The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-13
Bunko Men Are Again at Outs
With the Police.
FIVE ARRESTS THE RESULT
Chief Reed Promises That q vigor-
Gus Campaign VIII he Wnged,
but Members of Bunko Syndicate
Say They Have Heard That
Threat Before-Defendants to he
Tried Before Judge Cam To-day.

Five OF the most notorious bunko men
in the city, members of an alleged or
ganized syndicate OF thieves and sure
thing" gamblers that has operated here
for six months or more almost unmolested
by the police, were yesterday rudely ar
rested and thrown into the city jail.
Three city detectives, Charles Phiilips'
Ice A. Barbee and Sam Corbett, were the
arresting officers, acting under instruc-
tons received from Chief Reed several
days ago. The chiefs orders were that
close watch should be kept on the rcputed
confidence men and pickpockets, ana that
arrests should follow whenever evidence
OF guilt was obtained. Detective Phil
lips stated yesterday that there was no
doubt that the men arrested were high
up In their profession.
This afternoon the Ave men VIII be
taken before Police Judge Cam and ar
raigned on charges OF yagrancy They
headquarters, where the register shows
alias aswede" Thompson; j. W Miller,
:as 59s %rEh s GSni a sas ahS
J. G.. Howard All were released on bail,
putting up $50 In cash or giving bonds
Tor $500 each. Edwards had more than
500 in cash on his person when searched.
All Have Records.
Thompson. an innocent-looking individ-
OF the "Ole Olson OF farce-comedy. Is
known from one end OF the Pacific coast
20 the other as a punko man. He has
past six Or seven years His specially
Ii what IL technically known as "the
mitt." otherwise cheating unsophisticated
suaS a. poke a. w rSnnd b saes sssd
son gives his occupation as longshore-
man, but has never been known to work
here.
Frank Edwards has beea in Seattle al
most constantly for nearly two years.
The police claim that he IL q good card
player. but that for several weeks past he
has been 'atalling for the dips" on the
water front; that IL to say. aiding pick
pockets In their work among the passen-
gers on departing Nome steamers Men
Nome are & the asss a fos
by confidence operators and pickpockets.
~ they have not time to remain to prose-
cute those who fleece them. even II the
Ii is claimed by some OF Edwards
friends that no is not on the best OF terms
With ths powers that be In the bunko
work about the ''mitt" joints, and has
thereby been forced 20 adopt other ways
OF making a. living Edwards claims
be does not necessarily acquire toll
hardened hands.
Collins, known IN all his usual haunts
a. The square-Faced KID" claims to be
tho manager Of the ''mitr' Joint that has
for months ebeen conducted in different
lodging houses In the city.
Miller and Howard are associates OF
she three other men arrested Miller,
~ claimed. is one OF Collins abiest
iieutensnts: Their rendezvous. II is al
Stewart has several times lately com
planned to the polio, that ''sure thing"
men were making his office their quarters
ana asked that some steps be taken to
break up tho practice. Collins, Miller
md Thompson were arreastd at the post
ONCE by Phillips and Barbee.
Cause of the Crusade.
Although at police headquarters II IL
claimed the arrest OF Ave bunko men was
merely the result OF Chief Reeds order,
Interview In which Police Judge Cam de-
MED with some asperity Chief Reeds
charge that tho police court under the
Cam administration was a farce, had
moro or less 10 do with tho matter.
In this Interview Judge Cam was quot
cd as saving that the Immunity Of the
hunko men was due to the failure OF the
police and detectives to arrest them and
that II bunko men were brought into his
court he would see that they we're sternly
dealt with.
II is more than probable that when they
are brought Into court today the fiye
bunko men VIII be convicted and fined
perior court. IL they DO SO and give
proper bonds they must be allowed their
liberty pending the appeals.
This Ia the course that has heretofore
been pursued In bnnko cases. and that
II IL satisfactory TO the average bunko
man goes without saying 1T merely
puts him 20 n little Inconvenience In get
tins ball. As soon IA he Is released he
H. at liberty 60 ply his vocation as usual
and, Furthermore. h then able 20 give d
more plausible excuse for remaining in
the city
The bunko men were not all counting
tho public gaze to any great extent after
tho arrest % the five members OF their
HanE yesterday morning. They found
the weather too warm 20 make lettering
about the streatA pleasant In their
teclosion they were inclined 20 treat
the matter as trivial and only an I'm.
pleasant Joke perpetrated by Reeds men.
They cay that the chief has issued such
orders time and again before and that
nothing has ever come Of it.