The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-03

them a percentage of the winnings. But
the transient crooks were not allowed to
known.
Early in June John and Larry O'Brien
were operating there, with two others
One of the men was called Frank VIII
son. and he is believed to have been con-
nected with the robbery which occurred
IN the Antler roOmIng house. 1t is prob
able that he was the man who gave the
name of Davis and acted the bogus
policeman" who robbed Alexander Nc
Whittier of IS 200. According to the story
told by Mrs. Peterson yesterday, Larry
O'Brien went out on the street and
brought back two strangers with him.
The game lasted nearly two hours and
the sucker who was from Denver lost
$500. The victim demanded his money
back. but IT was refused him. He rushed
out Of the place and in the meantime the
chips and cards were gathered up and
carried out of the room. Ten minutes later
the telephone rang and John OBrien was
called for.
That's all right. let them come" was
his reply, according to the statement OF
Mrs. Peterson. He rushed into the room
and told hts brother Larry to get out OF
the place. harry walked across the street
to 226 South West Temple street where
Mrs. Annie O'Brien, the wife of John
OBrien was living. Two detectives and
the Denver man came 20 the door and
knocked. They asked for O'Brien and
they were shown to the room. They con-
versed for a minute or two and then
with the detectives and the sucker
Within half an hour John OBrien re-
turned. and Mrs. Peterson wanted to
know what was happening She did not
propose to stand for the police coming
to her house.
Paying for Protection.
'Why. there was nothing to it, O'Brien
explained II simply went over to the
police station and it was fixed up. The
fellow got 800 of his money back and he
was satisfied and will leave town tonight.
It's only bluff. and there is no use OF
worrying about it. You are getting big
pay for your rooms, and you know we
are protected by the police"
The day after Mrs. Peterson had talk
with OBrien about the police coming to
her house She told him again that she
did not like it, but he smoothed it over.
Mrs. Peterson said that two different
occasions O'Brien told her they were pay
ing for their protection from the police.
and that they were the only gang that
had the privilege of gambling.
The ''bunco men began playing the
game too strong, and for nearly a month
they were called off. The O'Briens left
ing this time Harry Walter, who is
known here as Sullivan. and Doctor
Clark, who is also known to the police as
Pittman, came to Salt Lake and went
the rooms three or four days before she
knew that they were running a card
game. Their confederates were Jesse
Cudahay and man named Thompson. A
miner from Goldfield was steered into
the game by Thompson and he lost some
money He reported the matter to the
police, and the entire gang was arrested
They were taken to the police station
and held for two days. They pleaded
guilty to vagrancy and were given a
chance to leave town. They came to Mrs
Peterson and said that they were not on
the inside and would not be allowed to
StaX (Nnda haU M Thnr,nco,,
back in Salt Lake within q few days
and were arrested. Attorney William
Newton got them off and they went to
Ogden. There they met Clark. and opera
tions were started there. They were ar
rested for Fleeing a young man, and
Clark was given 200 days or $500. The
others were fined 500. Their friends
came to their aid, and Clark and the
others were soon out of JAIL having paid
the remainder of their fines. Clark came
to Salt Lake and lived at the Cullen no
tel He did not undertake to do any
more gambling, saying that he was not on
the inside.