The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-24
He Backed the Runner of an "Athlet tic
Club" of Springfield, Ill, and
Lost Heavily.
DENNIS DANNACHER IN CITY
HE is IDENTIFIED IN JUDGE
M'MASTER'S COURT.
1t Is Said He Aided in Fleeing Shoff-
ner-He Will BE Tried at
Springfield, Ill.

The identification OF Dennis Dannacher
before Judge McMaster, of the Superior
Court, yesterday afternoon, in order that he
might be taken to Springfield, ILL.,, where he
is wanted on charge of larceny, disclosed
one OF the cleverest alleged swindles that
has been successfully carried out for some
time Dannacher with two brothers, keeps
a saloon al Greensburg, Ind, and is said
TO have negotiated a deal between an
athletic club" of Springfield, Ill, and
Robert C. Shoffner. dry-goods merchant
OF Greensburg, in which Shoffner backed
foot race with 5000 and lost his money
Dannacher was arrested at Greensburg yes
terday on information from Springfield and
was brought here to be identified before
his attorneys would turn him over to
Deputy Sheriff Ryan. who came after him
In the last year several men in Indiana
have been swindled out of large sums on
bogus foot races, and it is said the promo
ters at Springfield were behind all of them
1t is said that Dannacher made Shoffner
familiar with the scheme to beat a foot race
and a man named Connors. who repre-
sented himself to be the president of the
Springfield Athletic Club completed the
details. Connors represented that the club
was going 10 have a foot race and would
Ddck It's runner with Inc plan OF
Connors was TO have Shoffner deposit part
of the money and they would buy the run
ner of the club and have their own man
win the race. Connors said he was going
TO throw the club down." and that
Shoffner. the two runners and himself
would divide the 10000
RACE TEN DAYS AGO
The race was run about ten days ago at
Springfield Connors had Shoffner deposit
81, 800. mot to be used" but simply as a
safeguard in the event that the club bet
tors should demand sight Of the money
When the club put up it's money Shoffner
was TO hand up roll of bills 10 Connors.
who would say, Five thousand dollars
covered by Shoffner." or whatever amount
the club might deposit 1t was explained
that Connors would juggle the money so
that he would make the others believe the
amount had actually been deposited by
fourishing a few hundred dollars When
the betting was on ShOffner was to go back
and forth from the bank for 'bluff but
was to leave his money there. and Con-
nors would furnish the small amounts
needed to carry on the game. When IL
came time for the last trip to the bank two
or three of the club men followed Shoffner
and ConnOrs to their bank. The club men
represented that their accounts were get
ting low in other banks and that they would
draw out there with Shoffner This
placed Shoffner in a position where he was
compelled 10 draw his $500 out in order to
make his bluff good. This time he had 10
actually cover a bet with his cash
Connors il said TO have told him that
their runner had 5000 and that he would
return the 300 when they got back to the
race course. They reached the rack track
and found their runner in a heated argu-
ment with club men, who were challenging
him 10 put up money The runner finally
said he would put up 5000 which he did
Then Shoffner had no money in sight The
race was pulled of and Connors's and
Shoffners man fell down. The club run
ner almost stopped. II is said, 10 allow his
opponent 10 gain his feet and 10 make
Shoffner believe he was carrying out mis-
part OF the contest. When he hesitated
several in the crowd yelled 10 him, Run
- or I'll shoot you" He did so. and won
the race. He then offered the explanation
or be shot. Sh9ffners confidence was not
shaken and he borrowed $500 from his
brother-in-law, James r. Riggs, OF Sui
livan. and gave him bill OF
sale on his store I'm Greensburg, in order
TO back another race with the club. A