The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-15
TOO MUCH CRAFT
UP AT BONESTEEL
CROOKS IN CONTROL AND. CITY
AUTHORITIES STANDING IN.
Fraternal Order Dodge Worked :afor
All That Is in 1t and Gree1lhorn
With a Roll Stands No Chance.
Special to The Journal.

special TO Ine JourNal.
Sioux City, Iowa, July 15.--What's
the matter with Bonesteel? ST A cor
respondent of The Journal who was
recently in Bonesteel can answer the
question with authority. The answer
is r"too much graft BonesteeI is
disappointed. 1t expected to draw
the largest crowds and yet Yankton is
beating it daily, Notwithstanding that
Bonesteel is on the edge of the reser-
walton and the only point from which
a personal investigation may be made.
The tented city has a large popula-
ton, the large majority of whom are
In the graft business. 81
Whats your graft?'' is a common
salutation on the streets.
The trustees of Bonesteel made an
arrangement with firm of gam blers,
for which the gamblers paid 500 a
day. Magner and Stanton are the
head of this firm. Magner is one Of
the ''squarest' gamblers in the, BUSH
ness, but he has been unable to cope
anxious to make as much money as
possible, failed to provide ADEQUATE
police protection. They employed
two good men, assisted by a force SO
green that the Bonesteel cows nibble
at them as they pass. s*:s =.
\ The result is that the town is2rab-
solutely in the hands Of grafters,
best men in the country !. are at
Bonesteel, plying their trade. If all
the Well-knoWn criminals unblushing-
ly in evidence at Bonesteel, were to
be arrested, the result would be a
small fortune of rewards. The
gamblers and grafters realize they
cannot rely on the aid of the police.
Each one with any money interests
at stake, has provided an arsenal Of
his own, and woe to the men who
would attempt to rob these
Joints -. ~ :.
lection is afforded, intimidation is
used. A few days ago, John West
field, a former Sioux City police de-
tective, incurred the enmity> Of the
gang, because he was supposed to
have tipped off" some Of them. He
knocked down and brutality beaten
into insensibility. AS soon as he re-
covered, he left town. Nothing was
done about the affair, which was ac-
copied as a matter Of course.
There is. hardly a square
thing is brace" For several days,
joints" in;which none but the boost
err and the: ''capper' :. can win.
These became so fragrant that they
were finally taken off. |12t.
Confidence games are In full swing.
The reuben" with rolf, has about
one chance in, a, hundred of getting
out with it.. One OF the favorfte
games is progression In; ) this
game the stakes are constantly
doubled n until the outsider has
reached his limit, and the money is
out of the serpNid.t Touches" sSof all
sorts are pulled, off daily +,anda the
telegraph office i. at Bonesteel is
crowded with men wiring homes fer
money. Many do SO with a CON-
man at his elbow, urging haste. 8 II s.. s.,
The fraternal order dodge is being
worked to a finish. Men are here
who are possessed of the grips and
passwords Of the different 4 orders,
such as the Woodmen, and others.
When promising subject arrives, he
gets the grip, the high sign of dis
tress and others, and before he learns
what is being done, is. relieved of his
coin. A gang Of pickpockets, four
in number, from Omaha, has been
working the town ever since the
opening, with the utmost impunity.
People are safe in coming to, Bone
steel If they are cautious, but for the
sake Of the green Ones 1t is up to the
People Of Bonesteel to do something.