The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-28
C0Nk JONES DEAD.
One of the Old Timers of Dodge
City.
Was Trained by the Now Famous
Bat MastersOn.
WELLKNOWN GAMBLER
Has Been Known as
Confidence Man.
Lived at Perry and Was Quite
Wealthy.

Word has been received in this city
of the death of "Conk Jones" a for
mer resident of Topeka and well
known state character and associate
of Bat Masterson, which occurred at
Excelsior Springs Sunday afternoon.
Cameron Kunkle, or "Conk Jones' as
he was better known was born on a
farm near Perry where he lived with
his parents until he was about II
years of age when he suffered an at
tack of "cow puncher-Indian fight
ing" fever and started overland for
the country of the Indian and cow
boy.
When he landed in Dodge City,
thirty years ago. he found the country
all that he desired from the wild and
Woolly standpoint and decided that he
was far enough west to suit his taste.
About the first man he met was Bat
Masterson who was hanging about
the livery stable owned by Ham Bell
He was employed on the spot by
Masterson who was in need of boy
to help the cook on a mess wagon
which was soon to start on the round
up.
This life proved to the liking of the
new recruit though for the first
month or so it was rather more
strenuous than he had anticipated for
the COW punchers considered it their
duty to "break" him thoroughly. 1t
was during this time that he pitted
against all corners who sought honors
in fistic combat by Masterson who
assured him that he would get an
even run for his money.
Masterson convinced the tenderfoot
that Cameron Kunkle would never do
for name for a real cow puncher
and he promptly changed his name to
"Conk jones' and he has been know
by no other since that time. Master
son taught him how to take care Of
himself in a rough and tumble fight
though he was compelled to hold a
gun on him to do so during the first
encounter. 80
Jones lived in and about Dodge City
through employment which he found
about the gambling houses of the place
turned to gambling for livelihood He
prospered to a certain extent but prac-
tically abandoned gambling for the
.sure thing propositions or confidence
game with which he was familiar at
this time. Later he returned to To-
peka and made his headquarters in
this city for a. number of years while
he followed this calling.
When the police regulations became
too stringent a few years ago he moved
headquarters to- Kansas City and has
operated from that point since that
time. He became i'll two years ago
and MS physicians told him that he
had but short time to. live and since
that time he has travelled extensively
in the hope that he could prolong his
life.
He left Denver about six weeks ago
where he spent the winter and went
directly to Excelsior Springs where he
was living at a hotel at the time of his
death from Bright's disease. He has
many acquaintances in Topeka who to
a man give him a clean bill OF health
when dealing with his friends. He was
at one time mixed up in a wire tap
ping deal in which the pool rooms al
Excelsior Springs were mulcted to the
extent of $4,000. About this time he
purchased a farm in Jefferson county
paying $4,000 in crisp new one hun
dred dollar bills for the property
money it is said that he secured
| through his wire tapping operations
At the time of his death he was con-
sidered a wealthy man. The funera
was held at his home town of Perry
this afternoon.