Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-06
RICHARDS, JR.,
PUT UP FUNDS,
WITNESS Says
Ramsey, Jr., Tells of
Bet And Imposter
Taking Fund From
Slain Stake Holder

DALLAS. Tex. Feb. 6.--CFD-A. "a.
Crabb. alias Clyde X. Vest. the nys-
terry man in the Mathews election
bet here last September. took the
stand today and testified that Ben
Richards. Jr., prominent business
man on trial for forgery in connec-
tion with the election bet, had paid
him to collect the bet on the strength
Of forged credentials.
Yesterday w. Taylor Ramsey, Jr..
of Belton had testified that he ard
" Ray Adams of Bartlett had bet
$1,000 on Tom ConnaIIy IN the re-
cent senatorial primary which Con-
nally won. Richards, he said, COW
cred the bet, and Orvilla Mathews, ~
banker held the stakes.
When Adams attempted 10 collect
the bet after Connally's victory he
learned that a man purporting to be
Clyde II. Vest Of Waco had collected
the money on the strength Of tele-
grams and n letter purporting to
come from Ramsey. Adams shot
Mathews to death on n busy street
corner here last September in an
argument over the matter.
Offered sI0o
Today Crabb testified that Rich
ards had offered him $500 and per-
haps $500" for collecting the stake.
Richards. he said, suggested that he
use the name Clyde R. Vest and had
him practice writing IL.
At Richards dictation, Crnbb said,
he wrote N telegram 20 Richards,
signed with Ramsey's name notify
ing Richards that Clyde R. Vest
would collect the money and that
Vest would have letter Of authority.
Richards himself then wrote n tel
egram 70 Mathews, the witness said.
signing Ramsey's name. The gist OF
the telegram was that Vest was to
collect the $1,000 upon presentation
Of a letter Of authority.
The witnes testified that he took
these kilograms, with the letter or
authority which he said Richards
gave him, to Waco and sent the tel
egrams from that city.
Richards ~Got Money
Crabb said he borrowed notary'K
seal in Waco and stamped the letter
Of authority. He then returned to
Dallas he testified where he collected
the money after Richards had pro-
vided him with an Odd Fellows card
and a Klan card. After some discus
sion at the bank. he continued. IN
which Richards eouched for him an
Clyde ". Vest. he signed the checks,
Richards endorsed them, and Math-
ews signed them. The money was
then paid.
In all OF this time, according "a
Crabb, he did not know that the
money was the stakte i'm a bet.
IL knew there was something
wrong" he said, "but I needed the
money was the stake I'm a bet.
Richards, he said, paid him 500
for his part I'm the deal, later gave
him $50 and told him he had better
take trip and still later helped him
with o repair bill on his car.
Learns or Bet
The Staying Of Mathews gave
Crabb his first inkiinR OF the nature
or the deal he had participated IN.
he said. After the Staying he met
Richards by appointment and aecr I'd
ing 10 his testimony the following
conversation ensued:
Now. Ben. zee what you have
done"
~Yes, IL In mighty bad" Richards
replied, "but II makes II that much
better for U.S.
On the final day or the Adams
trial for Mathews death, Crabb said
Richards, after getting him drunk
took him 70 hotel room, had him
write notes absolving Richards from
blame. The letter. offered in evil
dence, was addressed Go Andrew
Priest, assistant district attorney.
and was signed A. A. Crabb. he
sought 20 show that Mathews had
gotten the money and contained the
phrase:
You know after NIL have been N
fairly good fellow, but let Mathews
| work me, and I am sure sorry, but n
guess it is too late to he sorry now.
Old friend here IL telling you good
bye and good luck to you
This letter. Crabb said was dfctnt-
ed BY Richards and mailed from the
office Of Alex Pope. "a prominent nt-
torney.