The New York herald., 1921-05-15

In the Trumbull Castle on the Dixie
highway between Daytona and New
Smyrna. which had been rented by the
"con men, without regard TO expense.
Mr.. Appelt had his picture taken with
the Waco Kid"-but that was before
he lost the $4,000.
This castle and the ''store" in PENN
srla drive at Daytona Beach were run
during tho last season by leaders OF
the tleecers, who have operated in those
vicinities for years. They are Sam Har-
ris. generalissimo Fred Stanley, G. f.
Webber, b. Roberts. C. II. Chambers.
j. ]. Johnson and J. w. Adams AS a
ruie you can't tell who's who among
'con men," so far as names are con-
cerned. but in this case b. Roberts and
Fred Stanley happen to be brothers.
their real name being Schaefer.
Most of the victims return to their
homes with nary hint that they had
ever seen ''con mana little ashamed.
perhaps because Of their standing, at
having been taken in as suckers"
The figure of $4,000, 900 Is placed con-
servatively as an estimate upon the sea-
sons activities of "con men" by a ma
tive OF Florida whose position has en-
abled him to watch closely the year by
year growth OF this giant organized
system OF swindling-these ever extend
ing chains OF elaborately equipped
clubs" and exchanges operated at
tremendous cost after being leased and
fitted out in advance of the arrival of
From an authentcfsource reporter
OF the Chicago Daily Ne,os learned the
manner in which the spoils were divided
at the end of this season:
Twenty-Five per cent. for protection,
which includes attorneys fees.
Five per cent for rentals.
Five per cent for fall bank
crooked banker through whom drafts
and checks were regularly handled to
bring money of victims to the fake
stock or horse race exchange
The balance Is then split two ways.
40 per cent. to the "steerer," less any
money advanced to carry him along,
and % per cent. TO the big store"
keepers. who seldom consist of more
than three men. The former is the
dapper or elderly "man of means" who
offers the victim e chance to "make
some easy money" and steers him to the
camouhaged Exchange" The big store"
keepers are the treasurers Of the syn
dicate.
How One Lost $4,000.
Victims may come and victims may
go !; but the story of O. Wynne, rich cot
ton planter OF Sunfiower county, Mssls-
sippi, will remain as the classic of the
Atlanta bunco probe.
Mr.. Wynne related to an audience Of
rapt. excited, uproariously laughing peo-
pie how he was fieeced in 1917 out Of
$27,500 on a fake. race horse game
staged on the outskirts Of Orlando, Fla,
and finished in the F1atiroa Boiiding In
Atlanta.
Mr. Wynne is a small. genteel looking
mild hammered man, with gay hair
and mustache. a rather shy smile, large
trimmed spectacles and true Southern
complexion. tanned through and through
He snickered as IL he rather relished
the recital
''In the early spring of 1917 started
on a trip to Cuba" he said. Il stopped
off In Tampa, Fla, and put up at the
Royal Palm hotel. That afternoon /
was walking around looking a. the town
and came across some circus people Ash
ing from a pier. ! stopped to look at
them.
Directly a gentleman came along
and got into conversation with me, and
one word led to another. and he intro
duced himself as an architect. His name
was Jack something. He introduced me