The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-27
MAKE A BIG CATCH
Sheriff Makes Raid on
Gambling House.
Two Members of Big Four y
Are Captured.
is AFTER THE THIRD.
Mike Thompson Charged With
Being Interested.
Men Are Required to Furnish
Real Bonds.
5 AFTER THE THIRD.

could not be trusted
Sheriff Wilkerson and party O
county officials swooped down on the
gambling room over the drug store a
No. Clio Kansas avenue at midnight
last night, and captured three of the
gamblers, who with Wood Fowler con-
stituted what was locally known az
THE Big Four" in the palmy days OF
three or four years ago.
About two years ago lobe Tobias
Cyrus Hurst, Mike Thompson and
Wood Fowler were prosecuted for
gambling by County Attorney Hungate
IN the Shawnee county district court.
He had evidence that would result in
sending them to the penitentiary, but
compromised with them by accepting
a six months Jail sentence and the i'm
posing of a fine upon their promise
never to engage in gambling again in
the state of Kansas
In the raid last night the county of
ficers found gambling house thai
they charge is operated by lobe To-
bias, Mike Thompson and Cy Hurst,
three of the four men who promised
never again to gamble in the state.
The evidence against these men is
strong and County Attorney Schenck is
confident that he can secure convic-
tons against them all and send them
to the penitentiary.
ed with being interested in the gam.
bling house raided last night he went
on the bond of one of the men arrest
ed. Fowler is one of the owners of
the Chesterfield hotel
The men arrested in the raid last
night met with a surprise when they
went to give bond. 1t has been Gus
tomary to release men arrested in the
nighttime on similar charges, on the
simple statement made over the teIe-
nhnnR from
they would sign the bonds the next
day.
When the men were taken to the
court house they wanted to secure
their release by using the phone to Sc
cure promises of signers for their
bonds
Edwin O'NeiII. clerk of the court of
Topeka had been called from his home
where he had gone to bed. and he
placed their bonds at $4,000 each, and
the officers insisted on the men fur
nishing the actual bonds before they
were released
r. Hodgins went on the bonds of
lobe Tobias and Joe Matthews and
Ogee, so that these three men were re-
leased early this morning. Hurst did
not secure bond till about 10: 80 O'Clock
this morning when Thomas VoiIand of
North Topeka signed it. He was then
released from the county Jail
County Attorney Schenck. Sheriff
Wilkerson and his force and Mr. O'Neil
We're up practically all night attending
to the business and had no sleep at all
The preliminary hearing will be held
In the city court Wednesday morning
March 6, at 9 o'clock. 1t is expected
that the men will be bound over to the
Shawnee county district court and that
If anything the size of their bonds will
the gamblers to find that they had TO
supply a $1,000 bond. Heretofore they
have hardly ever been required to give
a bond of more than $500 each. But it
is likely that when they are bound over
to the district court the bond may be in
creased to three or even five thousand
dollars each.
County Attorney Schenck declares
that he has a good case and that he
intends to make an example of the men
parations have been made for this case
for a month past. The gambling rooms
have been carefully watched till the
time was ripe.
The gamblers escaped a penitentiary
sentence from the prosecution at Hun
gates hands by promising to be good,
but they have violated their promise
and Mr.. Schenck intends to give them
no quarter. They carry out their defense
with a brave face and joke about the
arrests, but underneath it all they are
worried.
Mr.. Schenck has been after the gam
blers for several weeks and it is under
stood that many of the men who have
infested Topeka have gone to Excelsior
Springs, Mo. The authorities of that
place. it is said. have written the To-
peka authorities that they should come
over and form reservation.
When Sheriff Wilkerson made the
raid on the gambling rooms last night,
one of the men came to the peep-hole
in the door of their suite when they
heard the footsteps approaching. When
Sheriff Wilkerson was recognized, they
to give him entrance for several
minutes. during which time they stow
ed away the evidence of gambling in a
roll top desk in the room
After the men were taken to the Jail,
several officers returned to the gamb-
ling rooms to investigate. 1t was found
that the place was supplied for a poker
game and a roulette pin wheel was
The charge made against the men is
that they are guilty maintaining
common gambling house and that they
induced other persons to bet and play
play for money and property
One of the men arrested said THAI
the table found in the gambling room
where the raid occurred was nothing
seven men were found in the gamb-
ling rooms when the raid was made
last night; Four OF the men were cap
Hurst, Joseph Matthews and Edwin
Ogee.
Joseph Matthews is expected to turn
states evidence, and 1t is understood
that he has furnished the county Off
Gals with information as to who the
persons are who made their escape.
warrant is out for the arrest of
Mike Thompson, and he will probably
be placed in custody before the day is
ove=-
ly our daughter swept into the room a;
Mrs. Puppson's reception last night?
Neurich-Sure. I did. When II comes to