Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1909-06-28
FIVE YEARS FOR COUCH
FOR RECOUP|NG HIMSELF
HE HELD UP A BLACK JACK"
GAME.
His Cool Story of Warm Transaction
at Globe.
His Cool Story of a Warm Transaction

Couch, the young man who was held
in the county Jail here for safe keeping
for several weeks, was sentenced at
Globe on Saturday to five years In the
penitentiary for having held up a
black jack game there last spring.
What defense, if any, was offered, is
not known. But while he was here in
Jail he freely admitted the offense and
coolly related the details
Couch said that he had never COM
mitted a crime before. He was en-
ployed on a hoist at one of the mines
at Globe and was earning 800 month.
He said he had gambling on the brain
and for months he had been patron
iZing the game which he afterward
robbed, losing all of his earnings. He
had been warned. he said. by friends
that the game was crooked, but he
could not resist the temptation to play.
One night. he said. after having
drawn his wages. he stopped at the
game and in a short time he lost all
he had He left for his room and
reached it feeling sore. He related his
woes 10 Il TpDHl ifldlts WIN Su6EtSltu
the recovery of the money by the hold
up process. Couch said the righteous
ness of the proposition appealed to him
at once and he accepted it. His part
ner raised the objection that he had
no gun, but said he would go out and
get one. He was gone for long time
and returned saying that he had been
unable to secure a gun, but by that
time Couch had made up his mind to
turn the trick alone. He had already
prepared a disguise and when he put
it on he was more in the humor for
the adventure than ever.
He walked into the saloon with lev
eled gun and the advice: Gentlemen,
reach for the ceiling" Everybody
reached and Couch stood the crowd up
along the wall. Then he gathered in
the bank roll. If he had stopped here
perhaps it would have been difficult to
find a jury to convict him. for the
game itself was an outlaw and its pro-
prietors could not reasonably claim the
protection of the law.
Couch knew of two drawers behind
the bar in which money was kept.
Again adjuring his audience To keep
reaching for the ceiling. he went behind
the bar and opened one of the draw
ers. taking it's contents. In the other
drawer he knew there was a large sum.
In order to get at that he had to turn
his back to the crowd. But he had his
audience pretty well under control and
he kept Juggling at the drawer without
being able to open it, every instant
glancing over his shoulder to see if
there were any signs of rebellion in
the line of towards against the oppo-
site wall pointing heaVenward, some
Of them swearing softly.
The effort to open the drawer was
fruitless. Couch said he could per-
haps have got it open if he had had
nothing else on his mind, but he reas-
oned that he had already pretty well
recouped himself for his more recent
losses. and he passed from behind the
bar and briefly lectured the line on
the subject of obedience and he went
out. Looking up and down the street
he saw no one, but hearing noise in
side of the saloon he re-entered and
saw the line disintegrating. some Of
its members preparing to give an
alarm.
Hold on. gentlemen" cried Couch.
the game isn't PLAYED out yet; get
back to your places"
The line was re- formed and Couch
addressed it again, saying that he
would hang about the front of the
saloon for while and he did not want
any moving about inside. Again he
went out and seeing no one remained
there for a minute or more when he
heard evidences Of restleSsneSs within
He went back and again repaired the
broken line. Then he went out and
remained for a minute or more. and
as things were still quiet inside ne
hurried off to his room, emptied his
pockets into fruit can and mid his
disguise and was preparing for bed
when he heard a knocking at the door.
He called to the visitor to enter and
man came in with a revolver leveied
at MIN and telling him to hold mp his
hands. He did so and within five min
utes he was in captivity.
1t was his theory that his partner
had betrayed him as soon as he heard
Of the robbery.