The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-31
A TALE OF CARDS.

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Three Visitors from California Who Creste
Some Gossip.
Three gentlemen stopping at The Helena
have gained considerable notoriety in Butte
and Helena. One of the trio is W. W. Hurt.
Of Santa Barbara. As soon as yesterdays
Miner was on sale at the hotel news stand
Mr.. Hurt read: There has boon consid-
erable speculation during the past few days
as to the character and Intentions OF three
gentlemen who came to Butte about a week
ago. The strangers were we'll supplied with
funds, were gentlsmanly In appearance and
inclined to sport in their tastes. They
created a favorable impression in Butte and
were introduced into the Silver Bow club as
w. w. Hurt, q capitalist from Santa Bar
bara, CAL; Col. Dean, a cattleman from
Tombstone. Ariz., and Victor j. Gregory.
member of the commission house of Gregory
Brothers company, Sacramento, Cal. Be
yond displaying o fondness for Pommery
SEQ and poker the conduct Of the trio in the
club rooms and elsewhere was irreproaoh-
'Soon after their arrival the names given
above were printed in The Miners list of
persons from abroad stopping at the city
hotels. The names caught the eye OF q
Q6OGl1UAA WIN A0A q uO4O4O0
with a brace of alleged card-sharpers in one
of the sound cities about nine months ago.
He thought he recognized in W.. W. Hurt
and Col. Dean the men by whom he had
been heeced. He sent word to The Miner
to that effect, and a reporter for this paper
ton Of the alleged shsrpers. The descrip-
tion Tailed almost exactly with that Of Col.
Dean and w. w. Hurt. The former was
said to be of middle height, with blonde
hair and mustaohe, light commissioned and
stylish in his dress. MI. hurt was de-
scribed as a tall, rather dark man with a
black mustache and slightly lame OF one
leg"
| about how he had been inveigled in a game
with them. When his ready money was
gone he signed a lot of ]. Q. us. When Col
onel Dean and the papers informant were
scene which ended in hand-shaking and an
admission that the Butte man bad been
mistaken. Mr.. Gregory was unknown to
the person who thought he recognized Col
onel Dean as the sharper who had t1eeced
him. Mr.. Gregory was at The Helena last
He felt that his name had been handled
with a good deal of freedom. Speaking of
Mr.. Hurt he said his father had been in the
lumber business at Santa Barbara. II
have known Mr.. Hurt for a good many
years" he said. II travelled with him and
Colonel Dean from California. Mr.. Hurt
and he are on their way east. Mr.. Hurt in
tends to take a trip to Europe.
When we were in Butte Charlie
Clarke and Mr.. Carson invited Dean
and myself to Join them in a poker game.
We had much of the best of the game until
they sent out and got Martin of the M. and
M who is said TO be a professional gam
; bier. Then we lost. | am out here on a
trip for my house." Here MI. Gregory
produced the card of Gregory Bros. com
pany, commission merchants, packers and
shippers of fruit and produce, Sacramento.
Mr.. Gregory said he could not tell how long
he would remain in Helena. "You see,'' he
said, "these stories in the newspapers are
not such as will do my business any good
The night clerk at The Helena, when asked
if Mr.. Hurst and Colonel Dean we're about,
said they had gone out to I'LL an engage
ment.