is a fine blind-fold player; he defeated four players, drew with three and lost to four in his first attempt at playing ten chessers at once in St. Paul, where the automaton has been residing. Maybe his power to play blindfold enables him to maneuver 'Ajeeb' successfully, and therein lies the secret of its modus operandi; but who knows?">

Huh. That makes it seem it was common knowledge that Ajeeb wasn't an automaton.

<Ajeeb, a chess automaton, is creating considerable stir among the chess players of New York. Ajeeb is at the Eden Musee, and many of New York’ s crack players have been beaten by him. Mr. Lipacheutz has won two games, but he is the only one who has defeated Ajeeb. Mr. Lloyd describes the automaton in the Telegram aa follows: — "The figure differs from that of its famous rival 'Mephisto, ’ in that it represents a life-size figure of a Turk reclining before an ordinary chess table. In every respect it accords with the description of the well-known chess automaton that created such a furor a hundred years ago, and may be found fully described in the encyclopaedias. The same formula is also gone through of opening the figure so you can look through in every direction and see the impossibility of concealing a player. The figure is also moved around to show its extreme lightness, and proves that there is no electrical connection through the floor. You will be shown the combination of the wires and ccgs (Not sure, best I can do), which are as «aey of compreheoson a* Kceley ’ s little multipla v.brator, but despite the simple explanation we are still left in doubt when we rem-mber that Richard Schurig, the famous mathema ­ tician, has calculated that the posrible p si- tious in coes*numb:r 7.534,686.312,361,225,- 327 followed by thirty-three cyphers 1 ’ * Recently Viee-Prerident Hendricks, who is a good che*s player, visited Ajeeb,and had to succumb to his prowtsi . — Sunday Call. >

Sorry, my time on a library computer ran out before I could finish correcting the text. Will try to get back to it.

"Three Ajeebs are now in the field, one at the Eden Musee, New York, another in the hands of the Sheriff in Cincinnati, and a third in Chicago."

Montreal Press February 6, 1940

< We clip the following from Noahs Sunday Times :

“We witnessed quite an amusing scene at the Eden Musee, last Sunday. Ajeeb, the Automaton Chess Player, was the center of attraction. Among those present was a good specimen of the Western cowboy. As the game was nearing an end, our hero walked toward the figure and leaning over the railing, which separates it from the spectators, held a handkerchief to its eyes, exclaiming excitedly : “Now move! — now move!” As the Turk moved it’s (sic) hand a voice softly said: "Say, pard, just move the rag until I play.” The cloth was pulled away just as the Automaton made the mating move. “I knew it ! I knew it!", cried the wild west man ; “You can’t foo (sic) me with a piece of machinery like that.” The gentlemanly attendant, as astonished as the rest, opened the door of the chest while the voice murmured ; “That settles it ; we’re done for.” “Of course you are,” said Mr Fresh ; “You may as well come out.” “How can I, if I am!” a voice at his side exclaimed, and then he took in the situation. The crowd roared. The Pride of the Prairie rushed from the room and the little ventriloquist was the hero of the hour. >