The San Francisco call., 1909-03-23
LURE OF RACES
MAkESFUGITINE
OF CONTRACTOR
Seattle Man Alleged TO Have
Secured $4,000 by False
PretenSes
Said TO Have Lost Entire Sum
On Horses and Fled TO
Mexico

Mexico
p q EATTLE banks, the National surety
company and the Pinkertons are on
- the trail OF James G. Cannon,
former contractor of the Washington
city and more recently of 1903 Grove
street, Berkeley, who developed his
credit so well that it is alleged,
he was able to borrow from $780,
600 TO $4,000 on fictitious repre-
sentation and disappear. Cannon is
said by representatives. OF the
surety company to have lost his
money on the racecourse. It was re-
ported from the north that he was the
owner OF rscehorse called Allen
Clark, but no thoroughbred of that
name is registered at Emeryville,
Z where. it was reported. Cannon ran
the horse. Nor was Cannon known
there as an owner The man lived in
Berkeley while he was patronizing the
I3meryville track. IT is presumed now
that he has fed to Mexico with his
@wife.
Warned to Leave
=. Cannon was warned to leave Berkeley
" BY his brother in Seattle. He left Fri
Gag, March j. Two days later his wife
and two sons, aged y and IA. also de-
: parted. Their baggage was checked
through 10 Los Angeles. Several days
rter Cannon left the Berkeley place a
postal card was delivered there. It
was from Seattle and was typewritten
and said: Allen is after your hide. So
is the First bank. A Friend"
cannon arrived in Berkeley two and
half months ago from Seattle. He was
accompanied by =. z. Hofus and a man
20 years old named r. A Olson. When
cannon left Hofus went with him, but
Olson is suu in Berkeley. working in
knderson's grocery store at Grove
street and Berkeley way. Six weeks
ago Mrs. Cannon and the boys came
from the north
IN Berkeley Cannon represented him
self as a contractor engaged on work
I'm Eddy street, san Francisco. On that
representation it is reported that he
bunkoed a man named Robinson out Of
a sum Of money and secured 800 from
a san Francisco bank attache named
Nelson.
Pinkerton detectives have been
watching the house since Cannon's
disappearance. but to no purpose.
Scores Racetrack
William B. Joyce, president of the
National surety company. who is in
this city. drew a moral yesterday from
the Cannon case and said that in his
opinion racetrack gambling was the
most pernicious vice Of the day.
Cannon was FOR many years sue
cessfuI contractor in Seattle and i'm
proved his opportunities so well that he
bossted he could 90 to any bank in
the community and borrow $4,000 on
lis note. Recently he said that he had
e contract for $4,000 in san Francisco
end on the strength Of that representa-
tion, according TO Frank L. Gilbert.
local manager for the National surety
company. he borrowed between 5000
and $4,000 from different banks.
Among his reputed victims was the
First national bank Of Seattle, which
advanced 100000. That bank is ready,
ii is SAID. 10 have Cannon arrested for
obtaining money on false pretenses.
The surety company which Gilbert
represents was on Csnnon's bond for
$4,000 on one contract, which was de-
faulted.
Flags Track Gambling
: In discussing racetrack gambling
.Gitbert said that IS per cent of the
.6efalcations in California are trace
aalsie TO the tracks. President William
- joyce Of the company went fur
Cher IN his denunciation-
;'Five years ago." he said. I was
greatly criticised because of the atti-
.tdde this company took in connection
with the execution OF bonds Of city
and county treasurers. We contended
that so many men in positions of pub
lie trust were -habitues Of the race
course and notoriously were betting
en the races that we must refuse to
sign bonds for public officers, and we
started campaign TO stamp out by
Legislation all racetrack gambling.
VIC believed that the business of be-
cor1ing a surety on bonds of~public
sreasurers in California could not
pfohtably be conducted. We were sup
ported in this by the fact Of the many
heavy defalcations by public officials.
The passage Of the anti-racetrack
" Nmbling law in California and the