The sun., 1919-04-06
SOMETIMES 'RUBES' I
STING WISE ONES
Such Was Case When StecheE
Threw Cutler on Mat in
Omaha in 1915.
CHICAGOANS BIG LOSERS
Even Frank Gotch and Stran-
gler Lewis Found They Had
"Played'' Wrong Man.

ALTHOUGH the States of Iowa and me-
braskA oftimes have proved the happy
hunting ground for professional sport.
ing sharpers. sometimes the worm has
turned and the wise guys" have been
the victims Of q killing" This wae
the case when Joe stecher threw Albert
Cutler Of Chicago in Omaha July 4
1918.
Even Frank Gotch and his manager
Emil K1ank. were stung. not to mem
ton DR.. Roller. who telesraphed $3.50
to wager on Cutler. The Chicasoane
were 90 eager to get their money placed
that they were on the verge of lighting
with one another when some corn husicer
who was willing to bet on Stecher was
found
Stscher is the type OF athlete wa
rose from oblivion into the spotlight IA
less than six months. He is naturally
strong and has powerful legs. The easy
manner in which he disposed Of good
trial horses made him a worthy oppo-
mont for Cutler in the eyes Of the ma
lives. but not 80 with tho close foSs
iowere of wrestling who had seen hfrn
in action.
Send Money Ahead.
After Stecher was matched with Cues
Ter the news of how easy II would %
to make Q killing on the match wa
flashed to Chicago. The Windy city
fraternity Immediately got busy. Tho
best grapplers available were Induces
to wreetle with Cutter to prepare hfr1
for the match. Commissioners were as
patched to Omaha with Chicago money
which was wagered on the short END OF
10 to 7 odds.
Smiley Corbett. the we'll known chic
cAgo sporting man. heard of the matoA
and Immediately hunted up Joe Coffsy
to get in on the killing.
who's going to win this matchr
Smiley asked Joe.
81 don't know" Joe answered.
How areSyou betting your money!
Corbett Inquired.
ION Cutler" Coffey replied.
That's good enough for me-" SmTev
answered and walked away.
Coney Wants n Car.
According to Coffey. Corbett wagsrsd
q neat sum on the match and even wired
money to friends in Omaha to place for
him. In the meantime Coffey Rad
waRered enough to purchase an auto
| mobile and, according to his own statse
ment. had the machine bought days be-
| fore the contest.
The Chicago delegation headed BY
Coffey arrived in Omaha a few days
before the contest. They made q can
vass OF the city and covered all tho
money in sight They had been told
that Stecher was only a farmer boy ana
| could not beat a man of Cutters calibro
| and experience.
After arriving on the battle ground
other wrestlers. including StransleS
! Lewis. blew into town. Lewis lost no
time in getting all the money he had
| down on the match and wound up BY
pawning diamond ring and stickpin.
| The other Chioagoans wired homo foR
moro money when they discovered-as
they thought-the soft pickings
There was not thing crooked sb0uf
the match. Cutters style of wrestling
was to wade into Stecher. take the heart
out of him and throw him before he had
an opportunity TO clamp on the scissors
hold But IN this mode OF wrestling
Albert more than met his equal.
stechsr Surprises EN-.
| After the men had been In the ring
less than FIVE minutes Cutler picked up
Stecher and threw him over his head,
hoping to stun him. The big corn
husker merely put out his big hands %
break the fall and was on his feet in an
instant. That seemed to take the heart
out OF Cutler.
Gotch. who had bet on Cutler, w.
one OF the first to realize that Albert
would be beaten, and Immediately
placed BY wagering 2 to 1 on Stechsn
this with Chicagoans.
Emil Klank also hedged, but these
were the only two who were wise enough
to not lose everything. as stecher threw
Cutler In straight falls and sent the
Chicagoans home a downhearted, broken
crowd.