The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-11
WHOLE GANG FALL
FORMER wICHITANs IN A BAD
sCRAPE UP IN CHICAGO.

Police After They Have Grabbed From
Innocent People Almost Million Dol.
Iars-How the Men Worked Their
scheme Here aud Elsewhere.
| ing's Eagle caused more comment in
| Wichita, southern Kansas and OkIaho-
| ma than all the rest This was the tele-
! gram published exclusively in the Eagle
that James Mcclure and Dr.. James
| Craig and william A Thomas had been
arrested in Chicago after having piled
up nearly a million dollars.
II happened that Wichita knew these
| men pretty well. They operated here a
lottery company under the name OF
Waldo Flood. Their offices were located
on North Emporia avenue. This was
under Lswelling administration. Few
people knew what the men Were doing
here and IL is possible that even the po-
| lice did not suspect the lottery as no
tickets were ever sold IN Kansas. and
RUFF Cone, the chief. made no move
against Il.
But the last Republican legislature
passed the Cubbison law against lot
teries and these lottery men picked up
their traps and fed. No one ever heard
from them again until Sunday morning.
II develops that from here they went
to New Orleans. then 70 Kansas City,
and at last to Chicago. where they quit
the lottery business and jumped into
the broker game. The Chicago Inter-
Ocean has the following details OF the
mems arrest. All the men with their
families lived in Wichita at one time:
HOW IT HAPPENED.
The civic federation has crowned it's
attack on the gambling fraternity, and
especially on the bucket shops. by IN
earthing one of the most gigantic swind-
ling schemes since the days OF Fund W.
With the cooperation OF Major Stew
art and the postal inspectors, the gang
has been run down.
During the last year the gang. on the
conservative estimate OF John Hill. Jr..
Of the board Of trade and chairman Of
the civic federation's gambling COM
mittee, has secured by its Swindling op-
eradons $3.50, 900.
The gang was composed Of:
W. II. MCCLURE.
JAMES F. MCCLURE.
DIR. JAMES CRAIG
WILLIAM A THOMAS.
JOHN I. TOLMAN
Thomas and Tolman are under arrest
by the United States marshal
James F. Mcclure was arrested at his
home, on Calumet avenue, near Forty
third street
W. H. Mcclure and Dr.. Craig are IN
New York, and a telegram from the
postal inspectors and detectives was re-
.l.sf I'D h. - -.
that the men had been located. and their
arrest was hut a question Of a few
hours.
For over six months the gang has been
watched and tracked by Mr. HILL For
the past month the postal inspectors
have been working on the case in con-
nection with the civic federation. Dur
ing all Of the past week ames F. Nc
Clure. Tolman and Thomas have been
Swallowed day and night by Postal In
spectors Stewart and Christian. Deputy
Marshal Daniel White and the detec-
tives of the fedora ton
MEN ARE LOCATED.
Word was received yesterday from
New York that the trail Of W. II. Nc
Clure and DR.. Craig. which had been lost
in New York had opened up again. and
their arrest would be made. 1t was
then decided 10 close IN.
Thomas was arrested by Major Stuart
and Inspector Christian at o'clock last |
evening in his office. 81 Commerce build |
ing. on Quincy street. An hour later |
Tolman was arrested by Deputy Mar
shall White and two detectives OF the |
federation az his home. No. 30 Pearson |
street, while James Mcclure was be- |
ing followed by detectives down town. |
and a watch placed on his home at 1
Calumet avenue and Forty-third street. I
The gang have been operating in the /
business in stocks and grain /
and booming fictitious mining stocks
They have changed the name OF their |
irm. every month or two and fiuctuated |
With their offices in the Rialto. Omaha
and Commerce buildings.
They, have done business under the /
'0llowing names and firm titles:
CRAIG & co.
PATTISON & CO.
THOMAS & co.
John l. TOLMAN & Co
AMERICAN COMMISSION COM
oANY.
PRICE & co.
J. Z. MORGAN & co.
LA BELLE MINING AND MILLING
COMPANY
They conducted their own printing
flee at No. S. Fifth avenue. and have
ent tons OF mail matter through the
'ostoffict during the past year.
WATCHED A LONG TIME.
The men were marked for arrest az
he time the federal ton had the bucket
hop men indicted in the state and fed
rails courts. but he ramiicatlOns Of the
any and the business they did were
o great. combined with the frequent
hange OF names. that Mr.. Hill realized
= was on the track OF Il gigantic swim
lie. He wanted more time 10 run them |
OWL
While the first evidence against them
-as secured January - last. and Is ;
Iade the basis OF the complaint made .
e1ere United States Comm sioner
III set about uacoverinS the {
Ill extent OF the scheme. The deeper
is detectives probed the greater the :
lie opened UP. The records OF the men e
ere run down. and Mr.. Hill found him !
slf face TO face with consunmats mas .
~ OF the art OF swA7di.ng
He discovered, he says. that William
|. Mcclure was the leader OF the gang: .
lat be had a record as lottery swind-
= and was ably seconded by his brother
ane and brothsr-t.-laH. Dr. CrasS !
hcnlas was found - % = bark wreck )
and Tolulan ssrvile tool Of the gang. :