The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-09-01
Norfleet Helps to
Arrest Thmty-Three
Crooks in Denver

J. Frank Norfloct. of Halo Gene
tcr was motorod over to Lubbock
bv Chnrlty Smith. garage man or
Titrofold Wcdne dav Uho eol1n
ferred his asrriccs tn the noted man
hunter just 90 hear h.m talk of his
T exciting ventures .n fne r1ld or aa
crook. whose capture be- effected
after f1rty-eight hour ot nerve
rnekng experience. Nerve racfrg
T ovuor.erees A. not Indicate n amy
nieans that N0~fieefs nerves wore
effected .n the least. Tor nc mas
proven to the whole United state
.Fat ha nerves are of dhmen'
kind. huf we mean Iu chat ateu'Ht
that to the ordinary man .he or-
-cr.onces would have h'e1 fnODar-
F able
The writer was ahlr to push thrl
crowd who bad surrounded Nor
rrrf ODD tho ereet' here shortly after
hI. arrival n the city. and we are
sure thar fr0m bis account OF tn'
story tense moments bad been eH-
prrier ed throughout lfo ordeal
Ha would dart from one crowd
here only ln time 90 be surrounded
again hy his admirers men who
have known him Tor many years,
eagerly clamoring Tor news Of his
Gvneriences, and their pen stent re-
quests % "Aw, e. on Frank. tell
us about il. made his getting away
from the streets before the story
had been related several times, I'M
possible
The following extracts from the
Dallas News gives the story In de-
tail. as we were unable 90 get an
accurate report from Mr. Norfleet
on account of his being so over
whelmed by his many friends Who
were giad 20 greet him 90 Lubbock.
The Amarillo News story is as
follows
j Frank Norflert of Hale Gem
Ter former sheriff of Hale county,
was n Amarillo Yesterday after haY-
ing gone through one Of the most
hrilling experiences u his ltie ln
Denver a few day ngo. He was
locked up with band Of crooks
Cor three nights and two days and
asa not dare Ia sleep for fear his
fe would be taken
a short time ago Mr Nnrflcei lclt
his home for Denver to see parties
about trading his ranch he stopped
~ n Colorado spr.ngs on his way
fo Denver ard while in the former
nlneo be- learned nat efforts were
being made TO get evidence on e
gang n stock gamblers IN Denver
After dispensing Of his business in
Denver, he went % Phillip Van Cise,
district attorney. August IS. and
learned Of tro lbles that officers mad
in getting evidence on the crooks.
In the meantime. Norfloet had hopes
II finding Charles c. Harris, alias
W. ID. Spencer. the last of the gang
that neeced him out Of $4,000 a
few wears ago and who has not yet
been captured.
Norn.et has been noted all over
the country for the manner in which
he has captured thieves. He does
not follow ont the Pinkcrton of the
rules according 90 HOyie,' 10 j.
aaid. but he gets results. District
Attorney Van Cise told sorfleet
that nc wanted evidence that would
obtain convictions and NOrileet voi-
unteered his services.
Getting in with the gang, NOrfieet
went 10 their headquarters with the
obvious intention Of playing the
game. He declared that he was
from Ellis county and that he want
( ed 10 sell his farm. When he was
with the crooks he talked only of
cotton and boil weeyil and little
did not think that he was the
famous N0rfleet Of the Panhandle.
Norffeet went TO the headquarters
Of the crooked stock gamblers at a
hotes. Entrance was through the
lobby Of a theater that was closed
during the summer. Norfleet gam
hled and won $4,000. according 20
the houses records. This money
was then used 10 purchase 100000
worth of credit. Then, the gambling
game continued and Norfleet was
declared winner by 100000. The
Sl0O, 900 credit was deducted and
Norfieet was supposed 10 have pro
fits 0f more than 100000.
But 10 get his winnings and be-
cause he was unknown, Norfleet
was expected to put up $4,000. In
the meantime. he was going through
the rusc Of attempting 10 get the
cash. lie was IN a room with the
men for several days waiting 10 get
the money. For three nights and
Two days ne stayed awake for fear
that he would be Killed or injured.
Ne threw cigarette iuhafeo Ia hls
eyes ln keep awake ho talked With
Iho other persons sn that they would
ho worn nul Goo n ease ~ wont 90
.lron. Nofllfei also knou hat 4
hf we're a. hIInn ln ihf laah h.
uau|d surely b. klled - ~ Eang
III h|E nHn .uai, NnIIINNi 81
aori b. ne llaI|lI attorney ~ ne