The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-30
Man Who Makes Fortune in
Klondike Easily Duped.
LOry, Swindled Out of $75, 900,
Now Seeks Revenge.
PRODIGAL OF HIS COIN
Went From Indiana to Colorado
Springs to Bet.
One Runner Was to Fall Down,
But Failed to Do So.

Indianapolis, Dec. 30-Papers on file. in
the Office of Governor Durbin, and on
which acquisitions have been issued on
the governor of Arkansas for the arrest
of ]. H. Ashmore and George Ryan, sup
posed to be at Hot Springs. tell a story
of the methods by which Frank c. Lory,
1.-The Klondike king was beaten out of
$63 500 in swindling foot race at Colo
RADIO Springs in September last.
Lory worked in the coal mines of Pike.
Daviess and other southwestern coun-
ties for several years, and when the
Klondike fever was at its height he
mortgaged his little home for $3.50 and
started for Alaska. No word was re-
ceived from him for three years. but one
day he got off of a train at Washington.
Daviess county, stepped into bank and
deposited s95 900. He wore watch
chain made of gold nuggets, and had
several larger ones in his pockets which
he occasionally took out and tossed in
the air after the manner of a Sleight-Of-
hand performer. He said that he had
been reasonably successful in the
Klondike, and this fact was further at
tested by the receipt from time to time
of large sums Of money as his share OF
the profits of investments which he had
made
Lory was prodigaI of his money and
was soon regarded as one of the best
fellows in southwestern Indiana He
purchased several large farms which he
stocked with fine breeds of horses, cattle
and sheep, and at his home he lived like
a lord. One day he was at a little rail-
road station nine miles from his home,
and after transacting his business he
found that the train on which he ex-
pected to return home was fifteen min
utes late. He promptly telegraphe the
superintendent of the road and a spe-
cial train was made up for him on which
he went home. his train reaching the
station only four minutes in advance OF
the regular train. He paid $3.50 for this
luxury.
But it was not these careless or extrav-
agant expenditures that won him fame
He met an old friend on the street one
day-a man with whom he had worked
in the mines-and learned that the latter
had lost his wife and by reason of ILL
ness had been unable to work for several
months. Lory pulled a thousand dollar
note from his pocket and gave it to his
! friend. When he reached home he learn
| ed that another friend had died and left
a mortgage of several hundred dollars on
/ his home. Lory went to the holder of
the mortgage, paid it off and sent the
widow the receipted instrument On an
other occasion he sent the child of
friend to sanitarium. where difficult
operation was performed, and paid the
entire expense.
It was this kindness of heart that led to
I.ory being victiInized by the foot-race
SWlnQlerS, ana II was an OlO Irlend VINO
led him into the trap. Harry Tislow
came to Petersburg one day and stopped
at the Pike hotel. Lory had known him
| for many years and had the utmost con-
! fidence in him Tislow told a hard luck
story, but said that he had chance to
make a barrel of money if he only had
some man of credit to back him. He did
not ask that his hacker should invest
anything, but only that he would lend
him his credit temporarily He said that
| he could arrange with a man named Dean
to a foot race with George Ryan and
! that Dean would stumble and fall, thus
enabling Ryan to win the race. He said
the ''millionaireS' club of Colorado
Springs and Denver would back Dean
and that he could make q pile of money,
as Dean had agreed to throw the race for
consideration.
Lory refused to put any money in the
scheme, but said that he would go to
Colorado Springs with his old friend and
would appear to back him in his cham
pionship of Ryan. Lory went to st Louis
and there met by members of the al
legged Millionaires club and entertained.
Tislow, Massey and others who were to
| bet on Ryan assured him that it was a
dead sure thing and they only wanted
some man back of them who was the
| financial equal of the men who were
| backing Dean. In order to meet the con-
ditionS, it was explained, there must be
a show of money at the race; that is the
| hackers of Ryan must have money to put
up. but it would be returned to him as
soon as the race was over.
This was in August and the race was
to be run in September. Lory returned
home and drew $4,000 from the bank and
reported at Colorado Springs on time.
He was entertained by the. members of
the Millionaires' club and the race day
arrived and all met art the grounds. The
members of the club had $4,000 with
| them. mostly in checks and drafts Lory
was carried away by the excitement and
began to bet his money on Ryan, One
of the club members had been making
some side bets and was short of money
| He asked Lory to cash a $4,000 check