Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-28
ECK, GIVEN FIVE
 | YEARS, CURSES l JURY MEMBERS
windler, Accused of Making $2O,00O Fake Farm Deal,
 Gets Limit.
VICTIMS TELL HOW
 GAME WAS WORKED
Illinois Farmer Relates Events Which Resulted in Him Losing S2O,OOO Other Charges May Be Tried.

Other Charges May Be
 Tried.
 l Arthur James Eek, alias Clarke, Ind several other names, sat quietly hrucut the day in criminal court Yesterday and without seeming re- (entment heard himself called a |rooK, swindler and a leader of a a lang of crooks. But when a jury, kcemanized by E. c. Arnold, found
 jim guilty of robbing Joseph J. Mink. Illinois farmer, of $20,000, and sen enced him to five years imprison- ment-the maximum penalty for krand larceny-Eck, or Clarke, or Allen, or whatever he chooses to call himself, blew up.
 "The G. d. |! xxx x' huttered Eek, as he snatched hats kbout the attorneys table, while poking for his own. When led out If the courtroom, on down Main, hru the alley to jail and into his cell (t the jail, Eek still was villifying he jurors, who had been compliment Id by Judge w. B. Sorrells and sev- ral citizens for their verdict.
 Three more indictments are pend- hg against Eek in the Jefferson $ourt and Prosecuting Attorney E.. ". Brockman indicated last night that he will bring the accused to rial on one, or, perhaps, all of them. There is also an indictment pending lgainst Eek in the federal court at Little Rock, charging using the mails To defraud He is under bond of t20.0O0, furnished by a surety com- Pany, to appear to answer the &harge.
 With Eck's conviction here of ob- aining Mink's $20,O00, the Illinois farmer may recover part of his loss. Former Congressman D. c. Badger If Columbus, O., who attended the rial, states that on behalf of Eek, be has attached $20,OO0 put up with fhe surety company as security for
 bond of S20,000, it was sought to Obtain for Eek here. Judge Sorrells ater fixed Eck's bond at $10000 on bach charge, or $40.000, and the de- ense' failed to meet the raise. This hakes total of $40,000 put up by Eek or his friends as security for Appearance bonds. Congressman Badger stated that also that suit had been filed in Columbus to set aside
 deed Eek executed in August, Transferring residence property in Columbus tenderloin district to Eck's wife.
 Two Victims Testify.
 Two of the victims of the sharpers testified at Eck's trial yesterday Mink, who lost s2o,0oo, savings of a lifetime. and John Goldberg. farmer pf Montana. who lost S15 0O0 Cold berg indicated by his testimony that he was scheduled to be fleeced in Pine Bluff, but for some reason the brooks became apprehensive, and two bf them inAuced Goldberg to go with fhem to Louisville, Ky.. where the Farmer was swindled of $15,O0O. There were references during the trial to three offices the gang is all peged to have operated here-one over the Mann pharmacy. at Second hnd Pine; one in the Knox Scull building and the third in the Sen yard building. The Hotel Pines, the Jefferson hotel and boarding house |ln West Second avenue were used by |the men-who hypnotized. "drugged' Ter Intimidated their victims, pre- venting them from communicating with others until the swindlers had obtained the victims money, and then hustling them out of town. At least that is what happened in Mink's case.
 Mink. a middle-aged man, seem- lingly of simple habits. told of meet ing Henry Forrest and John Wade, two of the gang. at Hot Springs. Forrest represented himself as a farmer and made stock market deals with Wade, always winningi Mink said he advised Forrest against these transactions, telling him he would lose his farm" They inter ested him in rice farm near Stutt- part, and it was to look this over that he came to Pine Bluff with Wade and Forrest, he said. They explained stopping here for a day by saving they had business to transact with Clark or Eek. and introduced Mink to Eek. as the manager of the board of trade" At his insis- renee. the men finally went with Wink to Stuttgart. and showed him a farm of about 240 acres, but would not permit him to go on 1t because tha manarer or lessee did not like visitors. the victim was told. "Rrt yon know this farm is worth S3n,- OOO," Mink said he was told. and he agreed with them. It was then. he went hack to Springfield and raised the $20,O00.
 Staged Fight.
 He deposited this in the Merchants and Planters bank when the crooks declined to accept check. and sev- eral days later, accompanied by Wade and Forrest. went to the bank and drew the $20,O00 in cash. Witt M ~> >>>>>-->>~>
 (Continued on page two.)