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September 14, 1908

BEER IN AN ICE CREAM STORE.

Boys Were Drinking It and Police

Arrested the Proprietor.

A letter sent to the chief of police yesteday morning was responsible for the arrest of John Swartz, 209 Independence avenue, a dealer in ice cream on week days. The letter said that there was gambling and selling of liquor going on in the place every Sunday, and that it was a breeding place for vice and crime in the youths of the neighborhood.

Patrolmen E. L. Martin and W. G. Cox, in plain clothes, were dispatched to the place by Captain Walter Whitsett late yesterday afternoon. When the officers raided the place they found seven boys in the store. Some of them were engaged in playing cards and all of the young men were drinking beer. The police confiscated a case of beer and two quarts of whisky. Swartz was held and the witnesses were told to be in police court this morning.

Labels: alcohol, Captain Whitsett, children, gambling, police

September 8, 1908

ANDERSON FORFEITED BOND.

City Is Richer by $147 Through His

"Friendly" Game of Poker.

When the name of John W. Smith, with six others just as fictitious, was called in police court yesterday morning, there was no response from any of them. The "John W. Smith" was none other than the much favored Charles W. Anderson, whose name, until changed by the courts after his return from prison, July 19, 1907, was William January.

Anderson, on paper as "Smith," forfeited a bond of $51 by his non-appearance, and the six others forfeited bonds of $16 each. It all came about through their arrest Saturday night while engaged in a "friendly" poker game in a room at 722 East Twelfth street. Detectives, who were armed with a warrant, broke through two doors after they had been refused admission. A regulation leather covered round poker table and a lot of cards and chips were confiscated.

In an interview Sunday, Anderson said that he was not a professional gambler, was not the proprietor of the game, and that it was only a "little game among friends." He did not say who did act as gamekeeper.

Labels: detectives, gambling, police court, Twelfth street

September 6, 1908

C. W. ANDERSON ARRESTED

IN RAID ON POKER GAME.

In His Behalf 20,000 Kansas City

-ans Once Petitioned President.

Was Pardoned From Prison.

It was 9 o'clock sharp last night when Charles Ryan, inspector of detectives, called in his men -- twenty of them -- and ordered them to go out and look for poker games, which the late grand jurors charged a week ago were operating unmolested by the police.

The twenty men went. It was nearly 11 o'clock before they had any luck. Then what they ran upon was really startling. Detectives Robert Phelna, Eugene Sullivan, J. L. Ghent and "Lum" Wilson made their way to 722 East Twelfth street. As they neared the number they said a "lookout" ran up the steps and gave the alarm. Being armed with a warrant the two doors were broken open and Detective Ghent was especially surprised.

There in the midst of six other men stood Charles W. Anderson, alias William January, for whom only a short year ago 20,000 people of this city and vicinity had petitioned President Roosevelt for his release from the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kas. And the petition gained his release, too. That was on July 19, 1907.

Last year, Benjamin T. Barnes, 2345 Southwest boulevard, a harnessmaker and former convict, wrote to Warden William McClaughry that William January, who had escaped from the prison nine years before, was living here under the name of Charles W. Anderson. The arrest followed, and when it was found that January -- for that was his name then -- had been living an exemplary life during his nine years of freedom, and that he had married and had a sweet 3-year-old baby girl, the whole of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas was aroused. His arrest took place on April 20, 1907, and he was taken to prison the next day. When President Roosevelt received the petition containing 20,000 names, with the information that as many more could easily be added, he set July 19 as the day when William January, then living at 1117 Holmes street, should be free.

When January came out he applied to the courts and soon had his name changed to Charles W. Anderson, as that was the name he assumed when he escaped from prison. Every hand in Kansas City was outstretched to aid the long-suffering man just out of stripes. He chose to open a restaurant on East Twelfth street, however, after being interested in a pool hall.

Last night when the detectives followed the lookout to the second floor, after breaking in two doors they got Anderson and six other men. They also got a round table, cards and chips. At the station no one would admit that he was gamekeeper. Sergeant Patrick Clark said: "Then I will hold you all under $51 cash bond each until I find out who was running this place."

The men were lined up to give their names. Anderson gave the name of John W. Smith just as a young player in answer to a question said, "Me? Oh, I got my chips from Anderson there."

Anderson was then informed that his bond would be $51 and the others $16 each. The former gave his at once and, after a short talk, with the men, who were consigned to the holdover, made his exit.

The game at 722 East Twelfth street was the only one bothered by the police last night. It is said that there are others.

Labels: Charles Anderson, detectives, gambling, Leavenworth, President Roosevelt, prison, Southwest boulevard, Twelfth street

August 30, 1908

MRS. D. B. KIRK JR.

WRECKS POOL HALL

HER FATHER-IN-LAW IS FORE-

MAN OF GRAND JURY.

CATCHES HUSBAND GAMBLING

THROWS BALLS THROUGH MIR-

RORS AND WINDOWS.

David B. Kirk, Sr., Captures Cards

and Chips, and She Sweeps Up

$5 Bill -- All Held as Evidence.

Wondering what attraction her husband found to keep him down town until the wee small hours of the morning, Mrs. David Kirk, Jr., 3120 Euclid avenue, daughter-in-law of David B. Kirk, foreman of the grand jury, started an investigation which culminated last Thursday night in her wrecking a pool hall located at 715 Central street after she discovered her husband in a rear room playing poker.

For some time Mrs. Kirk had been disturbed in mind because her husband had begun to keep late hours and could not give to her any satisfactory reasons for his so doing. A week ago five men were arrested by Detectives Robert Phelan and Scott Godley, who charged them with gambling. In some mysterious way Mrs. Kirk heard that her husband was one of the men, as did also his father in law, David B. Kirk, foreman of the grand jury. When taxed with being arrested Kirk, Jr., denied it to his wife, and she asked the assistance of her father-in-law.

The son was called into the father's office and denied that he had been arrested, but admitted that a friend had been caught gambling in a raid that detectives made on the pool hall and that he had gone to the station and deposited $17 bond for his friend.

David B. Kirk, 3217 Montgall avenue, foreman of the grand jury, was at his desk in his office in the M. K. & T. building about 7 o'clock last evening when he received a telephone call from his daughter-in-law. She said that her husband was not at home and that she was worried about him. She finally left her home, 3120 Euclid avenue, and went to Mr. Kirk's office. He talked to her and endeavored to pacify her and then they started home. She suggested that they stroll down to the suspected pool hall and see if David, Jr., was there. Mr. Kirk said last night that the pool hall was brilliantly lighted, the billiard balls racked, but the room was empty.

SHE CAUGHT THEM AT IT.

Mrs. Kirk refused to be satisfied. She opened the door and walked in. A door at one end of the room led to another beyond. The glass panels were painted white and it was impossible to see what was behind them. Mr. Kirk and his daughter-in-law could hear men's voices, the clicking of chips and the shuffling of cards. She knocked on the inside door as it was locked. A man partly opened it, probably expecting to see another poker player to join the crowd, and that act led to the wrecking of the hall later on.

Mr. Kirk succeeded in getting her foot between the door and the jamb, and, assisted by Mr. Kirk, Sr., she pushed the door open. Inside was her husband and four or five other men. They had attempted to conceal all evidence of the gambling that was going on in the room, but overlooked one $5 bill A man remarked that the money belonged to him, but was surprised as the rest when Mrs. Kirk picked up the bill and said he had evidently made a mistake. She placed the money in her chatelaine bag. Mr. Kirk got some poker chips and cards as evidence.

SHE SMASHES THINGS.

Fearing that the commotion would attract a crowd, Mr. Kirk took his son's wife and started to leave the building. As the two went through the pool hall Mrs. Kirk's anger arose beyond control, and the red and white ivory balls seemed to drive her frantic. Rushing to one of the tables she picked up the balls and began throwing them through the mirrors in the room. Exhausting the supply of balls on the first table she quickly gathered up those on the table next to it and finished all the mirrors in the hall.

Going from one table to another the now enraged woman scooped up the little ivories and pasted them through the plate glass windows and out into the street. After she had thrown every everything she could handle she consented to leave. Mr. Kirk, her father-in-law, says they went to Eighth street and endeavored to find a policeman, but not a sight of one they could catch. Down one block and up another street the two people walked, hunting, searching and looking for a minion of the law, but in vain.

TELL IT TO THE GRAND JURY.

Just as Mr. Kirk, Sr., was calling the grand jury into session Friday morning he was informed that there was an urgent telephone call for him. He answered it and, last night, he said that his son was at the other end of the wire. Young Kirk told his father that Charles W. Prince, owner of the pool hall, was in his office and desired to know what reparation he intended to make for the damage of furniture and building resulting from his wife's actions. The young man wanted his father to tell him what to do. "Mr. Prince wants to talk to you," said the son. The father stated last night that he answered by saying: "If Mr. Prince wants to talk to me, he'll have to do the talking before the grand jury. That was the last Kirk, Sr. heard of Prince. It is not likely that that will be the last Prince will hear of Kirk, Sr., or of the grand jury, either.

When asked what action would be taken by him, Mr. Kirk, Sr., stated that he had called the prosecuting attorney into the grand jury room and told the whole story, shielding no one, asking no mercy for anyone.

Asked if an indictment would be returned by the grand jury against anyone for either gambling or keeping a gambling house, Mr. Kirk stated that the prosecuting attorney had informed the grand jury that Mr. Kirk had not secured enough evidence against anyone to make a conviction in the criminal court. The money, the cards, the chips, the table with its green cloth and white covering were not sufficient evidence, the prosecuting attorney told them. According to Mr. Kirk, to secure a conviction the state would have to have witnesses who could testify that they had seen the men gambling.

David B. Kirk, Jr., is 32 years of age. He is a millers' agent.

Labels: billiards, Central street, detectives, Eighth street, Euclid avenue, gambling, grand jury, Montgall avenue, women

June 22, 1908

MINISTERS CALL ON BROWN.

Says He Expects to Go to Prison for

His Misdeeds.

Since his arrest last Friday night on a charge of issuing worthless checks the Rev. C. S. L. Brown has made his peace with his Diety and is now calmly awaiting the outcome of his trial. Last night Mr. Brown said he expected to receive a penitentiary sentence. He was arraigned Saturday afternoon before Justice Michael Ross and held under a bond of $750. He has made no attempt to secure his release, and said that he did not care to ask his friends for help. If it is possible Brown intends to keep his mother in ignorance of his trouble until he is a free man. He said last night that he did not want his child to see him until he was out of jail.

In the same cell with the minister is Antonio W. Martin, the young Italian adventurer, who has gained some notoriety by his recent escapades. The two men had figured out the amount owed by the minister on account of the worthless checks he had passed.

That the unfrocked pastor still has friends who are willing to stick by him was shown yesterday by the number of persons who called at the county jail to see him. Among the visitors were four Christian ministers. Mr. Brown said last night that since he had resigned from his charge at Lee's Summit six weeks ago he had spent his time in drinking and gambling, but that he had now mastered these passions and believed when he got out of jail he would go forth a stronger man. He wants a place where he can be busy and not have time to think about the allurements of gambling.

Labels: gambling, immigrants, jail, Lee's Summit, ministers

June 20, 1908

"WAY OF THE TRANS-

GRESSOR IS HARD."

Rev. Brown, Under Liquor, Is Ar-

rested. Says He Has Passed

Worthless Checks and Played

in Some Stiff Games.

"The way of the transgressor is hard." This was the text of a sermon preached by the Rev. C. S. L. Brown at the West Side Christian church, Twentieth street and Pennsylvania avenue, on Sunday night, October 7, 1906. His subject was "Lights and Shadows of Life, or Positive and Negative Teachings."

Since that memorable night when the Rev. Mr. Brown, who six years before had worked as a porter at the Hotel Baltimore, preached before a large congregation, many of whom were his personal friends, glad of his success, he has found out the hard truth of his text -- "The way of the transgressor is hard."

Last night the Rev. Mr. Brown was arrested at Sixth and Walnut streets by Patrolman Harry Arthur. He was locked up for investigation and spent the night in a cell at Central station. When arrested he was in the street. He had thrown away his hat, his coat was off and he had all but stripped the upper portion of his body of clothing.

It was the same Rev. Mr. Brown who a few months ago stood boldly before his congregation at Lee's Summit, Mo., and acknowledged that he had been gambling and drinking. He was drinking last night. When he occupied the pulpit of Rev. W. O. Thomas here in October, 1906, Rev. Mr. Brown then was pastor of a Christian church at Washington, Kas. His mother, a woman of wealth and culture, lives there now. His wife and four small children are with his mother. He is 30 years old.

The minister admitted last night he had been drinking and gambling in Kansas City almost ever since his downfall at Lee's Summit. He said he had passed about $60 worth of worthless checks. He could recall one for $12.50 on C. J. Mees, a saloonkeeper, Sixth and Walnut; one for $15 on James Riddle, saloon, Independence avenue and McGee street, and two at Lee's Summit.

"I can trace my downfall to the love of a woman," he said, with tears in his eyes. "Then the gamblers got hold of me here and what they have left you see now -- a wreck, beaten, down and out. I am willing to take my medicine like a man and serve my five or ten years, but before God I will not divulge the name of the woman. Her name must be protected, as I alone am to blame.

"When I got in my trouble and had to leave my church and Lee's Summit," he continued, "a minister friend down there went to my mother at Washington, Kas., and got $400 to square things. She told him he could have ten times that amount. With part of that I even paid gambling debts to men here who since have refused to give me 10 cents to buy a dish of chile.

"Gambling! Gambling!" he almost shrieked. "Is there much gambling here? Yes. I could lead you to some of the stiffest games you ever saw and they seem to be running with ease. Of course most of them are in hotels and hard to catch. Yes, I have been before the grand jury with it."

The Rev. Mr. Brown refused to divulge the names of the men who had "trimmed" him here. He said "Their time will come later. He said that he went through the Boer war in the service of England. Then he was a soldier of fortune.

"It was there I contracted the drinking and gambling habits," he admitted with bowed head. "I felt the craving for the old habits returning and battled with them as long as I could. At a weak moment, other troubles begetting me, I fell 'as the angels fell from Heaven to the blackest depths of Hell.' Since then the course has been down, down, down with an awful rush."

Labels: alcohol, Central station, churches, gambling, Independence avenue, Lee's Summit, McGee street, ministers, saloon, Sixth street, Walnut Street

April 9, 1908

PAYS PECULIAR ELECTION BET.

Youth Trundles Winner Around Ar-

mourdale in Wheelbarrow.

From 8 o'clock until noon yesterday a thin young man with nose glasses and a wearied look of regret, trundled a wheelbarrow in which another young man was sitting about the streets and byways of Armourdale. Starting at the Red Cross pharmacy the pair went south to Shawnee, east to St. Paul, north to Kansas avenue and west to Packard. There the youth with the glasses tilted the barrow over on its nose, unbent his back and mopped his brow with a handkerchief.

All this time not a word had been spoken by either party and many people passing on the walks thought they were fakers and dropped in behind to see what they were selling.

In this they were disappointed, however. The lonely occupant of the wheelbarrow said he was M. A. Gillespie of the Red Cross pharmacy, and that his propeller was Frank Bryant, a salesman at the Clanville furniture store at Armourdale.

"Just an election bet I won," said Gillespie. "I've got another bet, if there's any takers. That is, that I got the worst of this transaction. I've had my knees tucked under my chin so long I can't get them straightened out."

Bryant had made a bet with Gillespie that Timothy Lyons would not be re-elected to the city council.

Labels: Armourdale, druggists, gambling, politics, salesmen

April 9, 1908

WALKING WEST ON A WAGER.

If He Goes 3,000 Miles in Sixty Days

This Youth Gets $450.

To walk 3,000 miles cross-country from New York city to San Francisco in sixty days is the task which a young man, who arived in Kansas City last evening, says he is now in the midst of on a wager of $450. The continental pedestrian, Frank McAllister, figures the total distance by wagon roads and railroad tracks at 3,000 miles, and that he must cover fifty miles each day to win the purse He is now about three days behind on his schedule, he says.

McAllister said last evening that he had walked from Pleasant Hill, Mo., yesterday, a distance of thirty-five miles. He plans to walk toward Topeka, Kas., today on the Santa Fe tracks, but may remain here a day to rest. He says, if he stays here today, he can be found at the Y. M. C. A. club rooms.

Labels: gambling, Topeka, visitors, YMCA

April 8, 1908

CRITTENDEN WINS BY

LARGE MAJORITY.

MOST REMARKABLE DEMONSTRA-

TION EVER WITNESSED IN KAN-

SAS CITY TAKES PLACE WHEN

RESULT IS LEARNED.

KYLE RE-ELECTED

POLICE JUDGE.

BAEHR IS ALSO ELECTED

CITY TREASURER --

THE REST IS DEMOCRATIC

-- CRITTENDEN'S MAJORITY

1,320.

THE WINNING TICKET (Majorities).

Mayor -- Crittenden, D ..........................1,320
Police Judge -- Kyle, R ...........................2,213
Treasurer -- Baehr, R ............................1,220
Auditor -- Greene, D ..............................2,478
Attorney -- Langsdale, D .......................1,708
Upper House President, Gregory, D .....1,344

Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., Democrat, was elected mayor of Kansas City yesterday over Mayor Henry M. Beardsley, Republican, by 1,320 majority, with one precinct of the Twelfth ward missing. Harry G. Kyle, Republican, was re-elected police judge over Michael E. Casey, Democrat, and William J. Baehr, Republican, was elected city treasurer over Thomas S. Ridge, Democrat. Kyle's majority was 2,213.

The upper house Democratic ticket, with Robert L. Gregory president, elected three of its candidates, making that branch of the council still Republican. The lower house is overwhelmingly Democratic.

It was a big Democratic victory, and for the first time in four years the Democrats will be back in the city hall for a term of two years one week from next Monday.

While in the city ten days ago Attorney General Hadley warned his Republican friends that the issues advanced were false, and he quietly passed the word that if they were persisted in it could mean nothing but defeat. The result proves that Hadley was right.

Overcast clouds and intermittent showers ushered in the day. Despite the unfavorable aspect of the weather, voters were up and astir long before the break of day, and at 6 o'clock, when the polls opened, the voting places of the 164 precincts in the fourteen wards were besieged by long and patient lines of men awaiting the time and opportunity to cast their ballots.

The voting was rapid, the record in some precincts being one to the minute. Merchant, banker, professional man vied with the laborer to get to the ballot boxes.

SOME ARRESTS MADE.

In a majority of the precincts over half the total registration had been voted by noon, and from that time to the close of the polls at 7 o'clock the voting was by jerks and starts. It was stated in some of the precincts as early as 6 o'clock that all the votes that could be depended upon to be cast had been delivered, and this seemed true, for the judges, clerks and workers sat around idle.

Assertions of fraud were made during the early hours, and some arrests resulted It was charged that men had tendered money for votes, and that voters had accepted money. The early arrests of these offenders put a stop to any more such work so far as was observable, although at several times during the day Alderman Pendergast openly charged that Republicans were paying $3 a piece for negro votes in the First ward. Watchers sent into the ward by the Civic League said they had seen no vote-buying.

BUSINESS MEN REVOLT.

Up to noon the Republican headquarters felt sure of victory and the Democrats felt uneasy The first alarm was felt at 1111 Grand when the Republican precinct workers telephoned in that the noon hour vote of business men was against the Republican ticket. The excuse offered was that retail merchants were in a revolt against an evening newspaper.

The Democrats had not counted on this vote at all. As soon as they saw they were getting it they sent their runners into the stores after the clerks. With oodles of money to pay for carriages and automobiles to hurry them to their home wards, the Democrats found the store proprietors willing to let the men off to vote. It was a fully fledged rebellion in the Republican party.

As early as 4 o'clock it was announced at Democratic headquarters that the Democratic ticket was in the ascendancy. News came that Walter Dickey, Republican state chairman, had joined Mayor Beardsley in the Ninth ward, and with it came the news that negroes were beginning to vote the Republican ticket there. Dickey was understood to have wagered, for friends, about $18,000. One negro said he had been offered $8 for his vote. High as this was, $8 apiece for votes to save heavy bets would not be out of the way. There was Democratic money seen in the ward immediately. Twenty-four negroes voted the Democratic ticket straight at Fifteenth and Tracy. This looked like commercialism, but the retort was that the Republicans were at the same game. Governor Folk was hurried to the ward to see Democratic tickets voted by negroes. He expressed surprise.

There were only three fights reported at either headquarters, and both headquarters said they had heard of very little challenging. This presaged clear tally sheets, an early count and all judges signing.

ENTER CRITTENDEN, EXIT BEARDSLEY.

At 7 o'clock the mayor arrived at 1111 Grand, thinking he had squeezed through, but by 8 o'clock he admitted to a Journal man that "it looks blue." An hour later he conceded his defeat. This was while he sat in headquarters with a crowd taxing the capacity of the big hall.

Crittenden was sent for. He was not able to get to the Democratic headquarters until about 10 o'clock, just as Mayor Beardsley was leaving his own headquarters, a defeated man.

CROWDS FILL THE CITY.

The rival city chairmen, the rival candidates for mayor, the commissioners and governor Folk all admitted that there had been a reasonably fair election, marked by the absence of repeating and ruffianism. The most sensational spectacle at night was of Republicans going in squads to the Democratic headquarters to share in the demonstrations of victory. Full importance was given at the Republican headquarters to the weight the defeat will have on the Republican chances this fall, unless there is a new alignment and new issues found... while the Democrats claimed to see ahead far enough to make James A. Reed United States senator. Reed arrived at his headquarters about 10 o'clock. He was called on for a speech and made one from his automobile. He congratulated the entire party upon its success as an organization as a whole, but credited the enormous majority, by comparison, to the opposition of an evening newspaper. When afterwards Mr. Reed went past Eleventh and Grand on his triumphal tour, his car was halted and once more he was compelled to make a speech. He repeated what he had said at Democratic headquarters. From there he went to The Journal office, arriving just as two Democratic bands and processions met, one from Democratic headquarters, traveling from the west, and another form the Sixth ward, headed by the Italian band, coming from the east. The meeting was unexpected and most dramatic. From The Journal the crowd went back to Democratic headquarters and at midnight it was roving about the city.

Labels: Eleventh street, Fifteenth street, gambling, Governor Folk, Grand avenue, Herbert Hadley, James A. Reed, James Pendergast, Judge Kyle, Kansas City council, Mayor Beardsley, music, politics, Robert Lee Gregory, The Journal, Tracy avenue

April 7, 1908

BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY.

Chairman Taylor Predicts

2,000 for Beardsley, Ross

5,000 for Crittenden.

Election day weather prediction -- Cloudy, and possible showers.

Polls open at 6 a. m. and close at 7 p. m.

Predicted that 44,000 votes will be cast in the 164 voting precints of the city.

REPUBLICAN CLAIMS.

Beardsley and the entire general Republican ticket will be elected by over 2,000 majority. I have a complete poll of the city made by men experienced in such work. The majorities for Beardsley in that portion of the city south of the Belt line and east of Woodland will be surprisingly large. --Clyde Taylor, Chairman Republican City Central Committee.

DEMOCRATIC CLAIMS.

Crittenden will be elected by 5,000 majority and the whole Democratic ticket as well will be elected. We figure we will carry the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh, Thirteenth and Fourteenth wards. We concede the loss of the Tenth ward, but believe that Morris, Republican nominee for lower house alderman, will be beaten.

The sentiment for the election of Mr. Crittenden is growing hourly, and we predict his election y no less than 5,000 majority. -- Michael Ross, Chairman Democratic City Central Committee.

The foregoing is the forcasts of the chairman of the Republican and Demoratic city central committees on the outcome of today's municipal election. They are given for what they are worth. Laymen say the race between Beardsley and Crittenden for mayor is to be close, and politicians who have made a study of the conditions say likewise.

Betting men have been laying odds on Crittenden, but yesterday the prevailing odds of $100 to $80 on Crittenden were wiped out and the betting was even money. It was said about the pool rooms and places where men speculate on elections that it was the Democrats themselves who wiped out the odds after hearing that Republicans had large sums of money to wager, but the Republicans claimed that it was their oldness and willingness to bet that made the Democratic speculators withdraw the odds.

Nothing new or sensational was infused into the campaign yesterday. There was a delightful absense of the day before election roorbacks, and one of the most spectacular mud-slinging campaigns that Kansas City has seen in years had a rather peaceful close.

Polls will open at 6 o'clock this morning and close at 7 o'clock tonight, just thirteen hours of voting. Prophets on matters political are predicting that if the weather is fine 44,000 ballots will be cast, and that scratched votes will be an observable feature of the day.

Labels: gambling, Kansas City council, Mayor Beardsley, politics, weather

April 1, 1908

ELECTION WAGERS ARE SMALL.

Money Is Offered With Few Takers,

Pendergast's Odds.

Bets were being freely offered yesterday at even money as to the result for mayor and candidates on the main city ticket. The bulk of the cash seemed to be in the hands of the Crittenden supporters. Bets of $500 even on the Democratic nominee went begging, but smaller ones of $10, $20 and $50 were quickly called. A well known contractor visited the city hall, saying that he had $2,000 to bet on Crittenden in any sums convenient to Beardsley's supporters. After betting $50, the contractor ceased his bluffing, but promised to call again.

In a pool hall on Delaware street these bets were posted yesterday:

One hundred dollars, even, that Crittenden beats Beardsley.

Fifty dollars, even, Baehr, Republican, beats Ridge, Democrat for city treasurer.

One hundred dollars to 45 that Pendergast, Democrat, beats Rodman, Republican, for alderman of First ward.

Twenty-five dollars, even, Green, Republican, beats Hayes, Democrat, for alderman of Eighth ward.

Fifty dollars, even, that Woolf, Republican. beats beats Norton, Democrat, for alderman of Third ward.

Thirty dollars to $50 that Green beats Hayes.

Twenty-five dollars, even, that Kyle, Republican, beats Casey, Democrat, for police judge.

Labels: billiards, city hall, Delaware street, gambling, Mayor Beardsley, politics

January 31, 1908

HE ASSOCIATED WITH NEGROES.

Harry Hopkins Makes Out a Poor

Case Against His Comrades.

The negroes charged with throwing Harry Hopkins, 18 years old, over a twenty-foot embankment after assaulting and cutting him, at 919 Oak street, Nov. 16, were discharged yesterday by Justice Shoemaker. They were Dave Foster and Cleve Penn.

Hopkins worked under his father at the postoffice in the special delivery department. Foster, the negro, had also been employed at that work, and there was evidence that they had been very intimate, even spending nights together in the basement of the Keith and Perry Building, where special delivery boys gathered to gamble and drink.

The two boys, the afternoon of Nov 16, were locked in a room at 919 Oak street with two negro women where there was drinking and card playing. The evidence upon which the judge ordered a discharge was coroborated by five witnesses. It was that Cleve Penn, regular attendant of one of the girls, came from work in the barber shop in the Long Building, rapped, told who he was and Hopkins, evidently under the influence of liquor and fright, jumped through a window, ran around two houses and at full sped plunged into Oak street, twenty feet below. Here he was found by strangers, both wrists cut, his left ankle, right leg and right arm broken. He was treated at the Emergency hospital and taken to the German Hospital, where his life was several times despaired of.

Hopkin's testimony was that he had gone to the place to collect $2 from "Cyclone Dave" Foster, who, he asserted, ruled over a number of the special delivery boys, caling himself the "Invincible King." "Bull of the Mill," a professional pugilist, making them at times pay him money. "Cyclone Dave," however, had a witness to prove that Hopkins that morning got $2 of his money on a note sent to a tailor on Twelfth street. This, he said, was spent for candy and liquor for the girls.

Labels: alcohol, emergency hospital, gambling, German hospital, Judge Shoemaker, Oak street, post office, race, Twelfth street

December 21, 1907

POLICY FINES ARE $100 EACH.

Only Two of the Defendants Appeared

in Court.

After continuing their cases for one week to see why they could not be tried in the state court, Judge Kyle yesterday tried the four men found with a policy wheel and other gambling paraphernalia in the room of the former Police Judge T. B. McAuley, at 903 Broadway, about noon on December 12.

Only two of the defendants, Charles Morton and John Bell, appeared in court. J. R. Heath, attorney for the policy men, entered appearance for John Findlay, son of Edward Findlay, formerly known as the "policy king," who, when arrested, gave the name of "Bill Wilson," and Randall Daniels, an aged expressman.

The four men were fined $100 each. Their cases were all appealed to the criminal court. Edward Findlay was a spectator at the trial, but had nothing to say. None of the defendants was put on the stand.

Labels: Broadway, gambling, Judge Kyle, police court

December 15, 1907

ARRESTED AGAIN AS GAMBLERS.

Twice Within a Week the Police Raid

a Central Street Place.

For the second time within a week, a raid was made upon an alleged gambling resort at 715 Central street, by the police last night, when prisoners taken, card tables and poker chips confiscated when Sergeants McCosgrove and Ryan and seven patrolmen broke into the place last night they found brand new paraphernalia, including a "kitty," and the usual accessories of a poker game. Al Thompson, said to be a gamekeeper, G. H. Smith and R. T. Jones, frequenters, were taken to police headquarters. All these names are said to be fictitious. Thompson gave a cash bond of $51 and the others $11 each for appearance in police court in the morning.

Labels: Central street, gambling, police

November 25, 1907

CAUGHT IN POLICE RAID.

Gambling Paraphernalia Captured in

Eighteenth Street Raid.

In a raid upon an alleged gambling house over a saloon at 1412 East Eighteenth street, Police Sergeant Smith and Patrolmen Dyson, Dyer, Dorset and Couch captured four frequenters and paraphernalia. They raid was made early Sunday morning and, in addition to the customary appointments of a poker room, a goodly store of intoxicating liquors was also seized and confiscated.

When the police entered the room they found evidence that a prosperous poker game had just been in progress. William Rowlins said to be the game keeper, and four men found in the room were placed under arrest. A poker table, twelve bottles of beer,a quart of whisky, poker chips and playing cards which were found in the room were taken to headquarters police station. Rowling gave bond in the sum of $51. The others were released on small personal bonds.

Labels: Eighteenth street, gambling, police, police headquarters

November 6, 1907

FINED $50 FOR GAMBLING.

Man Says He Lost $110 in

Cigar Store Game.

On the testimony of David Wirchner of 705 Tracy avenue in police court yesterday morning, W. E. Jenkins, a cigar dealer at Eighth and Walnut streets, was fined $50 on a charge of gambling.

"I lost $110 in the store owned by Jenkins at 714 Walnut street," Wirchner said. "We were playing 'chuck-a-luck,' but some one else had the luck; I didn't. The way things looked to me I might as well have bet that I could jump off the top of a skyscraper and escape uninjured."

Wirchner has also placed the case before the grand jury. An appeal was taken to the criminal court.

Labels: cigars, Eighth street, gambling, police court, Tracy avenue, Walnut Street

September 7, 1907

OVER 30-FOOT EMBANKMENT.

Negro Crap Shooter's Desperate Leap

to Escape Arrest.

"Jigger for the bull."

That was the warning in North end parlance that a negro sounded when Patrolman Eads came upon a crap game back of the Institutional church, Admiral boulevard and Holmes street, last night. It meant, "Run, a policeman is coming." Behind Eads was Patrolman Phillips.

"Oh, jigger for two bulls," was the second exclamation, and a half dozen negroes "jiggered."

Back of the church is an embankment supported by a wall thirty feet high. One negro jumped over this wall and landed on the roof of a coal house.

"From the noises made, I thought every bone in his body was broken," Eads said, "but I guess I was mistaken. I could see him from the top of the wall. I told him to consider himself under arrest. He climbed from the roof. He had scarcely touched the ground, when a bulldog seized his pants above the legs. The negro just simply ran away with that dog. He did not give him a chance to let go. The negro and the dog disappeared in the darkness. Now, I suppose there will be a stolen dog reported in the morning."

Labels: Admiral boulevard, gambling, Holmes street, Institutional church, North end, police

September 3, 1907

RAID HOTEL POKER GAME.

Police Say Ten Players Were Occu-

pied With Cards When Arrested.

An alleged poker game in room 505, Victoria hotel, was raided last night by Detectives Godley Phelan, Lyngar and McGraw. The detectives were equiped with a city warrant and walked in on the players when they were their busiest. Two cases of cards, boxes of chips, blank checks and other paraphernalia such as is to be found in a fully-equipped poker room were confiscated.

The gamekeeper and nine players were arrested and taken to the police station. W. M. Jones, alleged gamekeeper, was released on $26 bond and the players on bonds of $11.

Labels: detectives, gambling, hotels

June 26, 1907

SAFE HAD ONE RING IN IT.

Rumor of Edwards Having Bucketful

of Diamonds Wrong.

The widow of Sandy Edwards, the negro gambler who was killed by Leon Jordan, yesterday opened the safe in their house, which was rumored to contain a bucketful of diamonds and found only one diamond. This was one which Sandy had loaned a clerk $10 on some months ago. The safe contained little of value, but had a bulk of curiosities.

There were coins of all nations and ages, some as old as 1822. There was Confederate money and 25-cent "shin plasters." One-dollar American gold coins and gold coins from foreign lands were found in quantity.

Labels: gambling

May 2, 1907

BOARD GETS 'TIPS'

COMMISSIONERS LEARN OF

POLICE WORKINGS

DETECTIVES TELL OF A ROW

ANOTHER SAYS JOHN PRYOR

HAD HIM TRANSFERRED.

Hints That Crooks Were Protected and

That Officers Used Their Influence

in Having a Prisoner Released --

Witness Assaulted on Way Home

"Did not some detectives, on the pay roll of the city, come out to the race track and ask you to protect some pick-pockets, Mr. Hicks?" Police Commissioner A. E. Gallagher yesterday asked George Hicks during the hearing of the Kenney-Huntsman detectives' row.

"I refuse to answer," replied the witness.

"Why do you refuse to answer?" the police commissioner asked.

"I simply refuse at this time, anyhow."

Later on in the hearing Commissioner Gallagher again asked Hicks if he would tell who had asked him to protect crooks at the track. Hicks at the time being in the employ of a private detective agency. Again he declined, but said:

"I had been asked not to bother certain people."

"And did you leave them alone?"

"I did."

ASKED TO PROTECT TOUTS.

"Tell us who they were?" asked the commissioner. Pausing a moment, Hicks said nervously: "I will not tel you now. I will tell the commissioners privately if they like to hear. I will not name them today."

Still later in the inquiry, Commissioner Gallagher asked Hicks what class of people he had been asked to protect.

"Touts," he said, and when, in answer to further questions, he added: "Touts are 'good things.' They point out the jockeys who know the good things. They are good producers. They get the coin. They skin people. They induce strangers to bet on horses. They put only half the money on the horse and keep the half they do not bet, even if the horse loses. If they win, they get half the stakes."

In order to have everything possible before them prior to reaching a conclusion in the hearing, the commissioners withheld their verdict in the hearing until next week, the understanding being that Hicks is to be called to attend an executive session in order that the board may learn who it was asked him to protect rogues at the races and what rogues he protected.

STARTED IN A FIGHT.

Two weeks ago there was a personal encounter at police headquarters, in which, according to all the evidence given yesterday afternoon, George Hicks had privately sent for Detectives McNamara and Kenney and had told them that there was a man with $5,000 on him in the "red light district." McNamara turned the case over to Kenney. Kenney located the "roller" and saved his money for him. When Kenney and Huntsman, McNamara and a dozen other detectives were making up their reports the morning following the Hicks incident, Huntsman, who was paired with McNamara, taunted Kenney regarding his detective work. Hicks' name was called and Huntsman coupled it with an epithet.

"You did not call him that till you had got his wife's diamond earrings," Kenney says he said, but Huntsman swore that Kenney used the word "copped" instead of "got."

Huntsman called Kenney a liar and was hit over the head by Kenney's revolver. All agreed the blow was a light one. Huntsman had four witnesses to swear that he was seated at a table when struck. Kenney swore that Huntsman had risen and seemed to be in the act of drawing his own revolver. Inspector John Halpin ordered the men to write a full report of the affair and he sent it to Chief of Police John Hayes. The chief sent it to the board and a week ago yesterday the contending detectives, Huntsman and Kinney, appeared and offered to apologize.

Mayor Beardsley refused to let the matter drop there, declaring that he wanted to know about the diamond deal. Everybody was then cited for yesterday, and when the case was called the board room looked like the detective bureau.

ABOUT THOSE EARRINGS.

The first hour was spent going over the row in the headquarters, but at last Detective Huntsman told about the diamond earrings. He said that three years ago a police character named George Hicks had told him that he, Hicks, owned a pair of earrings which he had pawned to a man named DeJarnette, and added that DeJarnette was about to leave the city.

"He asked me," Detective Huntsman said, "to get the stones, as he would rather I would have them than let the other men have them. Some time before Hicks had been quarantined in a house and I had arranged to have meals sent to him. He was grateful, and I supposed that was why he was wiling to let me have the stones. I met DeJarnette and gave him $208, the amount he had loaned, for the stones. Before that I took them to Harry Carswell, a jeweller, to have them valued. He said they were worth about $225. I owned them three months and then sold them at a profit of $30. I never told Hicks I was making him a loan on them."

Officer Harry Arthur, who heard the negotiations between Huntsman and Hicks, supported this testimony. Kenney, who had started all the row, said he knew nothing about the details. "I never said Huntsman 'copped' the stones," Kenney protested., "I said he 'got' the stones, and so he admits."

This was all prosaic, but things brushed up considerably when George Hicks took the stand. He proved to be a sallow complexioned man of about 30 years, introduced by Detective Thomas McAnany as "a reformed pickpocket who lately has been working for a private detective agency watching crooks at the track sides." After saying that he was the proprietor of three rooming houses, Hicks admitted that he ad been arrested at South McAlester, I. T., saying in his confession: "I was at the depot with some pickpockets. A coat was stolen and I was picked up. They threw me in jail and I had to stand trial."

KENNEY'S INTEREST IN HICKS.

"Somebody helped you here. Who was it? Commissioner Gallagher asked.

It developed then that Detective Kenney had gone to Chief Hayes and had asked him to write to the authorities at South McAlester in the interest of Hicks. Chief Hayes took the stand to say that all he had done was to write a formal letter asking what charge had been placed against Hicks, the reply coming that Hicks had been in the meantime released.

Hicks, continuing, under examination by the mayor and Commissioner Gallagher, said he had been employed by a private detective agency to watch for crooks at Elm Ridge race track, and that he had been asked by someone to "protect" touts. It was at this time that he refused to answer the commissioners in detail. Detective McAnany, unwilling to let suspicion rest upon himself, demanded:

"Was it me, Hicks?"

Hicks replied that it was not.

"Me?" asked Detective Rafferty.

"And me, and me?" shouted Detective Bates and Arthur and Ghent. Hicks cleared these men, but said he would not answer any other detective who would question him. Detective Huntsman and Hicks were standing side by side before the commissioners' table, and the former interpolated that Hicks was a "hop fiend," evidently to explain his inability to understand the diamond sale.

GUN RAFFLES BY DETECTIVE.

"You are a liar," said Hicks. The detective's hand became a fist and Detective Bert Brannon was just in time to get between the two to prevent a blow.

Hicks' explanation of the diamond deal was that he merely wanted a loan on them. Differing from Jeweler Carswell, he said his stones were worth $350.

"Where did you get them?" Commissioner Gallagher asked him.

"I bought one from a pawnbroker for $130 and I bought the other from a thief for $140."

"From a thief!" exclaimed the mayor, who was hearing plain talk for the first time.

"From a thief named George," answered the witness. Hicks then told of a detective "raffling" a gun. "He raffled it twice," Hicks said, "and he still has the gun, unless he has got away with it in the last week or two."

"Now, Hicks," said Commissioner Gallagher, "you are not on trial, but the board wants to get at the bottom of this thing. Are you willing to tell us now the names of the detectives who told you to let the touts alone at the race track?"

"I will not tell; I will not tell you now," was the answer.

Detective Huntsman, in examining Hicks in his own behalf, added for the information of the board: "I have known Hicks for seven and a half years. He is a dice man, a notorious circus grafter, a hop fiend and a liar. He is a stool pigeon, telling detectives and police what other crooks are up to. He got pinched in the Indian Territory and Detective Kenney interceded for him."

PRYOR HAD HIM TRANSFERRED.

When policeman Harry Arthur, who was on the detective force at the time of the diamond deal, was on the stand the commissioners got another tip.

"I was at the race track and pinched two crooks," said Officer Arthur. This made me unpopular with John Pryor, who was making a book. After that, I was put on the beat in front of Pryor's place. He said he would have me removed. I was taken off in four nights. Now they have me out in 'the timber.'"

Detective Ghent admitted he had tried to have the inquiry quashed, but said he did so merely because of his being friendly to both Huntsman and Kenney.

At the conclusion of the hearing there was considerable agitation at headquarters over Hicks' admission that he had been asked by some city detectives to protect touts, and much speculation as to whether or not he would keep his word and tell the board in private who had gone to him. Hicks had denied that he ever "reformed," but the detectives explained that it was the practice for private detective bureaus to employ men who had associated with thieves, "gun mobs" and rogues generally, to work with their regular men at track sides, the duties of the reformed men being to point out their early acquaintances in order that they might be put where they could not pick the pockets of patrons of the race meets.

Labels: detectives, gambling, Mayor Beardsley, police board, Police Chief Hayes

March 30, 1907

BOYS ARE THEIR VICTIMS.

Crapshooters Operate Games on South

Terrace, It Is Charged.

Under the seal of secrecy two boys tipped off Judge McCune of the juvenile court yesterday afternoon the fact that a gang of crap-shooters is running a series of games in the neighborhood of Twenty-eighth and Terrace, victimizing the boys of that part of the city. The games are conducted with a great deal of care to avoid interruption by the police. The scheme is for the gamekeeper to carry under his arm a small piece of canvas, which he spreads as a table, while he appoints lookouts in all directions to warn him of the approach of the police. Whenever an alarm is given the dealer simply folds up his canvas and puts it in his pocket and there is no evidence left of his misdeeds.

According to the story told by the boys, on Sundays these lads play pretty heavily, sometimes as much as $15 going into the hands of the gamekeeper.

An effort will be made to break this practice up and arrests will undoubtedly be made as soon as sufficient evidence can be secured against the gamekeepers. The boys yesterday declared they were afraid to tell the names of the ringleaders, because threats of violence have been made against any boy who "peaches."

Labels: children, gambling, Judge McCune, Terrace street, Twenty-eighth street

March 18, 1907

BOYS CAUGHT GAMBLING.

One 12 Years Old Was Shooting Craps

When Arrests Were Made.

A crap game in a store building at Mount Washington was raided yesterday forenoon by Deputy Marshals Hermon Wiesflog, C. C. Whaley and N. B. Oleson. Seven players were arrested. At the county jail three of them were allowed to go on account of their youth, the youngest being 12, while the other two were but 14 years old. The other four were held on a charge of gambling. All of them live at Independence. They will be arraigned before Justice Shoemaker this morning.

Labels: children, crime, gambling, Independence, jail, Judges, Mt. Washington