The herald., 1894-11-11
MATT REtCE, THE BUNCO KING
The Notorious Swindler Ar
rested in This City.
He Leads Detective Goodman a
Hot Chase.
Wanted in Seattle to Serve Sentences
in the Penitentiary-Jnpsne
Tommy, His Partner,
Is in Mexico.

Matt Reece, one OF the most daring
and successful bunco men and confidence
operators on the Pacific coaet, was ar
rested in this city last night by Detect
i've Goodman, who had lively chase
to get the man. Reece is wanted In
Lesdville, where q term in the peniten-
tiary awaits him. The arrest is quite
q feather in Goodman's cap, for Reece
has been hunted by officers all over the
coast for several months. He will be
held until an officer with requisition
papers arrives from the north. Reece is
what is termed a dangerous criminal,
and while his thieving las mostly been
done by bnnco, he will stop at nothing
to accomplish his ends.
Matt Reece and his partner, who is
known only by the soubriquet OF japan
ese Tommy. have operated in all the
principal cities on the coast, but for the
past few years they have been located
in the northwest, with Seattle ss head
quarters. Japanese Tommy, the part
ner, against whom felony conviction
also stands at Seattle, is now in Mexico.
He had the forethought to get out OF the
country while he had chance, and
Reece now says he was fool for not
going too. but then woman figures in
Reece's case and she, it seems, objected
to his leaving the country.
In the north the favorite operating
ground of the pair was the steamers
plying between Seattle, Tacoma ana
British Columbia ports. If their
victims,@ and they were legion,
became too troublesome, the
worthless would step over the line into
British Columbia, or if trouble threat
ened on the British side they would
take refuge on American soil. lmmi-
grants coming into this country over the
Canadian Pacific road were the special
prey of the sharpers. and Thousands
have been plundered by the pair.
About two years ago the police OF
Seattle decided to stop the work of the
men and land them in the penitentiary.
1t was big undertaking, for Reece
and Tommy had plenty OF money,
and as fast as arrested bail
would be forthcoming and the cases ar
ranged with the victims. who were glad
enough to get back part Of their lost
money. The officers, however, finally
got victim to prosecute Reece and Jap
an6ee tommy. OOuVlCGlOu lOllOWeu anu
the men we're sentenced to five years
each in state prison. but pending appeal
to the supreme court they were released
on bonds. Reece and his pal lost no
time in skipping from Seattle. and when
q few months ago the judgment and sem
tence were affirmed the culprits could
not be found. The various police de-
partmenta were notified to be on the
lookout, but it was not until Detective
Goodman got onto Reece in this city
that anything was heard OF him.
II seems that Goodman located
Reece couple of days ago. but did not
arreet him until he communicated wi b
Bolton Rogers, chief of the Seattle po-
lice. Yesterday Chief Glass received q
dispatch to take the man.
Reece WAS eating dinner in First
street restaurant when the detective
went after him, and was not distu bed
until he had finished the meal. Then,
as he came out with a
woman he saw the officer
and broke and ran. He dsrted up into
dark hallway with Goodman in close
pursuit. The detective proved the
swiftest, but he did not take his man
without struggle, as the fellow aimed
q blow at the officer as lie closed in.
Goodman skilfully lodged the blow and
then clapped the handouts on Reece.