The herald., 1894-03-05
CARD SHARPS WON HIS MONEY
Martin Daud, a Tourist, Bun
coed Out of 5000.
One of the swindIers Arrested by
Detective BOsqui.
The Man Arrested Says His Name Il
Horace ColIIns-soms Clever
Work Done by the
Police.

Never before in the history OF Los An
geles was the city so full Of confidence
men, bunco steerers and bad men gen.
orally. The kind OF work followed by
these gentry being dull ct the midwinter
fair, owing to the alertness OF the San
Francisco police, causes them to spread
out. Consequently Los Angeles has re-
ceived large number OF the criminal
class.
The police have done creditable work
in placing the invaders behind the bars,
and during the last month and the
month preceding no less than 20 GRIM
inals wanted elsewhere were run to
earth in this city by the clever men Of
the department..
Among the criminals who have re-
Gently come to the city are we'll organ
lied gangs Of confidence shsrps and
bunco steerers. Several schemes for
fleeing the unsuspecting were placed
in easy reach Of all, and one of the first
to be taken inn was George W.
Benjamin, a newly married young man
from the east. He deposited 500 in
the fake business exchange conducted
by Murphy and Wilson, and Is just that
much out. These confidence sharps will
have their trial concluded today.
A week ago yesterday young man
arrived in the city who proved even
bigger bait for shsrpers, and lost every
cent he had. His name is Martin Daud
and he is from Cincinnati. Daud lost
his money to another class of operat.
ors than those who feeced Mr.. Benja-
min.
Saturday evening Mr.. Daud was
standing on the corner of Spring and
Second streets, watching the people
pass. Presently q well.dressed man
accosted him and spoke. The stranger
being of a genial nature and Mr.. Daud
of kindly disposition, they engaged in
conversation. OF course the man soon
found cut that Daud was from the east.
At the kindly solicitation of the man,
Mr.. Dsud took Q walk with him. In
their strolls about the city, they visited
numerous saloons and clnbrooms, the
stranger doing most of the treating"
They finally visited third-class saloon
on Commercial street near Main.
Seated at a table in back room were
two men, with whom Daud's newly
made friend was acquainted. They
were toying with the elusive poker chip
and apparently exchanging a lot of
money. The game looked like an easy
one, and the stranger suggested to Daud
that they get in and "do up" the game.
They took hand.
The stranger won two or three good
sized pots, then lost with unfailing regu-
larity. He went "broke" in remark
ably quick time, and of course wanted
little from his friend Mr.. Daud.
The Cincinnati man, thinking that
his friend would again hold 'em as pat
as a royal flush, advanced the desired
amount. Again the stranger won and
lost. This thing Kept up coHsloerADle
length Of time.
Finally Mr.. Daud was called upon
on the California bank of this city,
placed his signature upon it, and the
game went on. The ''friend" of Mr..
Daud lost again, and for the last time.
Then be precipitated a pretended row
by suddenly grabbing the certificate and
acting as though he tore it up. He did
finally destroy q piece of paper, telling
Daud that it was the certificate, and
that it would not affect his money in
bank, since the other men could not
draw it, The robbed man saw through
the scheme at last, and reported his loss
to the police.
Detective Bosqui succeeded in arrest
ing the swindlsr who led Mr.. Dsud into
the presence OF the card sharps, and he
is in the city prison. The other two
Ecoundrels escaped.
The man arrested gave his name as
Horace Collins.