The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25
FAKE PRIZE fight SVNDLE
NEW ROCHELLE MEN SAY THEY
WERE DONE OUT OF $1,000.
They Spot n Man In Front Of the Metz opole
and Have Him Arrested Charged win
Being One of the Gang VINO Arranged
an Expensive Trip 10 wilkesbarre.

an Expensive Trip 10 Whkesoarre
John E. Kleist, an architect Of 2es Main
street, New Rochelle, and Rupert Stearn. a
photographer, Of the same place, picked
out a man in front Of the Hotel Metropole,
at Broadway and Forty-second street,
last night. n had him arrested on the
charge Of being one of a half dozen men
who swindled both Stearn and Kleist out
Of $500 each in a fake prize fight in Wilkes
barre, Pa, last week.
Thu man arrested said he was Patrick
Corcoran, a clerk. Of 1854 West T~hirty-fifth
street. He was taken to the Tenderloin
police station later and sent in a patrol
wagon to Police Headquarters.
Kleist and Stearn told their story to
Detective Sergeant Mannion, and it was
pronounced by the police the most thor
ough and painstaking bunco anne that
has ever been reported. Mannio recog-
nized the prisoner as a mar who has some
local reputation in pugilistic circles.
Stearn said that three weeks ago a well
dressed man n woman came into his
studio in New Rochelle and asked about
pictures. The man seemed satisfied with
the work shown. The man got chummy
with Stearn and finally aid he would return
and decide on photographs.
The man came back alone several days
later, Stearn said, and asked him IL he
would mind making about 10000 in the
easiest sort OF way. Stearn didn't, and
asked how IL could be done.
Its a pipe" said the who had pre-
viously given his name TO Stearn as Harris.
I'm going to pull of a cinch fight"
Nothing doing" said Stearn, I'm not
risking my money that way"
you don't understand" Stearn says
Harris told him. M re to bet my money.
You don't risk a cent of your own. l have
just met a man named Maxwell, who is
secretary for a party of Colorado Springs
millionaires. The millionaircs are inves-
tigating mines at Wilkesbarre, Pa, n are
dead anxious to find some kind Of amuse-
ment because the town is too quiet for
them. Maxwell has arranged to pull of
a prizefight and they are. crazy to see il
and will bet their shoes.
I've got a man in training now VIII is
the best scrapper you ever saw. I've
arranged 20 match him against q man that
Maxwell will produce. Maxwen's mar
is Harry German, but my man, Jim Burns,
will give him the biggest trouncing you
ever saw. Now / want you 10 go and bet
my money, becasue being his trainer l
can't put up any money on the fight"
Stearn said that arrangement suited him,
and it was finally arranged that he should
go to Wilkesbarre with Harris and his
fighter Burns. Stearn told his friend Kleist
about the good thing, and kleist concluded
to go along and see the FUN. The party
went to Wilkesbarre and stayed at the
Hotel Sterling there.
In the Hotel Sterling Stearn said he
met the man Maxwell and three others, who
were introduced as the three millionaires,
all spelling for a good time. Their names
were given as Hale, Burns and Ball. They
also met the fighter German.
The party all met in a room IN the
hotel and arranged the terms Tor the
bout between German and Burns. Max
well said thai Stearn would have to put up
10 5DD forfeit D1nDav for his man and that the
other side would do the same. At this
junCture Harris slipped a big roll OF bills
TO Stearn under the table n whispered
that it was forfeit money.
After the forfeit money was up Maxwell
said that a side bet would be in order.
Stearn sale that s., 500 would be all that
he could stand, according to instructions
from Harris. The millionaires then APP
peared to be much put out, and said they
expected to get at least 500 900 down.
After a good deal of kicking they agreed
on the smaller amount. Harris then
slipped the money under the table and It
was put with the other roll in a big bag
which was consigned to the care Of Max
well.
The %millionaires then said that il was in
order to put up the purse of S. 600, which
was to be contributed equally by the mil
lionaires and Stearn. Stearn got no
money from Harris at that iuncture, SO
he gasped that he had no more funds.
well, Mr.. Stearn," said Harris, you'd
better go over to the bank and get it.
Stearn said that he would. and then drew
out s. 500 that he had taken along upon
the suggestion of Harris hat the million
aires might not have any dealings with the
hackers of Burns unless they saw a big
bankroll in sight. This money then went
into the bag that Maxwell kept, along with
the forfeit and the side bet.
At this point Kleist became enthusiastic
about the chances OF winning easy money
aanac,allu NJ hn had aaap Burma spar and
was convinced that he could heat his oppo-
nent. He was told that the m~illionaires
would be glad TO cover any of his money
Kleist came home TO New Rochelle and
returned the next day with his roll. He put
up s., 500.
Last Tuesday the millionaires, the fight
ems, Harris, Stearn, Kleist and Maxwell
all boarded an electric car and rode some
distance into the country from Wilkesbarre
| Finally they came TO the roadhouse where
Maxwell said the fight was to be pulled on
One of the room in the hotel was arranged
for a prizefight.
The fighters finally went at zach other
and for three rounds Burns had the other
man on the hip. just IA he fourth round
was starting Burns gave a cry OF pain and
dropped to the floor.
Maxwell hurried over to the millionalres
and said in the presence OF Stearn, Now
that's a pity. or course, you win the
money, but It looks az if Burns fell. You
can certainly COlleCJ ii you IKE. DuI L lnltk
you are too good sports for that
Then the millionaires all declared that
they could not think of taking the money
and suggested that after Burns had recov-
cred another fight under the same coDdi-
tom be arranged. This was satisfactory
20 the New Rochelle men, and they all left
the hotel with the exception Of Burns, who
was said to need careful medical attention.
The m~illiOnaries told the hotel man u
take good care Of Burns, and said they
would pay him well for IL.
Stearn, Kleist and Harris all returned
home, after it had been arranged for
Maxwell 10 notify them when the fight
could be pulled of. On Thursday Stearn
got a telegram from Maxwell in Chicago
which said that the millionaires had beer
called West and that the mill would be
arranged in New York later. II didn't
say anything about the 5000 hat Kleist
and Stearn had put up between them, and
Kleist got suspicious. He went To Wilkes
barre the same day, and by calling in nj
the clubs and talking with the business
men Of the city, he learned that the mil
lionaires we're bogus.
Then Kleist was sure he had beenbunooed
| and he told Stearn 40 when he returned
! Friday afternoon Harris called Stearn up
/ on the telephone and asked him What he
had heard from Maxwell.
When he called up again yesterday after
noon thew learned that the call had come
from the Hotel Saranac. formerly the Ross
more. Stearn and Kleist hurried down