The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-17
FOLK SEXES JOHN J. RYAN
Plunger Charged With Larceny Of
$4,000 at st. Louis.
Arrested at Brighton Beach race Track
as His Horse Won Thousands For :
Him-Bail Accepted at $4,000.

New York City.--John J. hyan. race
track plunger. promoter of "get-rich-
quick" schemes and owner of outlaw
tracks, was arrested at the Brighton
Beach, near here, on a warrant issued
at the instance of District Attorney
Folk, of st. Louis, charging Ryan with
the e%mbezzlement Of SS00,000.
Had Detective Sergeant Valley, who
came down with a brother officer from
Police Headquarters, planned the az
rest of the plunger with j view to its
dramatic effect, he could not have sue
ceeded better.
The field for the third race. a selling
affair at one and one-siXteenth miles,
was lined up behind the barrier wait
ing for tire starter to send it away.
Among the horses was the black geld
ing Monster, carrying the green jacket
and the green banknOtes of John j.
Ryan, his owner
Just as the grandstand proclaimed
the old, but always thrilling. announce
ment, They're off, the detective
stepped up to the plunger, who was
standing with field glasses in hand OH
! the brick knoll in front of the betting
ring.
They want you up at headquarters,
Mr.. Ryan," he explained, showing his
order of arrest.
BE with you in a second" Ryan
| replied. cheerfully. "He got away nice
iy, didn't he?" and he levelled his glass
IN the field of salloping thorough
0reds.
Monster was in third position then
and was going strong and easily.
why he'll gallop-there's rothin'
% it," Ryan yelled. forgetting i'll the
superior eXhilaration of seeing his
horse win the petty annoyance OF q
! warrant; hell make that mare cur!
up before they hit the stretch-hell
walk home"
Monster did not fulfil the prophecy
literally, but he won the race very COM
fortably, and when the numbers had
| been run up and. the red board con-
irmed the placing Of the first three
horses Ryan turned to the detective.
If you'd come 4 minute sooIer,' he
explained, regrettfully, I'D have put
you wise. I got 0 to 5 for most OF
mine!!'
Earlier in the day Assistant Circuit
Attorney Fickerson, of st. Louis, in
company with a detective. had gone to
Police Headquarters and presented an
order of reouisition from Governor
Dockery of Missouri for Ryan's appre-
tension, and on this the warrant was
issued. 1t charged him with grand
larceny and embezzlement and was
lated July %.
AS Valley was taking his prisoner
from the track Ryan eSpied Daniel
O'Reilly, eX-Assistant District Attor-
ney, on the brick lawn. DAM" he
called to him, I'm in a bit Of trouble,
and 7 wish you'd come along with
me"
O'Reiliy Joined him. and the party
went to Police Headquarters, where
Ryan's pedigree was taken He
said he was thirty-nine years old, and
gave his occupation as horse racing.
Later he was released on $4,000 bail,
the amount fixed by Justice Amend, IN
the Supreme Court. The bond was
.urnlSueu ny COHSlessAoh iinoSHJ 49,
Sullivan.
Assistant Circuit Attorney Fickerson
said at the Waldorf that about
eighteen months ago st. Louis seemed
the headquarters of a number of get
:ich-uuick" concerns, which tricked
people all over tine country. Ryan, he
said, started a kind of cooperative
:acing syndicate, and advertised in
small papers throughout the country,
asking people to invest as stockholders,
promising big dividends on racing
schemes, and saying he had a scheme
as an expert bookmaker for beating
he races. Ryan issued a lot OF STOCK,
Fickerson said, and gave bits of paper
for stock to the victims, who received,
said the st. Louis official, about fifteen
cents on the dollar.