The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-01-13
ATTEMPTED BRIBERY
SLOT MACHINE BUSINESS MEETS
A CRISIS.
CHICAGO GAMBLERS ROUTED
Attempt to Bride DISTRICT Attorney Buck
master Ends Disastrously for
the Slot Machine Man.-He
is Promptly Arrested.


encroachmentso the city of the hordes
of Chicago gamblers which are now
being driven out of that city,
This morning every gambling house
in the city was terrified by hearing that
one of the smoothest members of their
fraternity had been taken into custody
on charge of attempted bribery, pre-
ferred by District Attorney Buck
master. The method of the capture of
the member of the light fingered gentry
is most sensational, and the story of it
sheds great glory about the District
Attorney, City Attorney Bohmrich and
Chief of Police Stemm. The officials
were so jubilant over their work this
morning that they could hardly find
time in their rejoicings to relate the
story of their clever work.
The man under arrest named A
Kosh, and he gives his home as Chi
cago. He has been slot machine
operator for some time, and claims to
have only three machines in this city.
He came to Kenosha on Wednesday
afternoon and at once visited the
gambling dens of the city and found
out the condition of affairs IN regard to
the opposition of the slot machine in
this city. After looking around a
while he went to the Office of District
Attorney Buckmaster and very quietly
told him that he had come here to talk
over the slot machine question. The
attorney scented trouble, and told the
fellow that he had no time to deal with
the matter at that time, and very
forcblv excused the fellow from the
office. The man. however, was not
acquainted with the attorney, and
pushed the point just a little too far,
and the attorney told him to return
this morning and he would have a
little talk with him on the subject. AS
soon as the slot machine magnate was
gone Buckmaster Informed BOhmrich
Of the affair, and the two men soon had
their heads together arranging the
clever scheme which resulted in the
fellow being caught today.
A code of signals was arranged and
everything made ready for the fellows
reception when he arrived this morn
ling. Mr.. Buckmaster having business
at the county court he was not able to
be at his office, and when he returned
about $50 be feared that he had missed
the man, but few moments later the
fellow came into the office, and the
attorney got up and greeted him with
unusual cordiality, and at the same
time gave the signal for action to his
two contederates who were stationed
in the CITY Attorneys office. At this
signal Bonlnrich la down fiat on the
floor in orcer to be witness against
the fellow, by hearing the conversation
through the crack under the door,
The fellow was very foxy and saw
the possibilities of the room at once
and was very careful about the business
he had to transact. Th g district attOr-
ney, however, soon relieved him of all
restraint by taking him into his conf
dence. The fellow produced his Gre
dentials, which consisted of an invita-
ton to the reception and ball given by
the Cook County Republican club, of
which the gambler was a member.
Mr.. Buckmaster told the fellow that he
was Republican and after rambling
talk he told him to come down to
business and if he had any propositions
N1n Tr0O n VIZ n @
not to be easily caught for he at once
said that he did not like to make any
propositions without knowing how they
would be received. A this point the
fellow began to talk very low and the
district attorney was obliged to move
around the room in order to force him
to speak loud enough for the witnesses
| in the neignO~ ng room to near. Tue
talk then turned TO the slot machine
itself and the man very carefully ex-
planned it's workings and figured out
the gains on it for the benefit of his
attentive listener. This was not COM
ing to business fast enough and the
attorney was forced to ell the fellow
| UudU LIS UliA : w dS lIu1lUOO cbAA 1IO lANOO
make him proposition at once If he
had anything to offer. At this point
the man did some figuring and then
agreed to pay him $40 week if he
would allow him the privilege to run
the devices without molestation. 1t
was hard for the officer to understand
the amount in question and so. the man
was forced to repeat it several times.
The matter being firmly rooted IN the
minds of the witnesses Mr.. Buckmaster
remembered his appointment at the
court and this being the signal Attor-
ney Bohmrich and Chief Stemm enter
ed. The fellow was at once arrested
| by Chief Stemm and recognizing his
position he began to beg piteously to
| be released.
He told the officers he was man.of