Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-02
ROBBED BY FARO MEN
Crooks SWindIe Bank President
Out of $4,000.
GREED FOR QUICK RICHES
Charge Made That Many Wealthy
Persons Have Been Cheated.
HOW VICTIMS WERE TRAPPED
Banker Entered Plan to Beat House
Running the Layout-Seeks
Recovery of Money.
low VICTIMS WERE TRAPPED

P1TTSBURG, July 2.-Three alleged con-
fidence men got $4,000 from D. c. Davis. a
millionaire oil operator and banker of Ma
rletta, Ohio, by means of crooked faro
game played in a house Just off Columbus
avenue New York, according to the testi-
mony of Davis in Alderman Toole's court
yesterday afternoon.
So eager was Davis to win back the s51 =
600 which he lost first that he chartered a
special train from Jersey City and made a
fecord-breaking trip to Marietta, where he
procured $4,000 more. This sum also went
into the pockets Of the alleged confidence
men.
During the hearing Davis asserted that
within the past two years the three men
had lured wealthy Pittsburgers to the New
York house and there won more than ST.
100000 from them by means of the crooked
game. At least two men are said to have
been ruined financially by the scheme.
The hearing was ON charges of conspiracy
to defraud. brought by Davis against W. ].
Jake Adams and Frank B. Ranger of
Pittsburg and Frank Thompson of New
York. Thompson has not been arrested,
and is said to be in New York.
Former Mayor w. E. Sykes of Marietta
looked after the legal interests of Davis.
At the conclusion of the hearing Sykes was
arrested on charge of conspiracy to indict
made by Ranger before Alderman Martin.
He gave bail.
Enters a Bunko Deal.
Davis, when placed on the witness stand
stated that he is a director in the German
National Bank of Marietta, and is the
owner of large oil interests. He said he
was approached by John r. Curry Of Mari
eta and Ranger September last They
told him that friend of theirs (Thompson)
was employed as the dealer in gambling
house in New York owned by a syndicate
thompson was angry with the syndicate
and wanted to get even. Davis was to
furnish $4,000 and was to play in the game
Thompson would SO manipulate the cards
that Davis would win not less than 500, COO
The house just off Columbus avenue he
described as about three blocks from the
Majestic Hotel. He could not remember
the street or number. Thompson, he said
was behind the deal box and Davis started
in to play. He lost his $4,000. The gang,
be alleges, explained to him that there
had been mistake made and that the
wrong deck of cards had been used
He was told to get $4,000 more when
he would be allowed to win $500, 600. Davis
got the money, and November 20 again
went against the game. Again he lost
but did not realize even then that he was
being swindled.
Special Train for More Cash.
He determined he would win at the game
If it took every dollar he possessed The
regular trains were too slow and chartering
special he dashed back to Marietta and
procured the additional $4,000. This. too,
went into the gamblers pockets, he testi-
fed.
Curry, according to the testimony, then
weakened to such an extent that he took
pity on Davis and not wishing to see
him lose more told him that the whole af-
fair was a prearranged scheme by which
Davis was to be swindled. This made
Davis angry, and he Is alleged to have
made many unsuccessful efforts to get
back his money. Finally he filed the
charges.
The story told by Davis was confirmed
by Curry on the stand. Curry said he had
been induced TO go into the scheme by
Ranger.
Alderman Tooe announced that while he
would reserve his decision until next Mon
day, he would probably discharge the de-
PENDANTS because of lack of jurisdiction
The court stated that there was no evidence
offered to show that any crimes had been
committed in this county, and that proceed
ings would have to be entered either In
New York or Marietta If Davis wished to
punish the men