The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-06
Secure Two More Easy Victims
From Oklahoma.
FLEECED OUT OF $1,000.
As Usual the Runner Fell Down
and Lost.
Complaint Is Made and War.
rants Are Sworn Out.
SwindIers Drive to Justices Of
flee in Coach and Six.

Joplin, Jan. 6.-The Globe of Sunday
says:
There was a blare of trumpets, a
clatter of the hoofs of fiery Arabian
steeds, and a rumble of carriage wheels
and in a short time there issued into
full view a carriage propelled by six
horses. 1t was magnificent, resplend-
ent with glittering silvermounted har-
ness; dazzling with gorgeousness, be-
wildering, Supplying and miraculous
in its revelation of beauty. There was
a carriage and six handsome horses. 1t
was a rig fit for the Queen of Sheba,
and made the other turnouts on the
street fade as the moon before a mid
day sun.
AS the pageant passed in all its glory
down the street amid the acclaiming
concourSe of the enraptured populace,
the array stopped in front of Justice
McAdamS' court, and-not King Ed
ward-but Bob Boa fright of Webb
City and his gang of alleged foot
racers stepped from the carriage and
passed upstairs to arrange bonds for
their appearance in the court January
IL to answer to charge of obtaining
money by fraud.
Warrants had been sworn out BY the
Watkins brothers, who We're alleged to
have been beaten out of $1,000 by the
Buckfoot gang, and Boatright, Jess An
sell and his cousin, Ben Ansen, were
X,
could not be found Jess AnSen was
arrested a few days ago and yesterday
when BuckfOOt was here he gave bond
for himself and the two Ansells.
The Watkins brothers. who had the
gang arrested, have left the city and
there is a whisper going the rounds in
court circles to the effect that they
will not appear against the fOOtracing
gang when the day of trial comes.
They were left here without money and
their attorneys, McAntire & Scott are
said to have assisted them to get
money with which to pay their board,
but the amount was returned to them
from Carl Junction at noon yesterday.
1t is said that a man representing
the Buckfoot gang called at the Forney
hotel, where the Watkins brothers were
stopping yesterday morning and per-
fected a settlement with them and they
left the city shortly afterward. They
did not tell their attorneys they were
going away, and they did not know
they were gone until they received the
letter containing the money.
In a short time after the supposed
settlement was made Buckfoot and his
gang with all the pomp and glory of
a Roman conqueror drove into Joplin
and gave bond for their appearance in
court the day set for the trial. At
ter the parade and the big show the
gang enjoyed the side show in the
shape of a big dinner at the House of
Lords and returned to Webb City.
STORY OF THE RACE.
II J. Watkins of Wymore, l. T., and
his brother, James Watkins, claim to
have been done to the tune of $1,000 by
the Buckfoot gang at Webb City and
have had warrants issued from the
Office of Justice McAdamS in this city
for Robert Boatright, Jesse Arnold and
Henry Clark.
T. J. Watkins, speaking of the race,
says a short time ago he was informed
by a man named Ansel, whom he had
known for twelve years, that he had
scheme whereby they could make a big
fol- L inc nd h tic fl1o1- oil
right into the trap and landed in Joplin
yesterday with drafts to the amount of
81, 300, which they brought along just 20
show that they were responsible people.
According to Watkins story he was
not to bet any of his money, but was to
be furnished money by the manager of
the club to bet on one of the foot racers
which was going to win. Boatright, so
Watkins said, represented to him and
his brother that he would furnish the
money with which to bet against the
club; that the club would be sure to
lose, and as Boatright was to be the
stakeholder he would divide the win
ningS with the men from the Territory.
Upon reaching Webb City the men were
advised to keep very quiet about the
matter, and they did.
Boatright, so Watkins alleges, gave
him 81. 900 with which to bet on the racer
who went by the name of Clark and
who was supposed to be fixed to win.
Watkins put up the money and one of
the members of the club covered it. In
a
found an opportunity to slip Watkins
some more money, and he gave him all
the stake money, amounting to 5000.
Watkins stated to the man represent
ing the club that he would bet some
more money on the race, and at once
put up So, 200. and it was Immediately
covered by the club. The man doing
the betting for the club men stated that
he did not ware to have the race come
off for such a small amount-$10,4 400 was
too small a Sum-and wanted to bet
more money. 1t seemed that Boatright
was unable to get an opportunity to
slip Watkins any more money, and
Ansel, the racer who was to throw the
race, urged him to bet the drafts which
he had brought along to prove their
responsibility. Watkins saw no harm
in putting up the $1,000. for wasn't he
going to get it right back as soon
the race was run? Wasn't he going to
get half of the money won by the deal?
OF course he was, and he put UP the
81 800.
The two foot racers and one or two of
the mem bers of the club went to the
race track. The man who was to start
the race borrowed Watkins gun with
which to give the signal to go For
| fear the gun would not shoot he ex-
ploded all the cartridges with the ex-
ception of one and then used the last
one to start the race with, and handed
Watkins an empty gun.
The race started with Clark. who was
to win, away in the lead. and the gen
tlemen from the cattle ranches of the
Territory danced in delight. He was
fully ten feet in the lead when nearing
the wire and the strangers could feel
great gobS of the filthy lucre in their
pockets, but suddenly Clark stumbled
and fell and rolled over and Ansel won
the race. OF course there was no help
for it, and Watkins alleges that Boat
right warned them to get out of town
as soon as they could because he would
be short and he had given Watkins
much of the stake money with which