The San Francisco call., 1910-02-14
BETIOR IS TERROR
OF POOLROOM MEN
Plunger Unsw0rth Makes Big
Killing, but Fails to Collect
From William King

With the disappearance of William
King, erstwhile proprietor of a hand
book at Third and Mission streets,
sporting circles are evincing unusual
interest in the spectacular operations
OF John Unsworth, a local plunger, who
was the cause of the undoing of King
and two or three other hand books.
Not only has King failed to keep his
obligations with fellow gamblers to the
amount of about $1,000, but he has dis
appeared with the combination of the
safe in the saloon of his father, Joe
King, at Third and Mission strets. The
young man has been keeping ms fatn-
er's books for some time.
For about FIVE years young King was
abstemious, but Friday night he was
enjoying himself with friends While
his father was somewhat agitated be-
cause of the disappearance of the youth
he believed that he would soon put in
an appearance
John Unsworth, a show card writer
at 1919 Fillmore street, and Brophy &
Collins, proprietors of a poolroom in
Fourth street near Mission, are the
greatest losers as a result or King s
disappearance. Unsworth asserted yes
terday that King owed him $1,000 as a
result of his wagers on Fridays races.
Brophy & Collins demanded approx
mately $4,000 as the amount OF bets
passed along to them by King. Uns-
worth and Brophy & Collins have been
on the lookout for King since Saturday
noon in an endeaYor TO secure settle
ment, but King has disappeared from
his old haunts
Unsworth has developed into one of
the biggest bettors in San Francisco
and he does all his betting without go
ing near the track.
Unsworth has a small Office at Fill
more and Turk streets, in which he
writes window cards for stores. While
engaged in turning out so cent job
he may reach for his telephone and
make a wager of $500 or 1000 on
race. Whether the horse wins or loses
Unsworth keeps on with his show card
work. He medestly admitted yesterday
that he had cleaned up between $4,000
and $4,000 on the races at Emeryville
this season.
King owes me $780, said Uns-
worth yesterday, and when went
could not find King. When | went
around to his Office Thursday, however,
to pay him the $1,000 had lost on tele-
phone bets to King the day before he
was on hand and gladly took my money.
When 1 went around Saturday to col
lect $4,000 King was not to be found.
Unsworth has become the terror of
the local racehorse gamblers. Some of
the poolroommen will not accept wa
gers from him because of the regular
ity of his coups.
why, yes l play from $1,000 to
$4,000 day." he declared, and l have
bet on nearly every race. 1 have
system, but l can not tell you what 1t
is. 1t has enabled me, however, to
clean up between $4,000 and $4,000
this year. l don't worry about the
dope very much and l have not been at
the track once this season, but 1 have
had fairly good luck in picking the
ponies just the same.
1t was Unsworth's betting on Whid-
den last Friday that made Kings bank
roll fade. In the first race Unsworth
wagered $500 on st. Francis and lost
Then he bet $500 on Adrian, $500 on
Whidden and $500 on Turrett. winning
each time He closed the day by losing
$500 on Bryce and $500 on Roberta.
II have not seen the boy since Friday
night" said Joe King yesterday after
noon. He was drinking Friday for
the first time in five years, SO far as
know. 1 have not been able to locate
him yet but think he will show up
soon. He kept my books and has the
combination to my safe. l don't know
whether my affairs are all right or not
but think they are. l understand he
owes between $4,000 and $1,000 on the
races but he would not have TO skip
out on account of that, because the law
would not recognize such obligations,
although man would feel bound to
pay thesn.'
Inquiry at all the places frequented
by young King failed to elicit any in
formation as to his whereabouts. In the
meantime the real estate agency which
he conducted as blind for his pool
room is closed and interested parties
are awaiting his return.