Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-08
A NEAT SCHEME.
SEARPERS DO NEW MARTINSYILLE BLOODS
FOR BIG MONEY,
And One Wheeling Man Drops Hundrsd-The
Details Of a FoOt-Raes Which Was
Great Go All Around

Anu Vlt " lerllls Nan DTVpS nuAufeu-lAe
Details Of a FoOt-Race Which Was a
Great Go All Around
Another very interesting, and at the
same time instructive, story Of rascality
comes to the REGISTER from New Mar
tinsyille.
The plot seems TO have been cooked
up in this city, most probably by Wheel
ing men, although from the fictitious
names given it is at this time impossible
to establish the identity of the opera
tors.
The proceeds seem to have been some
where between five hundred and one
thousand dollars-morel likely nearer the
latter sum than the formcr-and the
victims are several citizens Of New Mar
tinsyille and one Wheeling man-a sales
man for wholesale liquor housewife
was induced to invest hundred in the
scheme.
Ii seems rather strange that so soon
after the victimizing Of Brother Thomas
d. Stewart, by bunco SharperS, that
others could be found in and about New
Martinsville who could be roped into an
other monetary transaction of shady
and questionable nature, yet it Is only
too true. This last and most successful
attempt at sharp practice was brought
% termination Saturday. Benwood be-
ing the location Of the last scene OF all,
and the details follow:
There are located in New Martins
vile, rs in most other towns OF its size,
"a numb or of gentlemen of sporting pro-
clivitieS. who. when other means OF
wooing the goddess Chance fail, are
wont To fall back upon poker and that
seductive game is not an unusual thing
lon the town named.
But i'm order 10 arrive NJ the true IN
wardnesSof the operation TO be here re-
counted, 10 is necessary TO 90 back
little while. At intervals for some
years past there has been coming To
New MartinSville a pOck-marked fellow
whose features are quite familiar TO the
Wheeling police. but whose home seems
20 be- WayneSburg, Pa. He has been
going. at New MartinSyille by the name
of Behler Behlcr, it seems, has always
been warmly received by some OF the
BOYS down the river who like little
game of draw Just for paStime, and
Behler has been lingering around for
several weeks past, stopping at one OF
the principal hotels. and supposed to be
engaged IN manipulating the cards.
shortly after Behler arrived another
man who said his name was Swift put
in an appearance, and claimed TO nave
been the same man who ran the foot
race at Martins Ferry some weeks
since. which was duly reported in the
REGISTER. Swift waited to get up
a foot race. A few days after
the alleged Swift ! arrived, little
printed dodgers were circulated around
the town announcing that Mr.. Henry,
of Kentucky, who was visiting friends
at Sistersvile, and Mr.. Swift would run
a foot race ut a certain time on the Wet
eel county fair grounds, for 500 side;
admission 10 cents. At the appointed
time the gentleman from Kentucky
came up and brought with him num-
her of the SiSterSrille boys, but they
did not succeed in victimizing the boys
from Sistersville. The race came off
at the Wetzel county fair grounds as
advertised and was won easily by the man
Swift. The gentleman from Kentucky
pretended TO be- terribly worked up over
his defeat. and left the same evening,
since which time he has not been seen
or heard of. This sham race was gotten
ND bv their coufcderateS for the purpose
Of establishing Swift'S reputation as a
foot racer. and 10 secure the confidence
of the local sporting men. How well they
succeeded the sequel will show.
The New MartinSviile sports had made
up their minds that Swift was regular
race horse. and ii was safe 10 back him
I'm foot race for any amount against all
corners. This, Of course, was the i'm
preston that the "buncO gang de-
sired To- produce ON the local sporting
men.
In a few days the gang succeeded in
making up another foot race between
Swift and one Mr.. Trigg, u timer. OF
Powhatan, Ohio. The race to take
place last Saturday. \ good deal OF
correspondence in the meantime passed
and repaSsed between parties at Pow
hatan and New MartinSyille, in regard
% the race. i'm which it was proposed
that Trigg, for a consideration, would
sell the race. sc, Sc. The contents OF
their correspondence was adroitly and
effectively made known to the New
Martinsville sports, and contributed
very largely I'm interesting the boys and
arouSing their enthusiasm in regard TO
the race. In fact they were becoming
a party TO a transaction, the conSumma-
tion of which would largely increase
their wealth. Things were now at a
very interesting stage, and the boys la
boring under suppressed excitement
Behler and Swift represented 10 the
boys that Trigg was good runner, but
there was not the slightest doubt that
Swift would win the race. Behler and
swift further represented that there
was green, unSophiSticated farmer up
at Powhatan, by the name Of Ramsey,
who had more money than brains. and,
having wonderfully exalted opinion OF
Trigg'S running qualities. wanted to bet
any amount of money up to $1,000 on
Trigg. They suggested that it would
be- a great thing for the boys to make
up purse aud quietly relieve the green
farmer" of his ready cash, but every
thing was 10 6c kept exceedingly quiet.
Behlcr, however, was to be
the stake holder. The New Martins
willie boys caught on. and secured con-
siderable amount Of money and started
last Saturday morning on the train for
Benwood. They found everybody there
SS per arrangement. Some OF the sports,
being somewhat acquainted about Pow
hatan. when they saw the green,
gawkey farmer" they were to fleece out
OF his money, did not think he looked
much like Ramsey, or at least did not
bear striking resemblance to the
wealthy Ramsey family which lives at
Powhatan. and consequently became
dubious aud declined to bet, but most
of the boys were Sanguine and put up
m -