The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-27
CON" men CAUGHT
CHIEF o'CoNNoR AND OFFICER
MORGAN ARREST THREE
CL-ER CROOKS
HAD JUST FLEEcED A VICTIM
Threc-Card Trick ON Stranger
Yielded $50, but They Could
Not Get Away With
the Spells.


Chief O'Connor and Officer Ben Morgan
arrested three alleged confidence men
at 1870 o'clock yesterday afternoon, just
as they had finished fleeing a victim at
Kent and Fuller streets out of $50 by
means of a three-card trick. The men
gave the names of George Morris, Charles
Vanley and Charles Hall. Morris and
Vanley, whose photographs were found
in Chief O'Connor's rogues gallery, have
both done time before for ''bunco and
confidence work
Chief O'Connor says Vanley's correct
name is William Mccartney, alias Vel
low Legs" alias Alexander Henry, and
that he was sentenced in Omaha, Neb.
in 1886, for eight years on the charge of
!. working "a confidence game, but was
pardoned. Morris name is said to be
+ Robert G. Evans. alias 'Chippy' Bob,
and he was arrested in San Francisco,
Cal, Nov. A. 1900, for working a ''bunco'
game, and was sentenced to one year.
The man giving the name of Charles
Hall could not be found in the rogues,
gallery. Vanley is fifty-five years of age.
Hall about thirty EIGHT years old and
Morris is thirty-two years of age. Chief
OConnor says that these are the same
men who buncoed a visitor from Winni-
peg, Can, out of $S5 at the Union depot
on the 18th inst. by the aid of United
on the victim at the proper time
The name of the victim yesterday was
Edward Vanberg who came to St. Paul
from Montana on a morning train. Van
berg told Chief O'Connor that when he
arrived at the Union depot yesterday
morning he was approached by Hall, who
asked him if he would like to see the
new capitol, at the same time telling
him of it's beauties and the things that
could be seen there.
Vanberg, not suspecting anything
wrong, accepted the invitation to take
a walk, and on the way Hall showed
him how easy it was to do up sucker"
with a three-card trick. The victim was
interested, and when they arrived at
the capitol they We're met by Morris,
whose correct name is Evans, and who
Joined in the conversation. Next it was
proposed that they go and see some fine
residences on ST. Anthony hill. Vanberg
thought he would like to see them, and
quickly consented to go along, little sus-
pecting that in a very few minutes he
would be minus 500 as the result of his
experience with his alleged friends. They
kept on walking until the corner of Kent
and Fuller streets was reached. Here
they We're met by Vanley, who played
the sucker" for the confidence men.
Started the Game.
Hall and Evans brought the three-card
game into play, and Vanley bet, and, of
course, lost. Vanberg became interested
and it was not long before he had been
separated from $50. The men were try
ing to get rid of Vanperg, when Chief
O'Connor, who happened to be out driv-
ing with Officer Ben Morgan drove up
The chief saw the four men standing on
the corner, and his knowledge of crooks
told him something was wrong. He pick
ed Vanberg as the victim and called him
AS he did so, Evans, who gave the name
of Morris, started to run, and Officer
Morgan jumped out of the buggy and
gave chase. He had to fire two shots
from his revolver before Morris would
stop. The four men were all taken to the
Rondo street station and later to the
central station, where all but the victim
were locked up. Chief O'Connor said
last night that the Winnipeg man, who
also fell victim to their game will
be in ST. Paul in few days. The three
men all deny that they were working
a icon" game on Vanberg When
searched a lady's gold watch was found
on Morris. The watch had an E1gin
movement, No. 5729975 and the number of
the gold case was 2S24SS. On the inside
of the cap was the inscription Frank
lie Erickson" with branch and leaves.
On the outside of the case there was an
engraving of a bird and flowers. Chief
O'Connor, is of the opinion that this
watch was stolen.
The men had three return tickets to
Minneapolis on them and the three cards
with which their voctim was buncoed
were also found in their possession They
also had $3.50 in money
The catch is considered a lucky one,
as Norris and Vanley are both well
known to the police as con- men,