Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-08
A Bold Confidence Game.

Facts have just leaked out regard
ing remarkable confidence game in
which Warden j. Mack Tanner, of the
Southern Illinois penitentiary, was
the intended victim. The confidence
operator, three-time convict, was all
but successful, living at the warden's
table two weeks before his actual
identity was discovered, posing as
Sheriff Walker, of Finney county,
Kan, war comrade OF the late Coy.
John r. Tanner and man of great
wealth.
The man who made the Southern
Illinois penitentiary the scene OF one
of the most brazen confidence exploits
ever attempted hailed from St. Louis
and had served a term in the Missouri
penitentiary, being known TO the
prison officials there, and to the police
authorities of many cities as George
w. Walker, alias Wilson, and other
aliases by the score, 1.-the G. A. r.
imposter."
He was exposed, just as he was
about to perfect his scheme by con-
vict who had been his former cell
mate at Jefferson City. and with whom
Deputy Warden Dowell discovered him
in conversation.
The man used the alias of George
W. Walker in introducing himself to
Warden Tanner in letter written on
a Southern Hotel, St. Louis, letter.
head. In this letter Walker said that
he was on his way to Kansas from an
eastern point where he had been on
business connected with land deal,
that he had slept beneath the same
blanket during the war, with the late
John r. Tanner, and he would be
greatly pleased to pay the brother of
his "dear comrade" a short visit. 81
have one boy" he wrote, ''named for
John and another for Richard Yates,
the war governor"
Mr.. Tanner responded promptly,
telling Walker that his allusion to the
war comradeship had deeply touched
him and inviting him to Chester with
great cordiallty. A few days later
"Comrade Walker" was in full posses
sion of the warden's mansion. There
was nothing too good for him. Mr..
Snively, member Of the board of par
dons, who was visiting at the institu-
tion, was given seat at the left hand
of the warden at the family dining
table, while "Comrade Walker" oc-
cupied the place Of honor at his right.
The sheriff of Finney county, Kan,
as Walker styled himself, was ver-
satlle conversationalist and he seemed
to charm the ears of Warden Tanners
entire household, including the two
children, Jimmy and Ruby, with
whom he became great favorite,
Before he had been the guest OF the
warden twenty-four hours he had
promised each OF the children beau
tiful Shetland pony. There's any
number Of them" he said, son my
stock range in old Finney."
There were some turs he said that
he insisted on having sent from his
home to Mrs. Tanner, with the ward
ems permission. He had treasured
them up when trapper in the wild
| west and before he became man Of
wealth. Miss Clifton, Mrs. Tanners
sister, also came In for a share oi
Comrade Walkers liberality. He
would send her some token Of his love
for the Tanner family, he said, upor
his return to his home In Kansas.
4 During his stay Comrade Walker
received letters ostensibly from biz
wife and sons, which. it afterward de-
veloped he had written himself; some
in a boyish hand with a stub pen
while those supposed to be from hi
wife we're delicately written with ,