The Sentinel=record., 1913-03-25

frequently worked, would be Take poofroom Al certain places a room would be fitted up osteRsibly as 8 pool-room with blackboards and en. tries of horses, telegraph operators. cashiers and all the paraphernalia in- eident to a pool-room. Of course the wires ran no where. and the whole scheme was fictitious
 The victim would be taken near the location of the pool-room, ostensibly on some legitimate errand, and while near by a confederate would be dis covered in the act of counting & large amount of msaey.
 The steerer in charge of the vic tim would ask this fellow if he was not certain we'll known plunger on races, and after modestly denying his Identity for time he would finally admit that he was the distinguished person referred to, but regrets that he has been discovered
 He would Then mention the fact that ne represents the American Breed CTS Association in their betting op- erations in pool-rooms throughout the conntry, one of which was that right at hand. and that he had just won q large sum of money. The party would go into the pool-room.
 The proposed victim would gener- ally be induced to lay small wager of a few dollars, which would T be re- turned to him after a few minutes with supposed winnings. It would gradually be opened to the victim that a certain race about to come off had been absolutely fixed, and he would be induced to bet as much as he was sized mp to have. taking his New York drafts. if he had them, and his per sonal check if he had no such draft.
 The race would be reported as hav- ing been won by the sucker and a large sum of money sometimes amounting to fifty thousand dollars. Then the old scheme of questioning the cheek given would come up, and a plan would be agreed upon to leave the pool-ticket representing the win. nings, in the safe of the supposed proprietor until returns could be had on the paper.
 II would then he the hnsiness of the steerer to take the victim in hand and entertain him and prevent him from mingling with other people until the draft was paid. Sometimes they car ried him to Mountain Valley or Ozark Lithia; sometimes to Little Rock and sometimes to St Louis. These out of-town trips would be taken upon the assumption that the base Of opera ton had been moved to these other cities and they could win vast sums of money by going there
 There would usually be three in this party: the victim, his friend who introduced him 10 the supposed plung- CT. and the plunger himself. When the trip was taken away from the city they would claim that the pool. room in Hot Springs had been trans feFred, say 10 East St Louis, and that the due-bill would be eashed there.
 Cn arrival the supposed plunger wound mention another race that was sure thing that day in which a horse was to be run second. and the due bin would be turned over to the steer er who would go and place 1t on the horse to win.
 The plunge- would then become in- dignant and angry at his having played the horse to win when he told him il could only run second. and much tragic acting would be indulg- Cd in over the loss he had thereby oecasioned to his innocent friend.
 The steerer would then pretend that he had securities in Canada or New York which he would convert into cash and make good the loss, and the victim would be hurried home if he could be induced to go That would end the transaction
 Of course. there was a reason why Hot Springs was selected as the scene for pulling off these swindling operations This reason might have been the hope or anticipation or protection" from officials.
 This protection" may or may not have been indicated in any word or act Of the officers, but this point is the subject for your Investigation
 Sometimes silent aequieseence Of the officers or failure to act when it is their duty to act. may amount to protection of law violators.
 The people look 10 their officers for protection. and have a right to demand aggressive action on their part. whenever + becomes necessary.
 When during last January right at the beginning of our season. the real situation here became apparent when each days revelations made conditions here more intolerable. some Of our most infnlential citizens who were friends and supporters of the present executive officials, went to them and demanded relief.
 They received fair promises, but no results
 Finally the climax appeared to have been reached. and despairing of any relief. an appeal was made to me to call a special grand jury
 In an interview appearing in the SentineIRecord on Sunday. January 12th, in response to this request. took official cognizance of the criti- cal situation and stated that would call special grand jury or take any other steps that might be nsces- sary to enforce the law.
 That same day l was invited to