The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-08
EOOTRACE 'SWINDLE OUT WEST.
Thousands OF Dollars Non From FOlks
who'd scorn o Gold Brick.

FORT ScorT, Kan, Dec. Out here
where the gold brick has almost outlived
it's usefulness as an article OF
and the market for green goods has dwin-
died almost to the vanishing point. a slick
gang Of Missouriins have extracted,
within a year, mora than 500 900 from
the pockets Of wealthy citizens by means
OF the venerable moss-backed footrace
swindle. They have worked il in every
| city within a few hundred miles OF this
place and it has been easy money.
II is the old trick Of pretending to let
In prominent merchants or public officials
In high places on a shady transaction which
! will be a sure thing. and few Of those APP
preached seem to nave been able to with
stand the temptation. The victims are
known to include one member OF The Kan
sas Legislature, a bank President, a Ne
braska Sheriff, a Texas Sheriff, three law
yers, several well-known merchants and
a round dozen Of stockmen. besides any
number OF wealthy business men who
prefer to pocket losses of hundreds or
thousands of dollars rather h squeal
and reveal their identity.
And in spite Of repeated exposure the
swindlers have not only managed to escape
Justice, 30 far, but have found dupes for
fresh races every week. Last week they
brought Of four and their profits from the
four are put at S27 200.
But all things have an end and after es-
Gaping free on various preteNts from the
State courts the whole gang IL now under
Indictment by a Federal Grand Jury. The
Kansas legislator is the head and front OF
the prosecution.
The gang has ruined him and he is out
for vengeance. He is j NJ. Davis and a
short time ago lie was a wealthy stock
man. The drought brought reverses
.tnpn him and nj the sn ma time the SWIM
oilers got 5000 out Of him.
OF his 2 600 acres he hasn't even a home
stead left. so he has set out on the swim
dlers' trail. He has communicated witt
| other victims and has a list Of twenty and
letters from the attorneys Of many more.
| These show that the individual losses run
up 10 S2l. OOO-the Texas Sherifs-and
down to 500, taken from a kackley. Kan
merchant.
The trick didn't differ materially In any
OF the cases. The gang calls itself the
webb City Athletic Association.
It's members. as indicted, include A. y.
Stewart, cashier OF a Webb City bank
| Bob Boatright "A saloonkeeper and Treasurer
Of the association. Bud Gillette and q o.
Stansberry. sprinters. and +. +. Ellis, one
Of several men who are charged WIN
soliciting victims.
The sprinters are men Of local regulations
only. fhe swindlers selected as their
victims in each case a man who because OF
his DuslnprS OF 0I1Cldl rldfOlflk III Al' ''li-
munity would be unlikely TO tell tales en-
! posing his connection with a deliberate
attempt TO defraud.
To him a representative OF the association
would confide that the gang was about 10
| hold a fake race hetveen the two sprlnters
and wanted to bet 5000 on IT Beng
/ officers of the association they didn't dare
bet the money th"m~elves, Tor fear the
public would suspect, so they were looking
Tor a stranger To bet the money for them.
As his reward he would hav from 81 600
10 g., 500. the amount ls.ing regulated 10y
the cupidity Of the victim, out 81 the win
nings The stakes We're TO be placed with
the association and lie need put up no money
Of his own
When the victim bit on this proposition
he was sent on 20 Webb city Ther" lac
was soon convinced that he must have
from o. 900 upward 10 hi- credit at the Tank
10 convince "a" hsttors ~ the other SIDE
that he VA betting has own money
When he had he money v here be could ct
~ u the gang CAV" hin $500 and =. t"-
turned II Ia them a. "a dehi Aii"r iha' "
was 'Asy to persuade him 70 rsk a lew
hundreds OF thousands ~ dollars on the
"A m" side
Then the race was nun, Of course tho
sprinler on whom hs had b~t would fall
ls.fop he rrachs-i the tape, - the l--'s we're
lost SOM. ~ IA. victims have 1T ihrii
watches. theif r-vuly.p AL th~r l"o~0
change. everything IN fact hut IN" clothes
they hAN h-"u Wearing
TITO lAsi lus.r vAs J A Randall. Az apple
buyef 90 ~ Louie he lad th. gang a..
rested lu Mrisb Gty The ouufF - Them
FREE the neat day
Otb.f Viriims have attained Judgment
against hsiwugh', no tnnasunrr hui o.
oaIuns lhs ~ihnusands in nash and undrf o.
I pruNi-luu - tho las th"v UsnnW 10 T"aUlf7i
~ ludsnsni Dave nays he'll HaGh 80
sans ~ usaHs - ihs cuminal lac ".
u f.siNnE lrftStr dallN fem NlrUaH
shH pfutns.i &C., Lslp hln hfAnfaaIl, uH
tho piu--ulDu n 49, sI nta htulEr Ns
uAuss ~ fhs sui.is aud b. 10 taklns eli
tts hrip 'srrs-i