The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-04
HE DID UP BANNING.
FRANK w. WARDS VARIED AND
EXCITING CAREER.
Ward and stranger Have Little Game
of Draw, In which IA Jack Pot
Figured as Wen as
Chair.

Banning Herald Some months ago
young man, about % years of age,
came here to establish branch furni-
ture and undertaking business for the
Grand Rapids Furniture company. He
brought with him any amount of monu-
mental gall and nerve To all decent
people hereabouts he was repusive and
obnoxious. He had not been in Ban
ming week when he commenced to
borrow money iGdiscrminately. A few
evenings ago be packed hia grip and dis
appeared out OF town on a west-bound
freight. He forgot to pay Mrs. Cooper
for eight days board but was thoughtful
enough to pocket $40 lie borrowed from
Mr.. OGrady with no Intention to mort
gage off his expectations and pay the
debt in future.
The CAV and festive heir to an i'm
aginary fortune was guilty OF several
crooked business transactions. DR..
Wellborn Murray, it ia alleged, sent Mr..
Ward $50 check, the property OF Mr..
J. f. Slocum, general manager OF the
Grand Rapids Furniture company. The
young man converted the check into
cash and appropriated the came to his
own uee. During the three months OF
his stay in Banning he cold several
pieces OF furniture, but failed to report
to his employer at San Bernariino. He
gsmbled away the proceeds OF all sales,
and even resorted to other questionable
methods to obtain money. He pawred
some diamonds and gold watch at Los
Angeles.
If the stories now in circulation are
true, Ward is most contemplate viii
lain. 1t is ssid he began his career OF
crimes at Ogden, Utah, where he was
known as Demning, under which name
ne conducted disreputabe dance hall.
His headquarters during the day was at
the Glen saloon. Last fall he appeared
in San Francisco under the name of
Frank w. Ward. He organized the
Idle Hour Social club, and on the night
of October 4th inaugurated social hop
at the opera house, where assembled
the scum of the metropolis. The pro-
ceeds amounted to about $3.50. Ward
pocketed the money and skipped, leav.
ing the victinizsd club to paw the ex-
penses OF the dance. The next heard of
this social outcast" was al Los Angeles.
He was there but a few days prior to his
appearance in Banning, He attempted
to organize a charter union OF mattresses
and servant girls. He collected 500 for
this purpose, and to defray the expenseL
of grand ball. The curtain went down
on the first act-Ward had suddenly
vaniGhed.
His next scene OF action was in Ban
ming. Just before leaving this place he
wanted Rev. Inwood to create foreign
mission fund, and to announce from the
pulpit that he (Mr Ward) would call on
the people to collect contributions. For
tunstely, Mr.. Inwood refused to invite
Banningites OF Banning to be robbed by
the scoundrel.
On the night OF the masque ball he
decoyed a stranger into his Office, os-
tensibly to rob him at cards. How we'll
be succeeded was known to every body
in Banning the next morning. The
stranger proved to be none other than a
professional" private gambler. He not
only "raked in" all Mr.. Wards ready
cash, but also captured Jackpot" in
which was Mr.. Wards note for $l05 on
the British Columbia bank. Mr. Ward
snatched the note off the table and tore
it into pieces. Fight was imperative.
The stranger swung chair and floored
Ward, alias Demning. The latter grap-
pied with his antagonist, and being a
strong man With muscles better devel-
oped than his physically weak adversary,
in hand-to-hand contest held his own.
He jumped about the room as nimble
and agile as an Amazonian monkey.
Both fought ferociously. They spent
some time in dis6guring each others
physiognomiea.
The next day this desperate. daring
crook illustrated the combat with true
Thespian gesture of the real actor
school.
The police are now looking for this
veritsble octopus, this ulcer fungus on
humanity.