The New York herald., 1922-02-17
BUNCO GANG MAKES
HAUL OF $1,500,OOO
IN FLORIDA RESORTS
Dupes, Following the Ar
rest of 10 Operators, Ad-
nit Immense Losses.
STATE IS UP IN ARMS
Murder of Leader Follows a
Quarrel Over a Division
of the Plunder.
STATE IS UP IN ARMS

Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Feb. 16.-Tour-
lists to TIE Florida resorts have been
fleeced out of s1,500,o0O by confidence
men SO far this season. Losses of
this amount have been admitted by
victims at preliminary hearings fol-
lowing the arrest of nineteen men
here as bunco steerers and wire tap
pers.
The largest haul so far reported Is
that admitted by Morris Heller OF
Newark, N. j., who was fieeced of $751;
600, his life savings, last week at st
Augustine by the old game which
should be well known.
The season for the confidence men
closed last year with the murder of
one Of their number, Claude Willard
Powell. known over the country as
the "Waco Kid" 1t was ushered in
this year with the Staying of Roxie
Casoletto another Of the gang. Both
were victims of the avariciousness OF
their "pals" or Of deep seated grudges
The Waco Kid fell dead with six
bullets through his body fired while
lie was seated in the dining room of
crowded ST. Augustine hotel. Caso-
Ietto's body Avas discovered in an Or
lando hotel room after the firing Of
three shots, which aroused guests.
The slayers have never been caught.
Before the tourist season set in Gov
Cary A. Hardee sent a special mes
sage to the Sheriff of each county call
ing on them to exert their strongest
efforts to keep Florida clear of the
bunco men, gangsters and automobile
thieves who migrate there each year
But they have got In and now the fight
Is on to root them out.
Defense Golfers Full.
A strongly knit organization backed
by seemingly unlimited capital. how
ever. is proving its worth to the "bunco
.steerers" Despite a law drafted es-
pecialy to cope with them and passed by
the Florida Legislature last spring,
highly priced lawyers employed by the
underworld syndicate seem able to cir
cumvent the statutes and obtain the re-
lease of their clients on bail which 1t
is evident cannot be made prohibitive.
The Florida Governor has started his
drive rather late. however, for with the
arrests of alleged wire tappers at Fort
Lauderdale and at Jacksonville during
the last three weeks wealthy tourists
fleeced during the present season have
for the first time admitted that they were
suckers" Flocks of visitors at prelim-
mary hearings have disclosed the huge
loss told of above; and what Is more.
additional victims are coming to the
front daily because OF the publicity be-
ing given to the work of the authorities.
The killing of Casoletto and the inn
munity so far enjoyed by the assassin
bring up another reason for the sue
cess of the operations of the criminal
syndicate. Small town officials or
county officers in many cases are in the
pay of the confidence men. Owners of
houses rented for the luxurious clubs or
Stores" as they are professionally
known, which are sprinkled among the
coast resorts are in many instances
willing to let to the bunco men because
Of the exorbitant rentals they are able
to extract. These facts are difficult to
prove but are nevertheless widely
known and form an almost insurmount-
able obstacle to the clearing Of the State
of wire tappers.
Federal Agents Busy.
To return to the murder of Casoletto
at Orlando in November, Its preparation
brought to light that postal inspectors
were making great efforts to break up
the gangs. In Casolctto's room was
found a circular sent from Atlanta by
Inspector p. N Graham to the banks
of Florida, asking their assistance in
preventing the confidence men from Sc
curing money by checks and drafts.
This letter was strictly confidential 1t
was not to be let out of the hands OF
r the bank officials. 1t was found In Caso-
letto's room. The inference Is obvious.
There is a banker used to handling the
banking business of the syndicate and
to keep the "fall money" OF the gang.
This is the fund used to bail out the
men when arrested. to get them away
so that they will never come to trial.
&c pay lawyers. &c.
Recently Inspector Graham sent out
another letter which was made public.
1t called on the citizens of Florida to
aid in the fight. 1t follows:
"A challenge and an appeal to the
conscience OF the citizens OF Orlando
Must wirotappers and confidence men
be tolerated In your city? Last year
they swindled your visitors out of over
10000, despite the employment OF spe-
cial detectives by the city TO prevent
such losses. Do you want them to re-
peat their operations this winter and re-
fleet discredit on the fair name OF
your attractive city?
rs there any reason why your city
and county officers cannot stop this
miserable business. which causes mind
wrecks. and suicide OF old persons
stripped of their life savings? Do you
want TO know why they murdered their
Confined on Page Seven.