The herald., 1897-05-20
FELL AMONG THIEVES
HOW A DETECTIVE RECOVERED
VALUABLE oPALS
A Denverite Swindled by the Poker
Davis Gang, But His Jewels Are
Returned When He Squeals

Detective Hawley takes very strong
exceptions to the manner in which he
states that he has been misrepresented
by the reference made to him in the arti-
Gle published in a contemporary yester-
day about a guest at the Hollenbeck
who was victimized by the Poker Davis
gang Of bunco steerers. According to
the Denver man who was decoyed into
the joint, the story is considerably
colored.
He states that he was approached by
a man who introduced himself as Mr..
Hartman, claiming to have known him
in Denver, and was invited by the latter
to walk to the corner Of Fifth and Broad
way and meet man from Mexico,
named Bergman. The Denver man ac-
cepted the invitation, and the two went
to the Wiley building, where Mr.. Berg
man, the gentleman from Mexico, was
supposed to be found.
There were a couple Of men playing
poker in room at the time, who stated
that Bergman had just won a pot and
had stepped out to buy cigars The
Denverite was invited to join in the
game, but stated that he did not play
cards. Four hands were dealt out, how
ever, and Hartman picked up the visit
or's hand and looked it over. He seemed
greatly excited, and told him that it was
sure winner, and asked to throw down
his own hand and play his friends for
him. This was agreed upon, and he bet
all the chips he had upon 1t. The others
raised him, and then he appealed to the
Denver man to help him out, after he
had added a couple Of worthless drafts
to the pile. If he only had another hun
dred dollars he was a sure winner, other
wise he would lose all he had. The other
said that he did not have the money, but
would put up about $4O0 worth of VAL
liable opals as security for the amount.
He did this, and Hartman lost the whole
thing.
The Denverite then began to think
that everything was not right, and re-
ported the matter to Chief Glass, who
turned 1t over to Chief Hawley. The
detective went down to- Poker Davis
den in company with the Denver man.
When he arrived there Ziegler, alias
Poker Davis received them with great
effusion. He did not wait to be asked for
the return of the opals, but as soon as
he saw that the victim had squealed
decided to give them up at once. He told
the officer that Mr.. Hartman had al
ready been there and had redeemed the
gems, and it was all right.
Under the circumstances there was
nothing for the officer to do. The stones
had been loaned to Hartman to use as
collateral, and now they were returned
The owner of the stones had not done
any gambling himself, and there was nc
charge which could be brought agains
the men.
The detective forcibly denies that h,
ever used the language attributed t
him in the article, where he is made tc
say to Poker Davis gang that "if they
don't return those jewels he will shoot
all three of them" He also states that
an error was made when it is said that
he received box Of cigars from the
Denver man as a resylt of his trouble
in securing the return of his opals. As
a matter Of fact, he did receive two or
three cigars which the other insisted on
giving him, but that is all.
| Another victim was steered into the
notorious Broadway joint yesterday and
claims that he was fleeced out of $4a
He complained to the police and had a
warrant sworn out for the arrest of
four of the members of the Poker Davis
gang. The instrument was placed in the
hands Of Detective Steele, but the victim
failed to identify the men by whom he