Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-07-02
SWindlers Net
Near Million

back to Pennsylvania sadder but may
be wiser. In this deal one of Attain
ta's best-known citizens aided the OPP
Grating gang.
One comparatively old man came to
Atlanta from Indiana, lost his money
and is still here. His story was one
of the many already told during the
four weeks of investigation of the
easy money syndicate of Atlanta.
Then there was an Ohio banker who
came to this city, fell in with smooth
takers and attempted to ger checks
cashed for approximately 10000, but
all the gang got him for vas $4,000.
Chicago Man involved.
There is the case of Albert H.
Thompson of Chicago. Thompson Is
being sought on a larceny charge and
it is thought that he is in Cuba. So
licitor John Boykin refuses to di-
vulge for the present the details.
Thompson's indictment was a sur
prise, for his wife was known TO be
wealthy. The Th0mpsons have a fine
home In Asheville.
More than one hundred indictments
have been returned.
The situation was first called to the
attention of the public WheA John
Boykin, solicitor. made an address at
a forum luncheon of chamber of com
merce members. He charged that the
situation was known to police officials
and others in authority.
Finally there was a demand in
council for an investigation and Mr..
Boykin agreed to appear before this
body. A mass meeting of 1000 Atlanta
citizens was held and money was
raised to prosecute the solicitors
charges. Eugene K. Black, II Of che
city's best lawyers, was engaged to-
represent Mr.. Boykin.
II has developed that the chief of
police and the detective chief have
FLASHED. On one occasion when the
chief of police was wiring to a Florida
point trying to get a confidence man
the chief of detectives was wiring that
the man was not wanted in Atlanta,
although he was under indictment at
that time. 1t was also charged that a
detective for several years had received
5000 q week to allow a notorious blind
tiger to operate unmolested.
The raids started as a result OF the
fleeing of HolIey of Ailkin tut OF Sll.-
900. He and a companion made a foise
that all Atlanta heard. Officers we're
sem to see him, and he and his COM
paniOn laid a trap for Abe Powers the
alleged steerer In the game. Tie detec-
tives told them to go on AAtt ana meet
Powers and they would follow. That
was about the last they heard OF the
detectives. but they met overs by
agreement and seized him. A passing
policeman was hailed finally and
Powers went to Jail.
Then started a search for the head-
quarters of the gang, The detectWes
the next day we're piloted TO the build
ing In a downtown locality, where me
South CaroIinians said they had been
robbed. But search as they might, tine
officers could not find the room.
Raid Reveals Brokers' Office.
The next day they appealed to tine
and he led a personal raid Cd
he building. The wa touhd at
once and irc seized all the parapher-
The place was fitted up with an
he elaboratersess of a stock brokers'
I'm New York. There were black
fake telegraph Instruments
AXE money, and everything else
1t looked like there was all
he money in the world there, but IN
.'estigation revealed that only the
over bills were good. The rest was
paper.
That was the beginning. Within inc
text few days the solicitor raided tfree
'Iaces operated by the gang, III one
ase using axes to break in. In TINS
lace were found all the instruments
.eeded for marking cards, crooR'ng
ice; fake money, several hundred dol-
lrs of real money in the safe; crap
ables; and before the night WnS OUT
many visitors, who had been taken
lto custody had to tell what tney
new or go to Jail.
h ro ids ,vara followed by many