The herald., 1897-12-11
Still Doing Business at the
Old Stand
BRACE OF sTEERERs cINcHED
NATCHEZ BILDERRAIN BEATS
THE BRUSH FOR BAIL
A Sucker Loses $140, but squeals
When q Second Attempt to
Bunco Him Is Made

Two bunco steerers, members Of the
Poker Davis gang Of confidence robbers,
4e1M South Spring street, were run In
yesterday by Detectives Auble and
Hawley. They gave their names at the
city jail as William Dale and John
Howard To prospective suckers they
introduced themselves as Richard How
ard, the father, and his son, John How
Ard. The elder man Is a venerable look
ing individual, minus any hair on the
top Of his head, and might pass for 40
years Of age. His son Is a sharp-fea-
tured youth Of perhaps 20 years. In
F.. spite Of Natchez Bilderrain's efforts to
the night in jail. The complaint against
the men was sworn to by James c. john
son, q mining man from near Yuma,
who has been stopping at the Natick
house since his arrival in the city.
Last Wednesday Johnson was stand
ing in front Of the Nadeau hotel on
: Spring street when he was approached
by two very affable men who struck up
q conversation with him. Naturally
enough the talk drifted to mining. Mr..
Johnson was pleased to learn that his
new acquaintances were interested in
the same kind Of work as himself. They
owned q gold mine somewhere In the
Sierra Madre mountains and showed
some very rich nuggets which had been
picked up on the claim. Finally John
son was invited to walk down to the
Office and see the colonel, who would be
delighted to talk with him about mines.
The invitation was accepted. On ar
yiving at the office" 1t was learned that
the colonel was out. A sociable game Of
cards was proposed. johnson was dealt
what seemed an unbeatable hand. He
raised the bet and all but the venerable
player with the bald pate dropped out.
He met every raise Of the bet persist
entity until johnson had $40 upon the
table. The hands were laid down and
Johnson had lost his pile. He swallowed
his medicine and decided not to "holler."
The bunco men evidently thought that
johnson was a good thing. Yesterday
afternoon they met him again on Tenn
pie street. While they were talking a
fourth man, who pretended to be a
stranger to all parties, stepped up and
introduced himself. He stated that he
had lottery scheme which he would
like to have them investigate. On ac-
count Of the laws restricting the con-
Quoting OF lotteries the matter would
have to be done very quietly. Johnson
was conducted to a room on Temple
street, where the scheme was explained
: 1t was the rawest sort Of bunco game.
A sweat board covered with figures was
exhibited and a dice box produced. The
figures corresponding to the dice which
were shaken showed the winnings of
the player.
Howard, ST., tried his hand at the
game and won $500. A book of bylaws
was then produced which stated that
the winner Of a premium must show
that he had as much money inShis pock-
cts as his winnings called for. Howard
showed the money. The others were
asked to show UP how much money they
had before the game could proceed.
Howard dug UP his cash. but Johnson
thought that he had seen enough of the
game. He was asked to show up his
capital, but refused to do so and left the
place. He went at once to the district
attorneys Office and swore out COM
plants against all three men on charges
Of conspiracy to defraud. The two How
ards were arrested later by Detectives
Auble and Hawley on Main street. The
third man has not yet been arrested.