The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-12
HAMLIN is CAUGHT
Topeka Man Alleged Member of
Big Confidence Gang.
He Owned Home at 1920 East
Tenth Avenue for Years.
RANCHER BROKE UP GRAFTERS
"Rimmed" of $4,000 He
TraiIed Them for Six Years.
Only One Man of Ring Now Re-
mains at Liberty.
RANCHER BROKE UP GRAFTERS

officers claim was one of the biggest
confidence gangs in the United States,
Reno Hamlin, formerly residing at
1920 East Tenth avenue, is safely in
Jail.
Hamlin was alleged to be MEM
Der of a gang which worked turnout
the country. Fleeing victims out of
from $4,000 to 100000 at a time.
They are said to have owned hotels,
yachts, farms, gambling houses and
resorts in various cities. In the man
sions of New YOrk's Fifth avenue or
in the backwoods of Arkansas they
were equally at home. And always
their methods were so smooth as to
defy detection until they had actually
gotten away N..th the money.
Evadcd Officers Many Months.
HamIin, who is As years old, evaded
the officers for months in Topeka.
Local authorities watched his house
for weeks, but the confidence man
was too wise to come near his home.
His wife came and went on several
occas ions; she was Swallowed" con-
stantly, but not one glimpse or her
husband could the officers get. AT
last Hamlin sold his home and skipped
out. few days ago Sheriff Robert
Miller received a letter stating that the
man was under arrest at Oklahoma
City.
The story of how Hamlin's gang
was broken up is probably the most
remarkable in the annals of modern
police work. Frank NOrfleet, an old
rancher living near Hale Center, Tex,
was victimized by the gang, trimmed"
for $450 900 and left with a heavy
mortgage on his ranch and old age
staring him in the face just ahead.
That was six years ago. Hamltns
arrest recently was the climax of
chase that doubled back and forth
across the continent dozen times.
They had taken Norfleets money in
their usual slick manner. They car
ried their own stock game with them
and they let him win. Then-osten-
sibly by mistake-one man bought in
stead of selling. The market crashed,
and they were all ruined. Norfleet
took his defeat like a man. He was
a good loser. But he soon observed
that the men had all left town-with
his money.
He Went After Them.
ResoIUtely strapping on a pair of
six-shooters, Norfleet called his son,
Pete, from college, left his wife to
care for the ranch, and started out.
He wentlto Ell Paso, then to Juarez.
Picking UP the trail of Charles Gerber
and e. J. Ward, he followed them to
Los Angeles, where, with the assist
ance OF the police he arrested them.
But Joseph Furey, the head and treas
urer of the gang, escaped Two de-
tectives, said to have had Furey in
their power, accepted money from him
and allowed him to escape, are now
under $4,000 pending trial, it is re-
ported
In their trial at Fort Worth. Gerber
and Ward each drew sentences of ten
years and gave Norfleet information
that was valuable in assisting him to
capture Furey.
Tia Juana, Lower California. was
Norfleet's next stopping place. Furey
had just left town. The ranchers
mission was known, however, and
every obstacle possible set in his path
by criminals who knew of the gangs
operations -and wanted to protect
them. He saved his own life by re-
fuSing what was ostenSibly to be
pleasure trip on a yacht. He needed
his wife's parting admonition: Don't
let them get behind your back, Frank
and III not worry about you"
Minneapolis. Mimi, was the next
town visited by Norfleet and his SON
Then Chicago, Joliet, Des MoiRes,
Kansas City, Topeka, Oklahoma. q y
Back across to California again u !
the trail-San Bernardino, Los An
Eeles and San Francisco. Then it
doubled back to Hot Springs, Mobile,
Birmingham, Atlanta. Tampa and
Miami. Fla.
Saw Him in Jacksonville.
Then came jacksonville. Seated in
cafe one day Norfleet looked across
seated
at table. In moment his gun was
out and the swindler's hands were in
the air OStensibly prosperous
business man, Furey was outraged at
the proceeding. Sentiment was. ali
against the rancher. He was a ttftsirad
by the crowd. one man Selling his
arms SO that he could not use his gun
But Pete came to the rescue and
striking right and left in the melee
cleared a path to his fathers side
a nrrTn
stand the situation, Norfleet and Pete
took Furey to Jail.
Hiring a motor car they started
with him to an adjoining town. They
We're oYertaken by a gang of the graft
er's pals in another car and a thrill
ing race followed, during which sew
eral shots were exchanged. Once
turey tried to wreck the car by leap
Ing upon the chauffeur's back but
Norfleet knocked him unconscious
with the butt of his revolver. At la ST
the rancher succeeded to Shaking
ms pursuers and escaped with Furev
INTO a swamp. Here the confidence
man promised Norfleet that IL he
would let him go he would give him
pack every cent that the gang had
taken from him. He urged that Pete
De sent to certain place with a note.
ana mat he would be given the money
IN take you up on that said
NortIeet GO ahead. Pete. Furey.
you SIT down on that stump"
F'urey sat down and felt the cold
muzzle of Norfleet's. revolver against
his backbone.
TN take you up. Furey," he re-
peated. but remember, if the bow
ISM BACK here when the sun goes
down. your lights go out" And the
knew he meant it.
Furey Grew Uneasy.
The sun was already halfway. be-
tween the zenith and the horizon. The
Afternoon wore on. Slowly the sun
sank toward a fringe OF trees. Nor
fleets gun never varied from it'spo-
sition. Both men strained their ears
as the minutes went by for q some
sound Of a motor car that would her
aid Pete's return. But no sound came
Lower sank the SIN. Furey grew un-
easy. Anxiety was written in his face.