Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-22
South Omaha News /.


WV w ~ w ~ ~ IN ~ w % ~ VI
The entire time Of Police Judge Christ
mann was taken up yesterday with the
swindlers arrested for fleeing visiting
stockmen. Attorneys Tor the defendants
tried in every way possible to secure a
continuance. Judge Christmann overruled
all such motions and insisted that the cases
set for trial be proceeded with.
The first case called was against W. $.
Rae, with O.. T. Brown of Atlantic. la, as
the complaining witness. Rae withdrew his
plea Of not guilty and refused to plead when
called upon to do SO. Attorney Patrick, who
Is looking after Rae's interests, objected TO
the introduction of any testimony for the
reason that the complaint was insufficient
to constitute a crime. The motion was over
ruled and an exception taken,
Brown then went on the stand and told
about being swindled out of S25 in a game
Of cards. He Identified Rae as the man
who invited him to play, ana as the person
who won his money. Witness was a little
mixed as to the location of the saloon whore
Rae and h. played cards, and 1t was finally
agreed to let him go out with the chief
of police and see if he could find the place.
without any hesitation Brown took the
chief to Markeson's place on n street and
insisted that there was where he was
fleeCed.
After the evidence was all in tho Judge
held Rae to the district court in the sum
of $1,000. a hustle was made for bail, and
George w Westcott was induced to sign
along with T. f. Norton.
\ complaint was then filed against w. 5.
Rae, Robert Rae and Ed stone, charging
them with gaming and robbing Jim John
son of $25 by means of dice. This case was
set for hearing at . o'clock in the after
noon, but 1t was nearly 4 when time was
called and the first witness pla<ed on the
stand. Stone made a kick fer a Contin-
uance, saying that his attorney was not
present. 1t was finally decided to send for
an Omaha attorney, and the court waited
until he arrived,
story. He said that on the morning OF
August I he arrived with stock and went
to a restaurant for breakfast. AS he came
out of the chop house he met Stone and ali
acquaintance was soon struck up, Stone
claimed to have a hundred acres of land in
the vicinity of Johnson's farm and the two
talked awhile about crops, etc. Stone then
invited Johnson in to Fishers saloon to
have a drink. There they met Rae, VINO
pretended not to know Stone. Dice were
thrown for the drinks and finally for moneys
with Johnson for stakeholder. Finally John
son was induced to loan Stone $25 to bet on
a sure thing. Stone lest and Rae snatched
the money and skipped out the back door.
Stone then asked johnson If he had any
more money and was answered in the neg
alive. He was then told to go to -.
After Stone had departed Johnson realized
that he had been feeced. He explained to
the court how the game was played. 1t
was what the gamesters call top and bot
TOM" and it catches a sucker every time.
The demands of the defendants were at last
acceded to by the judge and a further hear
ing of the case was put off until next
Saturday.
Stone has bad record, he having been
convicted in Omaha of having worked the
paddock game on a couple of travellers at
the union depot. He was sentenced to a
long term in the penitentiary, but is out on
bail pending a rehearing.
Frank E. Mum, an attorney of Omaha,
who came down here claiming to represent
Stone, sought to intimidate the states wit
nesses yesterday by causing the arrest of
o.. 7. Brown on a charge of gambling.
After Brown had testified against Rae, Mum
went to Omaha and secured a warrant for
Brown in a justice court. Brown was taken
to Omaha. Mayor Ensor said that as Brown
came here in answer to a telegram from
him he would look after his interests and
see that he secured his liberty. The mayor
feels sore at the support, or rather lack OF
support, being given him in this move. The
stock yards company professed to be willing
to spend S., 600 to break up the gang, but
since the arrest of the leaders the mayor
says that not an official of the yards has
had a word to say about the case. the gen
eral manager not even inquiring how the
prosecution was progressing.
Another thing the mayor is sore on is the
action of some of the councilmen. Caldwell
signed Rae's bond and assisted him in Sc
curing his liberty the first day of the trial.
Another councilman, who frequently makes
complaints of the ineficiency of the police
force, has absented himself from the city
after he saw that there was trouble ahead.
Proprietors of the tough joints insist that
unless they are permitted to continue in
business the licensed houses must close up.
Rae and Stone have been so far unable to
furnish bail and are still confined in the city
Jail.