The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-12-03
HOT ON TRAIL OF
CROOKS WHO MADE
HEADQUARTERS HERE
LAST WINTER
This mornings Tampa 1Tibun

This mornings Tampa Tribune
says:
Opening an old sore and swearing
out new warrant charging them with
swindling J. W. Croft, an Oklahoma
tourist, out Of $4,000 via the conf
dence game book-making route, word
Is expected daily at the sheriff's Office
that ten male and female alleged
swindlers wanted here have been ar
rested in Atlanta, Ga.
Former operations here are said to
have cost residents and tourists in
Florida more than million dollars
1t is understood also that a warrant
is outstanding in Pinellas county for
the same outfit, sworn by a man
claiming to have lost more than
$4,000 through their operations
The new warrant was sent to At.
lanta last week when advice was re
ceived here from the chief of police
of Atlanta by Attorney e. ]. Binford,
representing Croft, that the men and
women wanted here were in Atlanta,
preparing to come to Florida and their
winter stamping grounds. Mr.. Bin,
ford Immediately swore out new
warrant and the sheriff's Office wired
the Atlanta police chief to arrest and
hold the crowd. Up to last night no
word had been received from Atlanta
since the warrant was sent.
Charge Is Conspiracy
The persons named in the warrant
are J. d. Ryan, Jr., Louie Martin,
Jennie Green, Clip Douglas, A. C.
Briggs. G. Murphy, S. T. Conley
Charlie Collins and H. E. Harrison.
The charge is conspiracy to detraud.
1t is alleged that these people have
operated in many counties Of this
State, with Lakeland the general
clearing house for all operations
Other towns named in the warrant
are Tampa, Orlando, Sanford, Kissim-
NEE, Palatka, Fort Myers, St. Peters
brug, Clearwater and Miami. Well.
TODD tourists are said to be their
choicest victims.
The swindling of Croft, it is charged,
took place more than a year age and
the warrant was sworn out naming
MIN as complaining witness because
ne is the only victim here who has
not swallowed the loss with a morse]
OF chagrin and embarrassment He
preferred to bring charges while oth-
er victims have, in more or less
shame, kept out Of the courts
Operate Gil Big Scale
The operations of this gang are said
to be extended and complicated, ac.
quaintances with proposed victims be.
Ing made on>trains on the way south
the confidence man working his way
closer and closer to the lamb, termi-
hating later In a chance fly on the
horses where advance" and "insiden
information on race tracks arrives he.
fore 1t is given to the general public
Usually the victim is given n few
winnings before the shears are closed
The warrant charges that Croft was
swindled out Of $4,000 "and MANY 9th
er persons out Of large and immense
sums OF money by these persons, rem
resenting they were operating a pre,
tended game of chance (horse races,,
book making establishments and 9th.
or games to cheat ]. W. Croft and
other persons of property and large
sums of money"
Local Attorney Met the Gang
IL is also set out in the warrant
nat Croft was induced to enter
louse in Polk county, which Judge
8inford stated was in Lakeland. in
Which book making and other games
we're established for betting and gam
Ding 1t was here that Croft parted
With the $4,000, the warrant stating
well knowing they, or some nj
men, would get said sum. az
The crowd is said to be the Same
nat became intimate with a. loca, ~.
orney two years ago, their creates,
Ictivities here being in the winter ~