The Indianapolis journal., 1898-07-03
OLD FOOT-RACE SWINDLE
BELMONT ID. HESTER, INSURANCE
AGENT, A $4,000 VICTIM.
Bunco Worked Rack of the Notorious
Abbey SaIOOn-Davis, One of the
Parties, Arrested.

The old foot-race swindle was successfully
worked in this city again yesterday, with
Belmont D. Lester. an insurance agent, liv-
ing at sos North Pennsylvania street, as the
victim. 1t cost him $1,000 in cash to find
out that he could not beat professional
swindlers at their own game.
The men who worked the game were
known here as John w. Davis, James Ryan,
Kerr, King and Morgan. 1t was the old
game that has been worked here several
times before, and is supposed to be worn
threadbare by long usage. Davis came here
several weeks ago and made the acquaint-
ance of Lester He represented himself as
a sporting man from Denver and later In
troduced Ryan, who, he said, was profes-
sional sprinter. Ryan was accompanied by
King, who was represented as the financial
backer of the sprinter. The three men
spent considerable time in company with
Lester. Every time the subject of sprinting
came up, and King frequently said he was
willing to back Ryan for any amount
against any man in the world. King dis
played plenty of money and left the impress
sion that he was man of unlimited means
Gradually the plan was unfolded. When
things were ripe Davis and Ryan made the
proposition to Lester. 1t was arranged that
a match should be made and that Lester
should bet on the other man, covering
Kings money. Ryan said he had only $500
and he would give this to Lester to bet for
him against himself He made this offer
as guarantee of good faith and also, as he
said, to get as much of the suckers"
money as possible. He explained to Lester
that he had been travelling about over the
country with King for a long time and had
won number of races for him; that the re-
suit was that King had a barrel of money
while he (Ryan) had only few paltry
hundred. He said that King had treated
him like a dog all the way through; that
he would even promise to divide the win
ming evenly and would then put Ryan off
with $1G0 or $500, where he should have had
$1,000. The result was, Ryan explained, that
he was sore on his. hacker and was ready
to throw him down if he could make it pay
He would let Lester bet on the other
sprlnter, and he would throw the race
against King. Lester would win the money
and then divide 1t with Ryan.
MUTUAL FRIEND" DAVIS.
Davis was not apparently financially con-
cerned in the deal. He was merely mutual
friend who brought Lester and Ryan to-
gether. Lester took the bait greediN and
a match was arranged. A man by the name
of Kerr, who claimed Denver as his home,
but who imported from Chicago, was
the other sprinter. He arrived in the city
Friday and the race came off yesterday
afternoon. Before going to the place of
meeting Ryan gave $500 to Davis. The un-
derstanding was that he was to place this
amount with 900 of Testers money It
was TO be done quietly. and King was not
to know that Ryan was betting against him.
self.
The race was run off back of the Abbey
saloon at Mount Jackson, where a like
swindle was perpetrated several years ago.
Lester, Davis and Kerr went out together
and met Ryan and King there. 1t was ar
ranged between Ryan and Lester that the
latter should hold stakes, and he held his
5000 and Ryan's 500 and waited for King
to pat up his $3.50 against it: but King
raised an objectien to Lester holding the
stakes, as he was backing one of the run
ners. He suggested that Davis, being q dis
interested person. would be the proper one
to hold the money. All the while he was
holding big roll that looked like money in
his hand. Davis demurred little to the
proposition that he hold the money. but