The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-22
Joe Black, His Stay In Helena.
and His Life in
Butte.
How the Helena Sport Was Fooled on =
Foot Race-Black Has Dis
appeared. p

foot race.
These words or anything suggestive of
such bring out either an ejaculation or ex-
of disgust from the average Hell
ena sport. He has a vivid recollection of
witnessing an alleged foot race in Butte re-
Gently. There is nobody that takes defeat
more gracefully than the average Helena
sport. He will not grumble, but he dislikes
very much to realize that he has been
duped.
A foot race.
The very name, in these latter days, is
suggestive of fraud and the man who wit
nesses foot race that was run on the
Square" will have seen rare spectacle.
The recent foot race in Butte between
the sprinters who travelled under the names
of Anderson and Graham. was job from
top to bottom, az subsequent events have
made clear. The chief conspirator was one
Joe Black. This man also arranged the
LaBlanche-Kessler fight. and there is q
good deal of talk among the sporting fra
ternity as to Blacks methods in entertain
ing LaBlanche, the night before the fight.
Whether LaBlanche was doped or not, is
not positively known, but the Marine"
strongly suspects it, and Blacks treatment
of LaBlanche in financial affairs after the
fight would seem to indicate that he was
out for the money and misused LaBlanche.
Black has disappeared from Butte. He
another fake foot race arranged between
Anderson and Graham, whose other names
are Finn and Gibson respectively, but who,
in Spokane Falls, are under other names.
The Spokane foot race is booked for the
9th inst. It has been ascertained that
all L. -
backed Anderson at Butte, and we'll
known Butte physician, who has also gone
to Spokane. This time Gibson is to win.
Everybody knows Harry Woolrich, of
Helena. Harry was in Butte the other day
at the Kesler-L La Blanche fight. He learned
the particulars of the whole affair, and in
speaking of Black and the foot race to a
party of friends he said:
.That man Black is one of the notorious
confidence men of the country, and have
his record. As for Gibson, or Graham, he
is wonderfully clever actor.
"About six months ago this man Black
came to Helena from st. Paul, with two
beat out OF considerable money. He came
from near my old home, at least he said he
did, and he knew many of my friends.
introduced him around and frequently gave
him money. He was smooth and suave and
might pass anywhere for a gentleman. He
nunk AIouuR ueIe Iol SeVeIa! mOntns oOlne
nothing. He saw an opening in Butte, a
chance to get in business. gave him $500
cash and went On his note for about $1,000
worth of goods. He got in with Dave
Cusick in the Clarendon. Eventually this
footrace came up. We were on the best of
terms, and the way / supported him and his
family while in Helena would naturally
lead one to suppose that he appreciated my
friendship.
II have no kick coming on losing my
money in the Butte foot race. Nobody ever
heard me complain when lost. But what
object to is having such man as Black
working himself into the confidence of his
best friends and do them in the end.
s'But he is cunning. Smart az a whip
and sly as fox. This foot-race was ar
ranged and Black brought both men to the
country. Graham remained over here and
showed some remarkable speed. II he did
rs we'll the day of the race i was satisfied.
It was planned that H. L. Frank should
shoot of the pistol.
II thought something was wrong Just be-
fore the race. told Black what thought
and he suggested the propriety of getting
the sheriff to stop the race. He knew l
would not do that. told him had all the
money up was going to put into it--about
$1,000. Isaid let her go. I'll take chances
anyhow. My doubts arose when man ap-
peared on the scene with $4,000 to back
Anderson. One of the starters employees
handled some of this money. felt certain
that something was rotten, and advised my
friends not to bet any more money. The
deal had teen switched. When the starter
and Graham did not start until go was
said. have since discovered that Black
was laying to do me, as before he started
from here, Graham told the whole story.
Nov, this man Black is trying to rob
others, and he won't do it if can help it."