The herald., 1897-06-17
POKER DAVIS AGAIN
HIS GANG ATTEMPTS A BOLD
BUNCO GAME
A Canada Tourists Puts Up CertiA-
cate Of Deposit for $166O and
Loses It-One Arrest

| The Poker Davis gang of bunco steer
ers are still out for suckers and manage
to land new one every few days. The
latest catch was made Tuesday night,
but the sucker is making a lot of fuss
about the way he was played and pro-
Recently the Poker Davis crowd
changed their quarters from the Wiley
block on Broadway to the New Hellman
at 120 North Main street, where they now
occupy a suite of rooms. The latest VIC
tim was man giving the name of 7. B..
Williams, tourist from Westminster,
Canada. The job was done Tuesday
night and Williams lost a certificate of
deposit on local bank for $3.50, which,
however, has not been paid
was the same old story Of bunco
steering. Williams was a stranger in
the city and met a very suave young
man evidently of culture who invited
him to have drink. They did not stop
at one drink, but had several together
Then when Williams was beginning to
fel the liquor which he had consumed
he was invited by his new friend to
come to the latter's room and meet some
nice fellows. He went. and on arriving
there was introduced to other members
of the gang.
a sociable game of poker was pro-
posed, and as the rest seemed anxious
Williams decided to enter. Some one
proposed that they bet just enough to
make the game interesting. OF course
every one wanted to be a good fellow
and several small bets were made. Then
Williams got an extraordinary hand.
Certainly it was a sure winner. He
would raise his friends. But one of the
players was not to be bluffed. Oh no!
he would stay in for awhile.
Williams did not have much money
with him, but he knew that his hand was
a sure winner He had a certificate of
deposit on a local bank for $1560. Why
not put this up as security. This was
agreed to and Williams endorsed the
paper and handed it to one of those pres
ent, a. the same time raising his bet to
$40. Then he threw down his hand and
80 did the other. L was better one,
and he had lost his money. Then he be-
gan to realize that he had been buncoed.
He asked for the return of the certif-
cate of deposit and promised to pay the
money. But he didn't get it, No, oh no.
He had bet $3.50 instead of $40. OF course
he had. Every one in the room had heard
him. They were all witnesses of the
transaction and were willing to swear
to it.
1t did not take Williams long to decide
what to do He went out and after send
ing word to the cashier of the bank to
- i
ed to the police station and poured his
tale of woe into the ear of Detective
BradiSh. He was advised TO swear out
warrant for the arrest of the men.
Yesterday he went before the district
attorney and had three complaints is
sued. These were placed in the hands
of Detective Bradish ard he arrested
one of the members of the gang by the
name of Natchez Bilderrain, who for
merly acted as zanjero in this city. La
ter in the day Ed Davis, alias Poker
Davis. and Mort Kearn, proprietor of
the barber shop under the Hollenbeck
hotel came to the station and gave has
for Bilderrain's g appearance.
Once out of Jail, Williams was at c;,ee
looked up and an attempt was ma(ss .r
square matters. During the afternool
Chief Glass received a telephone mes
sage from Williams stating that he had
been seen by members of the gang and
that they had offered to do the right
thing. He asked the chief what he should
Go in regard to the matter. He was told
that there was only one thing to do now
that the complaint had been issued, and
that is to appear against the men III
court.