Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-23
VICTIMS OF "RING"
TAKE CIVIL ACTION
FOR GAMING LOSSES
CONTINUED from Page II

In the Fulton county Tower or re-
leased on bond.
A great deal Of the time of the
grand jury during the past two
weeks has been spent in securing
evidence against the gamblers and
their associates and now it is said
the investigation has reached point
where definite action can be taken
against the Individuals.
Sensational Feature
The raid conducted by Solicitor
Boykin on the deposit vaults Mon
day was one of the most sensational
features of the gambling and swim
ding probe. Armed with an order
signed by Judge John D. HUMPHREYS,
of the criminal division of the supe-
rior court, the solicitor visited two
local banks and examined the con-
pers found in the box rented by Smith
were in the name of Mrs. w. Clyde
Smith, of 500 West Peachtree street,
and many found in the box rented by
Woodward were in the name of the
latter's mother. Mrs. A. D. Wood
ward, of 735 North Boulevard.
Evidence relative to the operations
of the gambling syndicate in Atlanta
in 1918, linking together Woodward,
Smith, Ed o. Ellis, Chicago Red" and
others, was revealed in paper sign
ed by John NJ. Luker. of Luverne,
Crenshaw county, Alabama, in which
Luker agreed tnot to prosecute the
fleeced him out of $4,000 in a fake
horse racing swindle, and for which
Luker was to, and probably did, re-
ceive $780, This paper was dated
March 2, 1913.
Other papers were found which in
dicated, according to the sol1citor'
that Smith had a title to the Ken
ilworth Inn, at Asheville. y. c., that
Kit Gleason, believed to have been
connected with a safe robbery at the
store of the Chamberlin-J ohnson-Du-
Bose company last spring, was
member of the gang, and Jack knlte'
O'Brien, nationally known confidence
was also an associate of woodward
and Smith and that both Woodward
and Smith possessed guest cards TO
several of the clubs of Atlanta.
Court Takes Charge
| The action of Judge Ellis in ap-
mounting a receiver places all the
property, real and personal, known
to belong to Smith and his assocl-
ates, under the jurisdiction OF the
property will be filed Immediately by
Attorney McLarty. Mr.. Davis Is
said to have lost $3.50 in a fake
stock market swindle and Mr.. Man
ming is reported to have lost $8,I0o.
| The evidence as whole, Mr. BOY.
the gambling syndicate operated on
a gigantic scale throughout the south
and in connection with nationally
| known confidence men. Evidence
linking together Woodward. Smith
and Ellis is contained in the paper
the document that Luker had threat.
ened to appeal to the governor OF
| Alabama to have the parole of Ed
O. Ellis revoked on his alleged con-
nection with the swindle, and while
they denied they got Luker's money,
they agreed to pay $1,000 as a re,
lease from all prosecution, criminal
| or civil.
The fact that Ellis is the SON of
| a minister is shown in newspaper
clipping announcing the death OF
Rev Mr.. Ellis at Birmingham, Ala,
and naming Ed o. Ellis as one OF
the sons of the deceased.
The action Of the alleged gamblers
Is the same which was attempted
here, Mr.. Boykin says, in an endeav-
or to prevent Messrs. Holley and La
mar, of Aiken. S. c.. from prosecut-
ing Abe Powers for the loss of sl1 T.
show that woodward followed
Messrs. Holley and Lamar to Au-
gusta and attempted to buy them off.
signed Agreement
| Luker lost his money In Mont
gomery, Ala, which supports the
Contention Of Solicitor, Boykin that
the alleged syndicate has been oper-
| ating for a number Of years in va
rious parts Of the south. The agree
ment signed by Luker and now in
| the possession of the court. is as
| follows:
''The undersigned, John NJ Luker, Cren-
hour nnnfu lah m
defrauded or faxed out of the sum at 5000
| in room or rooms at the Exchange hotel,
in the city Of Montgomery, Ala, on or
about the 2Sth day of January, 1918, in an
alleged horse race scheme, or by means of
an alleged similar subterfuge, device or
fake scheme, and also claiming that Clyde
man known and called by the name OF
| "Chicago Red" whose name is otherwise
| unknown, and others whose names are under
| signed claims to be Mr.. Harris, Mr.. Dale
were so given to him by some of the parties
who he claims so defrauded him; these
being the names of all the persons ina
| undersigned claims had anything to DO with
said alleged defrauding scheme, and the
undersigned by himself and through the
Bodeker National Detective Agency OF the
city Of Birmingham Ala, the authorlzea
agent of the undersigned, have claimed and
| charged that all the above named persons
were connected, directly or indirectly, with
said defrauding scheme or interested there
National Detective Agency have accused
them and threatened the arrest and prose
| cution of all the above named persons for
| having SO defrauded him and had threatened
| to issue and circulate circulars throughout
police departments and detective agencies
in the United States with photographs AND
personal description Of some of the above
named persons printed thereon, and have
also threatened to intercede with the. gov.
ernor of Alabama to have the parole OF
Ed o, Ellis revoked on account of his al
legged connection with said alleged scheme
and all of the above named persons nave
heretofore and do now, expressly deny thal
they perpetrated fraud upon the undersigned
or aided or abetted in commission or same
| or were in wise connected th""ewith: anC
| the said persons above named In considera
| ton of the promises and desiring to avoi6
and prevent the said threatened prosecutor
and public accusations thereof:
Therefore, for and in consideration u
the payment of the sum of $1,000 paid t.
the undersigned. John NJ. Luker, by the
above named persons, Clyde Smith. Ed o
Ellis, Floyd T. woodward, man known
and called by the, name of Chicago Red,
, whose name is otherwise unknown, ant
others whose names the undersigned claims
to be Mr.. Harris Mr.. Bale and Mr.. Sterl
ing the receipt whereof is hereby acknowl
edged, I, the said John NJ. Luker, Z" nreb.
agree not to swear out a warrant or caus
same for either of the above-named per
sons so charged. nor prosecute either. no
to appear as witnesses against either il
any criminal proceedings nor cause eithe
l of said persons TO be prosecuted for tn
! | offense herein before mentioned. and I d.
forever relea and discharge. all of sal