Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-01

their knowledge 10 Il COupit VI
gamblers at Minot, and about the nrs'
OF this month one o, the gamblers AT
rived at Havre. and. representing MN
self as a foot racer. secured me Dack'
ing of a saloon
A few days later the second gano
Ter reached Hayre. ad seeking MI
Phillips. convinced him thai he was
a foot racer of no mean ability. Al
ter trying u gambler No. 2, Mr.. Phll'
lips decided to back him in a race
against gambler No. 1, the race 10 &C.
cur at Hayre the 10th Inst. The Hav-
re men who were in on the play be-
came very enthusiasties offering to bet
$4,000 on their man. EamDier NO: /.
Gambler No. 2 informed Mr.. Philips
that he had less than $1,000, but assur'
ed Mr.. Phillips of Instability to beat
the other man. and after again ascer-
tanning his speed, Mr. Phillips agreed
to put up about SO, $50 TO make up the
S., o desired. and the money was
put in a sack and placed In the
hands OF a hotel man at Havre as
stakeholder.
When the race came off, the two
men ran even until about 20 feet from
the tape, when they bumped into one
another. each tripped the other and
both fell. AS a result of this mishap,
apparently an accident, the event was
called no race. and all agreed that
the men should race again on Satur-
day, the goth inst.
day or two later. the two foot
racers called upon the stakeholder,
and. after protesting to quarrel vic.
lently, No. ! asserted that he did not
believe that $4,000 had been deposit
ca by the hackers of No. 2. To settle
their dispute. they agreed to open the
sack in the hands of the stakeholder
and count the money. and the stake
holder conserving, they opened the
sack, extracted the money and count.
ed the bills. then returning the sack
TO the stakeholder.
When the Goth came, neither foot
racer appeared, and at once becoming
suspicious, Mr.. Phillips demanded his
money of the stakeholder, and the
sack was opened in the presence of
the latter.
When il was opened a roll was
brought to view. and as the bill around
the outside was u~nwrapped, 1t was
found to be of the denomination OF 81.
Beneath IL were a lew other 81 and
D. pills, and inclosed in them were
an old newspaper and a number of
small pieces of paper. The total val
Tie of the package is said to have been
$3.50. The stakeholder at once told
the story of the mems having counted
the money in his presence. and then
became apparent the method by which
Mr.. Phillips had been fiim-iammed.
gold-bricked, duped apd %swindled.
Both DOT racers were missing, as
was Mr.. Phillips $3.50. The victim
at once burned up the wires in an eff
fort to locate the swindlers or the
money, but all efforts proved vain.
Il has since been learned that they
were seen at a Shelby hotel last Tues
day morning. there announcing they
were bound for Canada, but all trace
Of them since that time has been lost.
Several persons have been suspected
of completely in the swindle and eff
forts have been made TO trace the
money through them. but without re-
suit, other than il has developed that
the men who backed gambler No. ]
did not lose anything. and every cent
OF the 81. 450 that was advanced by
a Havre man to gambler No. 2 has
been returned to him.
A United States army officer at Fort
Assinniboine. besides several resi-.
dents of Havre, have been accused
Of completely in the swindle, but there
is nc positive evidence against any.
one except the two foot racers. and
as they have gone, it Is not probable
that there will be any further pro.
c~eedings in the matter.