Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1909-05-28
A Slick Scheme Failed

a slick scheme to. rob the roulette
game ut the Commercial Hotel came
to grief Sunday morning through the
watchfulness of Mr.. Brown, the dealer.
When he started the wheel about 0
o'clock, he noticed that something was
wrong with it and Immediately called
the attention of the proprietors of the
game to it. They examined the wheel
thoroughly and found that number of
the frets, the steels that divide the
wheel into boxes, had been loosened.
An inquiry was set on foot ut once
and suspicion was directed to Max
Fowler, gambler, stopping ut the
Commercial Hotel. The investigation
WAS carried on through the. day and
until nearly 2 o'clock Monday morning
before definite proof of the guilty
parties could be secured, and then only,
as we are informed, by bringing strong
pressure to bear upon g. \. Settle, the
night bartender. He finally confessed
that he had seen Max Fowler go to the
locker, in which the wheel was kept
when not in use, take it out of the
back door and return it to the locker
Settle also stated that he had been
approached by another party and asked
If he did not want TO make some money
off the roulette wheel. He described
the man who made the proposition,
but was unable to give his name. This
man is supposed to be Bell, Denver
gambler. Bell skipped out Sunday
afternoon before it was known that he
was implicated in the job.
After Settle made this statement, n
warrant was sworn out for Fowler's
arrest on charge of malicious mischief
and he was taken before Judge Bruce,
and 3 o'clock Monday afternoon was set
for trial. AT that hour Fowler plead
not guilty and waived jury trial
District Attorney Taber represented the
state and Fowler conducted his own
defense. Several witnesses testified,
but the main witness to the commission
of the crime was Settle, the night bar
tender. He swore that he saw Fowler
90 to the locker about $3.50 Sunday
morning and take the wheel through
the door leading to the back entrance of
the barroom. He remained out several
minutes and returned without the
wheel. He went out several times
before he brought the wheel back.
About $40 o'clock he went out and
returned with the wheel and put it
back in the locker. Fowler called
witnesses but did not take the stand
himself. AT the conclusion of the argu-
ment, Judge Bruce took the case under
advisemenu until 10 o'clock this fore.
noon. At that hour he pronounced
Fowler guilty and sentenced him to
pay Il fine of $3.50 and costs or be
imprisoned in the county Jail 125 days
He paid the $3.50.
Fowler came here from Ely several
months ago and has followed gambling.
He bears an unsavory reputation
around town and according to pretty
reliable reports the roulette wheel ut
the Commercial is not the only one he
has iobbcd since hc has been here. In
one place he is said TO have won Sl400
through his crooked work and at an-
other hc and his confcdorates went broke,
because Mr.. Brown who was running
the wheel, saw that something was
wrong and protected the game. lie Is
also charged with breaking the bank of
u roulette wheel at Winncmucca i'm the
same way.
One mystery connected with the case
has not been solved and that is how he
secured u koy to the locker, which was
locked with Yale lock. There arc
only two keys to these locks and both
Of them were in the possession of the
proprictors of the games mt the Com
mcrcial. Tho only solution Is that no
or his confcdcratcs got the number Of
the lock and secured u key from tho
factory.
IL was reported yesterday morning
that Settle, tho night bartender had
left on No. 4. but this was mistake.
Through his failure TO report Fowler to
HcllingwOrth d. Knudson. his ON.
plOycrs and the lcssccs of tho jobbcd
wheel. he proved himself unworthy of
the confidence they reposcd in him.