The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-06-02
Bunco Ring
Mem bers
Sentenced
Eleven Men Convicted at Dem
ver Get 7 to 10 Years and
Remaining Eight Receive
3 to 10 Years Each.
90 Days to Appeal Case
BY Associated Press.

tentlafy Walls ana long sentences
loom through the bars of the county
Jail tonight for 10 members of Den
ver's so-called million. dollar bunco
ring who were sentenced this after
nocn by District Judge George F
Dunklee in West Side court, after he
had denied them "a new trial.
Eleven Of the alleged "bunco men.
including Lou Blonger said to be the
brains" of the band, were sentenced
to serve seven to 10 years each on
two counts charging conspiracy, anf
seeven to- 10 years each on third
conspiracy count the sentences to run
concurrently. The remaining eight
were sentenced to three to 10 years
on two counts and another three to
10 years on the third count. Their
sentences also will run concurrently
Those who We're sentenced to from
seven to 10 years We're Blonger; A. w.
Duff. who was known as the first
lieutenant" of the confidence ring;
Jack French, who has wealthy rela-
tives in Cleveland A. B. Cooper, Lit
tie Rock, Ark. George Tip Beleher;
Thomas Beech; Steve j. Olesen; A. Fl.
Potts; Robert c. Davis; Walter By
land and Louis Mushnick.
Three to 10 Years.
The three to 10-year terms were
imposed upon Jack Hardaway, John
Allison and William Dougherty. for
whom the jury in the case recon-
mended special clemency, and on J.
Fl. Foster. William Straub. George
Walker. G. H. Williams and G. c.
Bailey.
In overruling the defendants mo-
ton for a new trial. Judge Dunklee
defended the prerogative In the court
in allowing the jurors their. freedom
while the case was in progress. which
was objected TO by the defense after
the verdict had been returned and
cited as an error of the court in the
motion for new trial.
-. Each of the convicted men learned
sfiis fate with the same sangfroid that
characterized his allied defendants as
a member of the bunko ring. The
silence of the courtroom was broken
only by the voice of Judge Dunklee
as. he sentenced them one by one.
WIVES SWttlitdllS anu OLItl lfi-
atives. inconspicously scattered
among the spectators. wept in silence.
One woman, whose identity was not
revealed. clenched her hands and
braced herself in her seat as the court
pronounced sentence upon the first
man-Allison. She wore wedding
ring. After court recessed she drove
away in a big touring car.
The only attempt at a demonstra-
ton was when Judge Dunklee fin
ished reading his decision overruling
the motion for new trial Some
one started to applaud but was cut
short by cries of "sh,' and to the
sharp rap of the bailiff's gavel.
Judge Dunklee allowed the con-
victfd men so days in which to pre-
pare their appeals TO the supreme
court. They are to be held in the
county Jail pending final disposal of
the case.
One Declared Insane.
Grove Sullivan. convicted with the
others last March. was not sentenced.
DR.. ID. f. Phillips. appointed by the
court to investigate Sullvan's mental
condition, yesterday reported TO the
court that Sullivan was insane. IL is
probable Sullivan will be given jury
trial to determine whether or not he
will go to an insane asylum. The
20 defendants were convicted on three
counts, charging conspiracy. con.
spiracy to commit confide.sce gaming.
and conspiracy to commit grand lar
-ceny
Under the law. Judge Dunklee
could have imposed sentneces ranging
from one to 10 years in the peniten
,tiary.
Widespread Attention.
The prosecution OF the bunco
men attracted widespread attention
throughout the country. The case
began last summer when Phillip Van.
Cise, district attorney. aided by Colo
rado state rangers and scores Of Den.
yer. citizens, sworn in as deputies,
swept down on the haunts OF the con
)ieence men and rounded up the al
legged members of the band in raids
that lasted all one night and part of
the next day.
The 20 defendants were found
guilty on March 2s. last. after the
jury had been out more than 100
hours, having taken $50 ballots. The
trial, lasting two months. was called
the most important in the legal his
troy Of Colorado"
Victims OF the band came to Den.
yer from different parts of the coun.
try and testified to having lost from
$1,000 to $54,7S7 each. One Of the
witnesses came here from England
to tell Of how he contributed $4,000
to the confidence men. Many other
victims did not come here for the
trial.
Len Reamey. formerly a member OF
the confidence mems organization
turned states eviderlss Much credit
for trailing and trapping the con
fidence men was given by District
Attorney yanCise to J. Frank Nor
feet OF Hale Center, Tex. Norfleet
previously a victim Of the confidence
snen. spent two years in trailing the
leaders, finally locating them In Den
yer.