Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1906-04-18
Former Gambling King
Pays Steinfeld's
Judgment
Mortgages His Tucson
Property To Get
Money

The Tucson Citizen, in describing the
closing incident of the Ilarcourt dia-
mond swindlc, enacted Saturday when,
Ezra Bartlett paid the judgment which
the court awarded Steinfcld, says
Bartlett wanted TO make the pay
ment by check. II was declined and
the cash was demanded. Bartlett plead
ed and importuned Mr.. Stcinfeld to
moderate the court demand. The mcr-
chant prince of the territory was UNI
yielding, however, to the man who had
come TO him under the guisc of a friend
and had attempted to perpetrate the
biggest and boldcst swindlc the ter.
ritory has known in years.
Bartlett had great difficulty IN rails
ing the cash. He tried TO borrow the
money from Mr.. Stcinfeld. lie offered
to give mortgage on his property
here. II was declined.
Bartlett then tried the local banks.
They turned him down. He went TO
the real estate firms. Their answer was
negative. The onc.time "gamblin2
king of Arizona" was in desperation
and despair.
He thought of Martin Costello, of
Tombstone, millionaire mining man and
real estate owner. Mr.. Costello advane.
ed the money. He took as security n
mortgage ON Bartlctt's Tucson prop.
erty.
Martin Costello was one Of the
"live ones" whom Bartlett spotted
for Harcourt.
Thousands in Cash.
Staggering under weight of gold,
with his pockets bullying out with big
coins, and his bank book lined with
greenbacks of large denomination,
Judge Charles Blenman Mt IL o'clock
this morning entered the Arizona Ma.
tional Bank. There was nothing un.
usual in the attorneys manner, and
his quiet entrance attracted no atten.
ton.
Judge Blenman got busy. lie put
down several thousand dollars in bills.
He added to this sum several hand.
fuls Of gold coins of large denomina.
tions. He followed this up with three
pieces OF silver, a dollar, a half dollar
and dime.
The whole amounted to $lO,37l.6O.
To the bankers it was a routine pro.
ceeding. To Ezra G. Bartlett, who was
not present, it meant anguish and
sorrow and the tearing Of heart strings
For the sum Of more than 10000 Is not
light one TO part with.
Bartlett did not laugh as he penned
Ezra G. Bartlett" at the bottom OF
the mortgage. He never even smiled
He spilled no champagne. There wa,
no popping Of corks. Silence and gloom
reigned in Ezra Bartlett's heart.
Il 1t was n different scene from thai
enacted when Bartlstt and Harcourt "a
cured the tl2,s from Mr.. steinfeld
Harcourt testified that they immed
lately left Tucson for New York. They
Travelled in state. They occupied a
drawing room. Champagne flowed
freely.
"And Bartlett never ceased laugh
ing during the whole journey" test
fed Harcourt.
u When IT came to paying over tn,
money this morning Bartlett wanted
, TO issue a check made out to himsel,
and Endorsed by him. Judge Blenmar
declined to accept it. "You must pa,
over the cold cash" the attorney stat
ed. The cash was forthcoming. Bart
lett was the loser to the extent o,
, slo,a7l.6o, and attorneys fees amount
ing to several thousand dollars more, 10
gether with court costs and a grea
amount OF mental anguish. Mr.. Stein
field, in addition to the sum received
: has the diamonds. which were value,
4 at 1880, but bought by him for 900,
. less.
p Bartlett II still under indictment q,
charge Of swindling.