The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-08
Howard Man Nearly a Victim of
the Buckf0ot Gang.
w. B. Brand Had Narrow Escape
With His Money.
HAD DRAFTS FOR $4,000
Strong Pressure Was Brought
to Bear Without Avail.
Was Shown a Good Time and
Given $40 Expenses.

Joplin, Feb. S.-The Globe says: The
Buckfoot gang were fieeced out of $40
at their own game in Webb City a few
days ago by w. B. Brand, of Howard,
kas.
THE proposition was first made to
me about a week ago." said Mr.. Brand
by Grove. who told me of n Scherc e
to beat gang of defrauderS. He stated
that there was & gang in Webb City
winch was in the habit OF doing every
body who had dealings with them on q
rxed foot race that he had a scheme
whereby the wrong man would win the
race. The man whom we were to bit
on went by the name of Hamiin. On
last Sunday Han1lin called at my home
and said he wanted to see me at the
hotel. l went to the hotel and there
met man named Bishop, the other
raeer-the man who was to be backed
by the Webb City club. Bishop told nae
that ii was to be a fixed race and
ming he would fall down end let HAM
I'm WIN and for me to put all the moneJ
L could get on Hanlin. Hamlin tolc
me the same story, and the money
which we won was to be divided equal
ly between Grove, Hamlin. Bishop and
myself. The runners stated that they
only got small salary for running the
race where the club was to win and
they had planned d scheme to beat the
club.
Il told them L would bet none of MY
right, but made the request that I
bring some drafts with me to show that
was worth some money and was re-
sponsible. 1 could see no need of this
move, but as had thoroughly made up
my mind to bet none of my own money
| complied with their request and
Drought three drafts, two for S 900 and
one for $4,000. Before starting 1 made
Grove put up $40 to me in cash for ex-
penses, as 1 did not care to be out my
expenses if anything happened that the
deal should fall through.
Grove, Hamlin and / left Howard
together; paid no railroad fare and did
not see either of the others pay it, HAM
lin said he and the conductors were
members of the same lodge and that
they never charged each other for such
trivial matters, but 1 think the fares
We're paid before we got on the cars.
This was done, / suppose, to leave the
impression that Hamlin was some pun
kins-' l wanted to get off and spend
the night in Joplin, as / have friends
here, but Grove insisted that we had
just as well go ON to Carthage and
naturally want to know what had
brought me here and they did not want
anything known of the intended race
for fear the officers would have the
whole bunch of us arrested. We went
TO Carthage and stayed all night, and
went to Webb City in the morning.
"Hamlin left us at Carthage and when
we arrived at Webb City he was stand
ing in front of the club rooms ready 10
escort us in. We entered the room and
there was introduced to man named
Roatright, who was represented to be
the mana ger of the club. He took me
out and told me of the scheme that was
on foot. According to his statement he
was in the deal to throw the members
of the club down and told me how it
was to be done. They insisted on me
drinking with them, but l never drink
and of course refused. I was shown d
good time until noon when we went to
dinner.
After dinner some of the members
of the club came in and in a few min
utes the betting had started. 1 was
given s., 900 by Boatright and instructed
to bet it on Ramlin. Boatright acted as
stakeholder and 1 made the bet. In
few minutes while the others were not
looking Boatright slipped me the "a 900
stake money and told me to make an
other bet. l did this and shortly after
wards the members of the club stated
that they believed there had been a
mistake made in counting the money
and asked the stake money be produced.
Boatright called me to one side and said
in substance: Now see here, you must
put up 1000 for I have no money of my
own and if they demand a count of the
money they viii find us $4,000 short. |
You know you have put up but $1,000
while the other side has put up $4,000
He assured me that the race was |
fixed for us to win and that / would |
have my money back and more, too, in |
a short time. Bishop, the racer, who |
was to throw the race in orr favor, |
called me off and gave me about the |
same talk Boatright did. stating that if |
he were caught $4,000 short we would |
all be arrested and sent to the peniten- |
tiary.
Il told all of them that I would not |
bet any of my own money and in the !
meantime the other side was demanding |
that the money be counted. Those who |
We're supposed to be on my side urged |
me to bet saying, Don't let that good |
money go to waste, let Boatrignt have |
the money until after the count is made /