The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-20

part he was instructed to bring some
negotiable paper Of his own. They
did not want to deal with and ire
sponsible parties. mike" was to
bring a bank draft or some such ne
gotiable security for Q good sum,
$4,000 or SO, to show himself q man
Of substance. No suggestion ever was
made that this sum was to be played
upon the race. No, it was merely to
be on exhibit.
Arrived at Council Bluffs, or Den
yer or New Orleans, or wherever It
was, "Miwep
was, mike" would be plunged into
the midst Of ready money. Every
man he met had handfuls Of money.
AS much as $4,000 would be in sight
at one time. Naturally this impressed
the average mike" as an undeniable
evidence of millionaires. All the prop
critics were carefully arranged. As,
for instance, In Pittsburg . three-car
special train was provided for the
"millionaires."
When the betting began mike" was
made stakeholder. He sat with his
own personal draft before him on the
table to show that he had the financial
responsibility of one who is to figure
in matched races. Soon the money OF
":the COUSIN" and Of the %"steerer"
would be gone, but the "millionaires'
would be crying more. more. more"
Then mike" would fall.
Nothing had been said at any time
as to his betting his own money; but
there it would be before him, and
there would be the "millionaires" cry
ing more, more," and sure to lose.
In would go the draft and mike"
would be caught. Before the start
the money probably would be hustled
into a safety deposit vault, mike"
standing by to see it properly done.
But the minute he was out and away
for the course the money would be
removed and Mikes" draft cashed
and secured.
At the race course mike" would
find all the proper paraphernalia Of
the matched race. Red Leo vas a
horse to inspire confidence. Every
thing would be in readiness. The flag
would drop and the horses get away
with Red Leo we'll in the lead. Red
Leo, Mikes" horse, would see a
sure winner. Then suddenly the jock
ey would throw up his hand, reel in
the saddle, and plunge to the earth,
blood flowing from his mouth. He had
bitten the bladder" in the "patter"
Of the business.
Instantly panic fell upon the mill
lionaires. Here was scandal and ar
restricting and the killing of a
jockey. A rush would be made to es-
cape before the police should arrive.
Everybody would run to get away. So
we'll was the plot worked that Mike
rarely understood the fact that he had
been swindled until he was we'll out
of town. Ballew, one of the victims.
eve gave a member of the gang
whom he met at the depot $25 with
which to get home.
Sometimes the bunko syndicate
worked through a wrestling match,
a running race, or a prize fight, ac-
cording to the inclinations of the
mike" But in all the events one of
the principals fell dead and all the
others a to avoid arrest. When 1t
been swindled there were several rea-
sons why he should not make an out
cry. In the first place, he was a WELL
known citizen and could not afford to
admit that he had been connected
with a "sure thing" game or a dis
reputable death.
So far only two men have been tried
in the state courts. OF these John R,
Dobbins of Princeton, Mo-, who intro
duced T. w. Ballew to Red Leo, was
given a seven-year sentence. Frank
Scott another alleged 'steerer," was
acquitted. Mabray will have to face
more than two dozen indictments in
the Pottawatomie county course. r
B. Herman, secretary of the organ
ization, is dead, having passed away
in a Los Angeles Jail. Harry Forbes