The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-25
RACERS INDICTED.
Webb City Gang in Federal
Court at Last.
Winnings For Past Week We're
$4,000.
ONE MAN LOST $1,000.
Topeka People Are Among the
Victims.
Recent Proceedings New Meth
ONE MAN LOST $4,000.
Recent Proceedings a New Meth
cd of Warfare.

Fort Scott, Kas., Nov. 25.-Over $780,
600 is said to have been won the past
eighteen months by the Webb city
Athletic association, at Webb City, MO-
from prominent men-mostly public
office holders-of different states east
and west Five men. alleged to be con-
nected in different capacities with the
association, have been indicted by the
federal grand jury in this city. 1t is
known that their winnings the past
week aggregate $27, 200. A fake foot
race is the means by which such i'm
menSe winnings are made from men
who are made to believe that they are
in on the game and sure to win The
last loser, J. A. Randall, an apple buyer
of ST. Louis, is 81 900 out, and has had
the men arrested in the local courts at
Webb City, but it has been repeatedly
proven that there is no relief for VIC
Tins of the association there. The men
indicted here by the grand jury are A
p. Stewart, cashier of a Webb City
bank; Bob Boatright, a saloonkeeper
and treasurer of the association; Bud
Gillette and G. o. Stansberry, sprint
ers and E. E. Ellis, one of several men
who are charged with soliciting victims
for the games.
Representative J. NJ. Davis, of this
county, is the instigator of the prosecu-
ton in the federal courts. He had war
rants issued in the state courts some
weeks ago, but had been unable to get
except Gillette. who is under a $1,000
bond in the state court here The ex-
tent of the Webb City Athletic associ-
atoms recent operations is exposed by
letters received almost daily by Mr.
Davis and his attorneys from men who
have lost heavily to the Webb City
men. Some of these letters were sub
mitted to the federal grand jury. They
show victims as follows:
Client of Attorney J. w. Haughey
Wellington, kaS.; $500.
Two clients of A T. Pigg, Topeka;
81 900 each.
w. P. Wells, Massillon, Ark; $1,000.
E. r. McIlroy, Fayette, Ark; 5000.
Leonard Nelson, Kackley, Kas.; $500.
Henry Cohn, Collinsville, ILL.,; $4,000.
H Phillips, sheriff, West Point, Neb.;
$4,000.
Chanute, Kas.. man, who refuses to
give name; $1,000.
Letters from T. F. Stroud, Kansas
City, Mo-; DR.. W. c. Hamilton, Topeka;
J. w. Scheussler. president of the Bank
of Colony, KaS.; w c. Meeker, a. mer-
chant of Colony, Kas-; Louis Taylor,
Anderson county, Kansas. and others,
tell of attempts of the same men to in
duce them to go against the race. Some
of them seem to have narrowly escaped.
One Texas sheriff is known to have re-
Gently lost $4,000 at the game. Mr..
COhn, the COllinsville ILL.,, man who lost
81, 900, offers voluntarily, at his own ex-
penSe, to help Mr.. Davis convict the
men, He says he knows of several
other victims of the Webb City men.
Letters have also been received telling
of the operation of the associations
sprinters at Brush, Colo, where they
won 81, 700, and also at Durango and
Mancus, in that state, where they made
big winnings.
Representative Davis told the stroy in
court here of how he was heeced, and
record was made of it for submission to
the governors of Kansas and Missouri, in
the hope of securing their cooperation in
disorg anizing and Furnishing the members
of the so-called association Notwithstand-
ing the exposure resulting from Mr. Davis
prosecution, the a association is able to find
victims for races every week, it having
pulled off four last week. The story told in
that of Mr. Davis. A man who it is
thought not afford to expose his con-
nection with such game because of his
tain degree of public confidence in his
community is selected and approa ched by
a. representative of the organization with
the proposition that they are looking for
stranger to bet 5000 of their money.
Being officers of the association under
made to appear plausible that they could
not be known the bettors, and the man
s.. 600 of the money won The stakes are
to be put up in the associations hands,
the intended victim is told, and he is to
arrives at Webb City he is convinced that
he must have from 5000 to $4,000 to his
fellows taking the other side that he is
betting his own money. The association
places s., 900 in his hands and he bets it,
time among the Webb City sports and
such strategic influences are brought to
win several thousand dollars of his own
on the side. and he puts up his own
ting falls in the race and loses the money.
In the case of Mr.. Davis and others which
have come to light the past week or two,