The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-06

theodore Fordham. a typical Montana
cowboy, who can handle a six-shooter
with remarkable dexterity, held up John
Fletcher and j. c. Williams. two alleged
bunko men. al the point OF a pistol at 80
yesterday afternoon on Third avenue near
the corner of Cherry street. The street
was crowded at the time of the occur
renee. and nine out OF ten, believing that
either bold robbery was being committed
or an insane man was attempting muir
der, fed. They went behind telegraph
poles. into doorways and around corners
as # a dozen Tom Blancks had been
turned loose. IN the midst OF the excite
ment Officer Bryant came running down
the street, pistol in hand. They robbed
me- said Fordham. Arrest them and
you can have my gun Hes insane.
yelled Fletcher and Williams. but the Of
ficer took all of them to the station. where
Fletcher and Williams were locked UP and
Fordham was allowed to go out cunning
for third alleged bunko man.
Fordham is a young man VINO has
passed most of his life on the cattle
ranges OF Montana and Wyoming. AT
one time he was "a deputy sherin IN South
Dakota. He became proficient in the use
of Colts revolver. and could hit NOV
ing object with the ease OF Jesse James
He is not of a troublesome disposition,
however, and SO he has not found 1t neces-
sary to start private graveyard
Stories of great wealth in the kiondike
excited his Imagination, SO he collected
together $3.50 and started for the land OF
gold. lie arrived IN Seattle last Wedhes-
day, and was met at the depot by a young
man whom he says is Fletcher tletcher
easily gained his friendship by telling him
that he was going 10 the klondihe as !,
member of a party of sixteen. shouit.
Ike 10 introduce you TO our captain, sad
Fletcher. Fordham's suspicious wer~ .e-
duced To zero, IL he had any i'll the hrst
place. Fletcher helped him 10 fnd room
and in due course OF time introduced MIN
to the captain" who Is }. {. Williams.
according 10 Fordham's story. capt.
Williams is a large. imposing sort of man.
He will weigh 10 pounds, and does not
look like a bold, bad bunko steerer.
Day before yesterday, Fordham says,
that Fletcher and Williams took him out
over the Madison street cable road TO
Lake Washington. 1t was such a beau
tiful day that they could not bear 10 ioiter
around the streets. Out at the lake they
met a stranger who had three little shells
and a tiny little bail. 1t was such a sim
ple trick TO pick out the shell under which
the stranger placed the ball that Will
Jams. Fletcher and Fordham became deep
iy interested. Fordham says that Will
Jams played the game with a vengeance
Sometimes ne won and sometimes he lost.
Fordham also took a hand, and when II
was over he found that he was a loser
to the extent of $l65. OF course. he felt
bad, but Williams and Fletcher felt sorry,
too. They came back TO the city. and aft
err consoling each other separated. Ford
ham, with the memory of that sl65 in his
mind and the funny little game that made
IL disappear, came 10 the conclusion that
he had been victim OF trickery. Yester
day morning he went To police headquar-
tiers and inquired about different games
and the methods used. Detective Sam Cor
beet told him that he had been trifling
with three-card monte under different
guise, and suggested that he make an
other appointment, at which time the po-
lice would capture the gang.
Fordham agreed TO the plan and went
out looking for Fletcher and Williams
BY good luck he met them, he says. and
told them that he had an idea that he
could beat that game if he got another
chance. Fordham flashed a few bills
crumbled up so that they looked Ike Il
big roll. Williams, according to Ford
hams story, said ne felt sore at his loss
and would like 10 get even. "Wcll.
can't 20 now" said Fordham. "as | will
have TO wait until the bank Is open
viii meet you in the afternoon" II was
agreed that they would take Madison
street car at Third avenue and 20 out 10
the lake. They were TO meet about 2.s0
o'clock. Fordham reported and Detectives
Corbett and Powers said that they would
take the car at Fourth avenue.
When the time came the detectives
started out OF Fourth avenue. while Ford
ham went up 10 Third avenue and Madi-