The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23
END OF A GREAT GAMBLER
BOB MURRAY, ONCE FAMOUS
IN THE WEST, DIES POOR.
Bat MaSters0n's Tales Of His Zig Winnings
Began Gambling In Church and
Came to Own Noted Place In Denver
HELPED TO Boom SChlat,cr the Healer

Bat Masterson sat in front of table M
an uptown hotel last night and, between
sips of mineral water, told stories about
Bob Murray, once a famous gambler
who died at kokomo, Ind. on Monday last
According to Masterson Murray won and
lost more money during his thirty years at
handling playing cards than any other
gambler.
"He was dead square" said the former
Marshal of Dodge City ale would bet 90
the length of calf rope, the weight 0s
dead mans boots, how long it would rain,
and all such things The gambling spirit
was born in him.
-He told me that when kid at Kokomo
he was the farthest advanced boy in his
Sunday school; that he won money on the
length of sermons, how many converts
there would be in week or month He
became so notorious that he was expelled
from church and the country school Then,
with the proceeds of the sale Of set Of
fishing tackle and shot gun, he bought
a ticket to the Black Hills.
There he drifted ono day into a faro
bank run by Red" Hart, formerly dealer
at Ell Paso. Hart was dealing at the time
1t was Murray's first whirl at the game
He knew no system
He coppered the ace and, at the same
time, put bet behind the deuce TO win
He placed bets on the corner of the taking
in the 5, 0 and 4, while having the lO-spo,
coppered. He whipsawed nearly ever
turn. and. after four nights playing Hart
refused him more chips.
-How much he won, haven't any idea
But he terrorized successful dealers like
Lucky Sam Wilkerson and Badly Moliett.
During all this time he was as calm as A
day in June. Occasionally he would lig,t
a cigar and smoke it But never was he
seen to indulge in whiskey. Nor was h,
ever seen unshaved or with his collar soiled
or his boots unshined He was the Beau
Brummel of the Hills.
First thing we all know he has a gambling
house Of his own at Cheyenne wit
red carpets thicker than the subsoi of a
Kansas wheat field, looking glasses, side
boards, oil portraits and downy lounges
And he got the business and he made
friends. Shucks! he wasn't there six
months before he could have been elected
Mayor OF anything else within the gift Of
the people Of Cheyenne.
Il am not in a position to say with ac-
curacy how many dollars Murray had
when he Joined in with Charley Pierce at
a guess at a figure looking like 81, 100000,
which was in cash. The house in Denver
was known as Murray & Pierces and I'M
doubleday there never was such gambling
establishment since the time gold WIS
discovered in the Sacramento Valley in
40. There were crap games, faro, stud
poker, chuckaluck, keno, roulette, seven-up
fan-tan and any other sort of a game a
white man ever had any knowledge Of
Murray made more coin than the Union
Pacific Railroad. He bought horses, car
riages. good clothes. diamonds, stock.
In wild cat mining companies, gave to
churches and, generally. spent his stu;
YES" said Jack Devine, former pro-
prietor of the biggest saloon west of the
Missouri River. and he wouldn't let the
little miners wager al they had
"One time ! saw fellow come In and
buy stack Of whites, which in those DAYS
cost $40. In a minute they had been wiped
Off the board AS the player started away
Bob called him back and handed him back
his money Then he turned to the dealers
and told them that they never should
accept bet from him in future. II seems
that this player had been going to Muir
rays place every Saturday night for
months and losing his salary-never win
ming a single time
"A month later was in the house when
the same fellow walks in and there being
new man behind the box he succeeded
in negotiating for a half stack Of
whites Murray was out at dinner. Pres
emily Murray returned
He walked over to the table and in
second saw what was taking place. There
was Smith. whom he had barred, having
all the checks, the blues reds. veiiows and
green in front Of him, Murray sized ny
affairs and good naturally walked away
with the remark that ne wouldn't inter
ia iy,,i
But about o'clock in the morning he
had different tune to whistle. Smith
had S35 500 coming to him and, while Mu
ray was in another part of the house. Pierc"
his part1e shut Smith Off. Just about
the time the money was being counted
out to the winner Murray showed up, u"
stopped the proceedings, saying to Smith
that he could have $500 that time and no
more; that the moment he would appear
sober, and with friend that was know
to the house, the balance of the money
would be paid to him,
zone, Two, three. four, five days elapsed
without his appearance. Then Murray ro-
hours Smith was discovered by detective.
taken o bathroom, sweated and scrubbed.
until he was sober, Then he presented
himself to Murray, who counted him S35,mo
in big bills,
LAS Smith started to leave tho place
IIt hco lHdl IL murray Ncllt HlNt lIII'
a deal with the yellow chips a. 500 piece
there would be something doing He Wa
on in a minute In less han an hour 10
was all in. Murray handed hin, q CO..
fury note and told him never TO let hin
see his face again in gambling house
While don't take much stock in CHRIS
tian science and truck like that, resumed
Mast erson, Il must say hat Francis SclIa
ter, who for years posed as the only alNln'
healer this side of Jericho. had a lot 10 GO
with prolonging poor Bob's life.
Along in the spring months Of 1895
Murray found himself vii bout funds 2nI
with eyesight gone Meantime his pGrtncr
Pierce, was dead But Pierce had the fore.
sight to invest some of his winnings i'm re-
estate. Piercc's widow succeeded TO 'l'
and when Murray began iidle-
and financially Mrs Pierce .''
duced him to go TO her home where IL" o.
manned for weeks.
Mrs. Pierce read the newspapers for
him. Schlatter then was holding Meet n'5
around Albuquerque and TO A!u,,GI''l
Murray went, When he reached No N"'
Mexican town II was throncNI Win '''
ame, halt and blind. A number OF t1tnp>
were in line for no other purpos" tHan '"
sell their positions TO those with money
TO one of these Murray gave $50 Ai''
his first treatment. he declared that - va
we'll, that he could see d. well as eyer l".
fore. And, for d while he could -" so
distinctly enough to read tho finest Nr'G
W hen Murray returned 10 DenNcr, Il'
newspapers marvelled at his cure ana w
ioing so, made SChlatter famous
While the alleged healer was being ar
rested in Illinois few weeks later, Murray