Wichita eagle., 1889-12-21
wouLD-BE RoBBER ROBBED.
The Kittleman and Skinner Foot Race on the
Sly Dumps the Kansas City Chump-ori2-
ilal scheme and as Carried Out.


The Kittleman and skinner Foot Race ON the
Sly Dumps the Kansas City Chump-orig-
i1al scheme and as Carried Ouf.
1t was quite interesting foot race on
the sly yesterday at Riverside park, wit
messed by about twenty people, a little
over half of them from Wichita, and the
others from Kansas City. 1t was foot
race to some extent, for they made good
time, but it will be remembered mostly
from the size of the financial pile con-
cerned. 1t was Sc, 900. and it was not diff
fcult to add up for it was made up of two
amounts, $4,000 in one, and 3 ,0o0 in the
other.
On Tuesday last Mr.. Kittleman. who is
quite well known in the city. reached one
of the hotels, accompanied by Archie Me-
Comb, and the next day on the register
of another hotel was observed, in
an attempt at farmer nano,
r. Foomener, of Chicago" and just
above it e Sterling, Of Chicago" 1t was
discovered that the farmer" effort came
from Ed Skinner, who is quite we'll known
in the sporting world, having won much
money foot racing in Australia last sum-
mer. The "E. Sterling" was Kansas City
man. worth as the world goes 100000 Is
engaged. or some of his capital, IN whole
sale business there. Most of his money
having been left him by some relative kind
enough to die and was some time ago
worth more than at present. de enjoys
spending money very much, and also en-
lows engaging in the robbing business
when put up in certain forms. 1t IS re
ouested that his name not oe
given the public for reasons which
NAV dawn later. He and Skinner were
accompanied by some more aliases who
were Frank Jones, who some years ago
lived at Caldwell and moved from there
TO Kansas City and is known by quite
number of early day Wichita: Tom Will
liams, of Kansas City; sam S~alne' OF
Kansas City, and John Bervls OF Kansas
City.
The two crowds commenced to ngure on
foot race. The scheme had been pumped
into "E Sterling" by Kittleman that ne
could get all the backing he wanted In
Wichita and they would come down
here and do up the Wichita fellows.
r. had been agreed to some time ago
soon after kettleman scored his last VIC
tory at Kansas City. So this was the why
of the coming. And now TO rob the Wlch-
ita boys kettleman was to get the
Wichita boys to back him for Sl0,OUo, and
Mr.. "E. Sterling' was to back Skinner Tor
So 600. KettIeman come out Denlnd anu
..Sterlinen and Skinner divide the Wlch-
ita so. 900. So it was ketleman told the
scheme to a young gentleman engaged IN
business here and who is Known to have
money. and the two went around the
streets much together and were at the ho-
tel late and were much interested. The
Wichita man, as STERLING" supposed, was
being worked for the SlO,0Oo, ana
he waited patiently. Finally he came
I'D with the $4,000 and Sterling"
was much tickled. Jones put in $500; he
was not complaining of being flush just at
the time, reducing Sterling" TO $1,000 80
Beryis. after much hesitation on the part
of Kittleman, he being with Skinner, was
agreed upon for stakeholder. For fear
that the fish, Sterling" might get weak
some of his friends 60 TO kitteieman with
a thousand and he offers another thousand
dollars to make it 81, 900 side. and Ster-
ling was not called upon for any more, but
his Kansas City friends came to
the front and covered 1t so
the stake man, Bervis, was
to have IN his possession $4,000.
On Thursday evening STERLING" got
little nervous and had secret meeting
with Kittlemau who signed a contract to
come out behind, and Sterling signed
contract to give a certain amount of the
Wichita 1000 to kittleman. Everything
arranged the party, or both parties, took
hacks about . p. m. yesterday for RIVER
side. He went dow Douglas and up Main
quite slow: there was no excitement on
the surface for it was not intended there
should be. 1t was not desired that any
one ontside of the Kansas City
fellows and the one. two or three
Wichita suckers should know any
thing about it. Reaching Riverside
they alighted on the east side of the track
and commenced TO figure on the race. The
Wichita sucker handed $1,000 to Bervis,
the stake holder, who soon discovered
eleven 81 ,0G0 bills. Sterling responded
with eleven s., 900 bills which fact was
soon announced and the So. 900 was put
into hand valise which Mr.. Beryis car
ried around with him. The seventy-five
Yards was measured off and Williams
made referee: Sam Swaine and Frank
Jones. timers. The racers spent little time
in getting started and Kittleman
touched the ribbon two feet ahead
of Skinner. About this time
stone court house fell on sterling" and
in order to attract his attention and for
his observation and to make the period
short McComb rushed up and demanded
the stake money. Bervis hesitated Just ac-
cording to the agreement and McComb's
part next called for revolver and be bad
an empty one in MS pocket, but it looked
like it was loaded and ne pointed it at
Bevis with some emphatic language. The
latter stepped back and AcComb thirdly
got hold of the valise aud snatched it from
Bervis minus the handle. Bervis very
angry, of course, started after
McComb. but the latter being a good
runner be could back out and cover Ber-
Wis with his empty revolver. The other
friends" of sterling were very angry
also. and were about to eat up the Wichita
fellows. About this time poor old 'Ster-
ling" concluded it was no use and he
would declare the war over. It took him
some time TO get attention, when he an
nounced: Now, boys, have lost mope
than any OF you, and can stand it, see
we have been robbed by this Wichita out
fit, and just let it go. Kittleman, you
need not think I will squeai on you like
that fellow did up in Kansas City the
other day" This of course did not exactly
pacify his friends" but very soon
all were in hacks and came back to town
slowly as though nothing had happened.
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