The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-18
BOLD BUNKO GAME.
How a Young Californian Lost
His Watch and $50.
JACK THOMPSON UNDER ARREST


The Iesehi park bunko ease yesterday
assumed q new face when Jack Ihonp-
son. the gambler, vas arrested for grand
larceny on o warran. sworn out before
Police Judge Glasgow bY Chief Jackson.
It will he remembered that On THURSDAY
of last week j. II Myers and John
Sweeney were arrested for hankoing man
giving his name as John Loring out OF so
and gold watch by some means or other
~ Leschi park the previous Monday. they
were charged on the police biotieF with
gambling and released on SO bali, the
amount usually required OF gamblers
When Chief Jackson looked into the mat
ter the next day be became convinced that
IL was case Of grand larceny instead OF
gambling. aud changed the charge accord
ingiy before fling complaint in the police
court. OF course. when the case
was called Myers and Sweeney did not sp-
pear Nov an effort is being made 20
get the bail money back upon the pretext
that 1t was pm. up as against the charge OF
gambling and not grand larceny. Thomp-
con has khs watch in his possession. having
secured IL from the bunko men, and Chief
Jackson charges him with completely in
the scheme by which IL was obtained from
desperate game was played by the Dunko
men, aud Jsck Thompson's alleged con-
nsctton with the case may throw some
light upon the matter.
About two weeks ago Cyrus n. Rogers
who is the John IsoF.ng above referred
to--sn express agent la the employ OF
Wells, Fargo Il TO-. At Moiaye. Cal. ar
rived in the city aud pnt up at Hotel
Stevens. lie came here 20 spend vaca-
ton. having been III. That he Is in good
standing with the company is shown by
letters and the fact that he IS or full pay
while away from his duties. lie is slim,
s.ckiY looking young man OF good appear
snce and education. but excessively nerv-
Gus aud quiie dflident in demeanoF. That
he is unsophis;ieated Is shown in his
speech and sections. he intended remain
ing here only feg days. aud on Monday
week ago he went to Lake Washington
by the Yesler avenue line 70
epend few hours. WaIle wandering
nboat the southern part of Lesehi park, in
the viciniiy OF the sea lions pavilion, he
was approached By iiashily dressed but
smooth-talking fellow. who afterward
turned out 10 be Sweeney. alias Springer,
notorious condolences man. Sweeney
asked Rogers IL he knew when the next
boat crossed the lake. Rogers replied that
be did not, as he was a stranger i'm the city,
having just come up from Mojave To- visit
for a few days. Sweeney Immediately be-
came interested In him. saying that he had
formerly lived in Southern California him.
eeif. lie named a number of persons.
whom he said he knew in Moiave. all of
whom were unknown to Rogers, and
finally spoke of prominent firm there
that Rogers knew well.
They were discussing Mojave matters
when third party appeared, dressed as a
cowboy. This was none other than
Fatty" Myers one of the worst bunko
steerers and all-round bad men that has
ever come 10 the city. Myers vas very
glad TO see Sweeney, and at once CON-
menced telling him of little game that
had been played on him in Portland by
which he had lost all his money. lie pro-
duced o deck of bunko cards, consisting OF
four sheets OF pasteboard, on one of " hieh
was picture, the other three being
marked with the numerals l, z and 3, re-
spectively. These cards were dealt monte
fashion, and Myers played the game
80 einmsiiy that one could easily
detect how the cards fell. At thls time
the trio were back of the pavilion aud bear
pit. in a secluded part OF the ground
seated on one of the benches. Sweeney
made several fash bets against Myers tina;
he could call the turn of the cards, and
won every time. Then Myers tried 20 get
Rogers 10 bet. and Sweeney advised him
to go in and het, OF ring TO back him 10,
500. Bnt Rogers says he refused TO gamble
and finally the matter VAS dropped. Then
Myers got up and passed around TO The
hack OF the bench. while Rogers and
Sweeney sat still and talked about No
jave. Rogers took out his card case 20 get
the card of All Olympia man whom hs
wished TO ask about, when Myers reached
over and snatched q $50 bhl that pro
truded from one of the pockets of tn,
book.
Rogers then realized Tor the frat time
that he had fallen among thieves. III,
saw he stood no show against them ant
said he would have TO go 10 town RICH
away ~ IL was getting late. He pulie,
out his watch 20 see what time IL was an,
Myers grabbed 1t and detached il from ,h,
chain. This Is a common trick witt
hanko men. who often rob when thei
sSinGiing games viii not work. Roger
81 he dared make under The circumstances
and Sweeney pretended To sldein with hin,
saying that he b al not seen Myers tax
the watch and money as his head wa
taFued away at the time. Rogers value,
the watch highly. IS he had carried IL sew
erai years, although IT'S RrSt cost Vas no
over So, snd he begged Tor It's returg
Sweeney finally told him be would r
away aud lind thtrd party who wouA
"sauare" the matter. lie ter, sud duran
his absence Myers offered TO return ~
watch II Rogers woaid give him s.
Rogers agreed ta do this Il Myers woui
~ 81 the 0illeu Of the We.is- Fargo Compan
With him 10 get the money. hut MyeT
would not so 10 town with him and IN
sisted upon having immediate payment.
A. this iunefuFe Rogers SAYS Jae
Thompson appeared on tAe seene lie va
brought up by Sweeney. who Introduce
him 10 "fasty" Myers and Rogers as Go
Taylor, al Texas" sweeney tald Thnng
son that Rogers wanted 20 bay = watch 4
Myers for So. bat couldn't sc, the none
until he returned 20 tawn. Thompson. I
order 10 celse. the two strangers, fSrkc
over So "a Myers ani took the wasca
Then Thompson and Rogers came - TOW
together. the latter. in his gnsgelsssnes,
believing TIA: he bad really foand a sri-ua
Thompson pretended that ne hAd has
casual acquaintance With Sweeney and tAa
he did not kaow Myers. lie was Gus,
willing 10 put up So - get his tlnepsec
hack and drop the whole matter. bat o
reaching the eisy be founa George Las
agent Of the express company, FROM whoT