The San Francisco call., 1909-02-28
E. c. Smith of San Francisco
Is Indirect Cause of Gangs
Final Capture
Returns Misdirected Letter and
Postal Authorities Get
Trace of Criminals
Syndicate's Boxes of Loot Are
Taken by Sheriff From
Express Office
Sacramento SalOonman Trimmed
for sI0,59O by Fake"
Fight Promoters
Especial Dispatch TO The CeI1

lOpeCLot DBpotcn 70 ne (cu
~ OUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, Feb. 27.-
4 1t developed today that the real
- hero in the capture OF the big
swindIe syndicate Is z. c. Smith
OF 1908 Golden Gate avenue, San Fran
cisco.
True he did not engage In a physical
encounter with the villains Instead OF
opening fire on them literally, and los
ing his life while they. his superiors
in numbers. escaped. he opened fire on
them hguratively and lives. while they
are in Jail at Little Rock
To get to the point. he returned to
the postofnce letter which ne is IN
derstood to have opened under the i'm
preston that il was for him The let
ter was addressed to H c. Smith. 1873
Golden Gate avenue. San Francisco. and
the postman. perhaps being unable TO
find H c. Smith at that number, de-
livered the letter to our hero at the
neighboring address
The letter informed first L c. Smith
and afterward. thanks 10 him. the pos
tai authorities. that owing to a change
OF administration we have moved from
New Orleans 70 Council Bluffs. where
conditions are perfect" and that We
will be ready for business March 15..
1908" and requested that mail and
tAegrams be sent to "A c. Craft. Coun-
ell Bluffs. Ia"
Swindlers' Loot Found
DAVENPORT. Ia. Feb. 27.-Tbe two
small zinc boxes shipped from Little
Rock. Ark. after the arrest OF the al
legged leaders OF the '.SwindIe Syndi-
cate" and containing the $4,000 loot
sought by the Arkansas autS critics.
were found in the American express
Office here and were seized by the
sheriff on a writ OF attachment.
The tip that the boxes had been
shipped to Davenport came from J. f.
iCavanaugh. rich Davenport bachelor.
who was swindled out OF sS7.O 900 in
currency by the syndicate by means
of fake wrestling match in New Or
leans on January :. 1907.
The boxes were addressed 10 W B.
Mccall. Davenport gambler. care OF
-the Senate saloon Mccall has disap-
peared. the Davenport authorities say
Burglars After Ii
Evidently thinking that the package
containing the $4,000 had been deliv-
cred 10 the Senate saloon TO which it
was addressed. burglars broke into the
saloon early this morning and blew
open the safe. They got $3.50. The po-
lice think the burglars were men con-
nected with the gang which sent the
money. knew that it was addressed TO
W. b. Mccall, care OF the Senate sa-
loon, and took this method to recov-
er it
Cavanaugh met J. C. Aaybray. head
OF the swindIe syndicate. and his as
sociates in Seattle. Wash. early in De-
cember. 1906. He was introduced TO
them in a fashionable club known as
the 'MiIIionaires" They dined and
wined far into the night. and when all
were in a mellow mood Maybray cas-
ually mentioned that he expected to
clean up on fake wrestling match in
New orleans. Cavanaugh's curiosity
was aroused. but it required much per-
suasion on his part before Maybray
gave up" Finally Maybray consented
to let Cavanaugh in.
Sacramentan VictimiZed
SACRAMENTO. Feb. 27.-Tom Nor
ton. wealthy saloon keeper OF this
city. remembers with some regret his
experience with the syndicate of swim
dlers who have been reaping a harvest
in staging fake fights and wrestling
bouts, particularly In Seattle. for Nor
ton dropped a lump sum Of Sto.5so
into the pockets of the promoters OF
Seattle fight three years ago and
does not expect to ever see 1T again
His experience was similar to that
of o. L. Cramer of San Francisco. who
lost $4,000. but not on the same Tight.
for Norton says the fake" was held
for his particular benefit and he was
the only fall guy"
He says he was approached about
three years ago by man named Bart
Cameron and hghter named Dean.
Dean was said to be conner. and Nor
ton, having been something Of a fighter
In his day. was favorably Impressed
with Dean and consented to take in his
night at Seattle in October with Kelly.
The fight came or as scheduled and