Cozmo in Congress Park June 28, 2012

Rumor has it that the Saratoga-famous Cozmo (the Magnificent!, I'm sure) has been up to his old tricks again.

The man with the magic hands first made news last year when he made a ticket for "entertaining without a license" disappear in City Court. 

Cozmo (Neil Dupree) had been issued the ticket after some complaints came into the Police Department about him soliciting money from those he entertained (including children), something he denied. 

The more impressive magic, though, may have been how the police stirred up the charge that dated back to the early 20th century and had a special section for "moving pictures" (the talkies). It was particularly mystical since the Accounts Department doesn't issue the licenses the ordinance referred to.

The charge was dropped, as Assistant City Attorney Tony Izzo explained, because the city couldn't charge someone for doing something without a license if the city didn't issue them.

Well, Tuesday I gather he was drawing more complaints. A police sergeant said the proprietors of the craft fair in Congress Park had complained that Cozmo was performing in their fair, despite their having rented out space in the park.

Again, though, Izzo said no one can rent exclusive rights to Congress Park and "they will have to coexist."

I went down to catch up with the magic man Tuesday, but by the time I got there he had... disappeared.