The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-05-08
MURDER PART OF GAME
Bankers and Business Men
Among the Victims Lured
From Many States.
Raid Reveals Bogus Brokerage
0ffice-P0lice Officials Ac-
cused in Inquiry.

Special Despatch to TIM Nsw yosx HrsALD.
ATLANTA, Ca, May THAT = dupc
IL born every minute and that no
scheme Is 80 fantastic that it does not
md some one-hard headed business
men in many cases-to fall for II, has
been proved to the satisfaction Of
everybody in Atlanta through revela-
tons made during the four weeks
hearing by council committee OF the
activities here OF million dollar
bunco gang, who operated. it is
charged, either with the connivance or
through tho colossal ignorance of the
police department.
The hearing also has proved that no
section or locality Is exempt from its
crop Of dupeA Men with money to con-
tribute to the support Of the gang that
operated in Atlanta have come to this
city to be heeced from Reading and Phil
sdelphia, from Maryland. Mississippi
Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida.
Ohio, Indiana and Texas Indeed, Texas
was very good to the Atlanta seekers
for easy money. Especially was one
w. r. Manning. q dapper young man Of
Dallas. Texas. kindly disposed to the
con men.
And it has been shown that when
money Is at stake even murder Is not
too high price to pay in order to
keep 1t and retain liberty. Here Is the
death roll OF Atlantas bunco gang:
DR.. Blanchard, son of former Cover
nor of Louisiana, who committed suicide
in Memphis after losing his roll.
w. c. Dukes. banker OF Milan. Ga,
who came to Atlanta to confer with the
gang on an easy money proposal and
mysteriously disappeared.
Ed Mills, member OF the gang, room
mate OF Floyd p. Woodward. alleged
leader. who was shot and killed by
Woodward because, 1t Is alleged, Mills
was tipping the police Off to tho opera
lions of the gang.
Charles Dorsey, taxicab driver, who.
It Is said. knew too much about tho
Mills killing.
Ruth Gobel. another witness, was dis
posed of when Woodward married her.
Left Their Rosy Hopes Behind.
Here is partial list Of the men who
came TO Atlanta with roseate hopes and
who lsft--if they wero able to get
away--heartbroken and pockets empty
w. D. Hill, an aged Confederate vet
erarl, former ordinary OF his county at
Gainesville, Ca, who lost about $4,000.
J. A. Nations Of Asworth. Ga, who
lost $500 at the Cecil Hotel here In a
game that was framed by Mark Tillery.
recently captured In Texas, brought
back to Atlanta and turned over to So
licitor John A. Boykin. Tlllery was re-
nf 20 local q a time.
w. r. Manning, from Dallas. Tex,
lost $1,000.
George w. Wiley OF whitehall. Va,
lost $4,000.
d. r. and w. M. Bland of Drew. Miss,
who contributed $4,000 to the game.
M. E. Iolley OF Aiken, s. c.. lost SILL
900 and would have lose moro had he
been able - get checks cashed. but q
banker friend. tipped him off Just in time
to keep him from losing $4,000 more.
This was a stock deal, in which his sup
posed winnings had run up In the hum
dred thousands.
c. ]. Madeira OF Reading, Pa, who
lost 327,5c0, at one time had a big APP
parent whining, but in the end the pa
per profit disappeared and he went back
to Pennsylvania sadder but maybe
wiser. In this deal one OF Atlanta's
best known citizens aided the operating
gang.
Atlanta from Indiana, lost his money
and is still here. His story was one OF
the many already told during the four
weeks Of investiga don 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 get checks
oashed for approximately 100000, but
ell the gang got him for was $4,000.
Chicago Man Involved.
There IL the case Of Albert II. Thomp-
son of Chicago. Thompson is being
sought en- a larceny charge and II is
rnourht Ina. me Is in Cuba Solicitor
John Boykin refuses to dlvulge for the
present the details.
Thompson's Indictment was sur
prise, for his wife was known to be
wealthy. The Thompsons have a fine
home In Ashcvillc.
Moro than ono hundred Indictments
have been returned. In fact. every day
or so wv when tia Grand Jury has
nothing to do. somebody says Lots
indict Floyd" and there are always suf-
ficicnt cases ready 10 let the jury have
It's little joke.
Tho Solicitor has chasged and so have
tho Grand Jurics that this bunco sittua-
ton was due either to the connivance
or to the total inefficiency OF the police
ara detective departments. AS a re-
suit there hrc probably one hundred
more sealed indictments ready to be
used at q moments notice. Apparently
tl,ere 10 good reason for tho belief that
eeyAral city officials and a number OF
officers are among those who have been
indicted.
The situation was FIRST called TO the
attention of the public when John Boy
kin, solicitor, made an address at a
forum luncheon OF Chamber of Conn
marce members. He charged that the
situation was known to such men as AL
fine Chambers. formerly head Of the
Police Board Councilman Al Mar - who
was member of the Police BoaS0 by
virtue OF being chairman of council po-
lice committee; Chief A. Lamar Poole of
the detective department.; Iieuts. Bob
waggonsr ana Shaw, and others.
Finally there was demand In coun-
ell for an investigation and Mr. Boylsin
rgreed to appear before this body. A
mass meeting OF 1000 Atlanta citizens
was held and money was raised TO prose-
cute the solicitors charges. Eugene r.
Black, one of the city's beet lawyers. was
engaged to represent Mr.. Boykn.
TWO Police Chiefs In Clash.
That investigation Is now proceeding
II has developed that the Chief OF
pos1os and the detective chief have