The Topeka State Journal

TOPEKA MAN EASY GETS INTO THE CLUTCHES OF SHARPERS.

John Schaefer Gets Into the Clutches of Sharpers.

Gives Kansas City Con Men All His Cash,

DRAWS A BIG CHECK.

Has Presence of Mind to Stop $10,000 Payment.

Wealthy Farmer Living Just North of Topeka.

Kansas City, Sept. 12.-A "wire tapping" gang which would furnish advance information on race track results in time for a bettor to lay his money on the winner without danger of losing, come to the city Friday morning, and by Friday afternoon had separated John Schaefer, a wealthy ranchman living near Topeka, Kan., from $10,000. One member of the gang, William Ellis, alias "Kid" Parker, well known to the police of the large cities, lies in the holdover at police headquarters while his suite of rooms at the Coates house remain unoccupied.

Schaefer, who gave the check for $10,000 drawn on the Merchants' National bank of Topeka, recovered from his dream of wealth long enough to wire the bank to stop payment, and this morning is loser by only $35, which he laid on "Longlegs" to place at 10 to 1, and although the horse "placed," Schaefer said that he did not see the winnings. The $10,000 was a part of a $35,000 pot which Schaefer, Ellis, and another "con" man raised with which to make a cleaning on "Royal," a horse supposed to be racing at Minneapolis, and which was booked at 2 to 1. They played the horse to win.

According to Schaefer's story, he was standing in front of a window in a jeweler's store on Union avenue, Friday morning, when Ellis came along and engaged him in conversation. After a few drinks, horse racing was mentioned, and Ellis, it is said, remarked that he could pick up several thousand dollars if he could only get some backing. Schaefer became interested and asked about the scheme. At that point another man sauntered into the saloon and Ellis introduced him to Schaefer. Schaefer does not remember the man's name.

Schaefer says he understood that one man was a telegraph operator and by tapping a wire said he could delay the results of the races long enough for another to run to a bookmaking concern in the result and they would win. Schaefer said that he was interested and would try it. All the cash he had on his person was $35, and he entered that with Ellis to be bet on "Longlegs" at 10 to 1 place. The two men went out of the saloon, leaving Schaefer there. Later they returned and told Schaefer that they had won. Then came the $35,000 pot which was to break the "bookies." Schaefer took $10,000 of it, Ellis $10,000 and the other man $15,000. The odds were two to one. Again the two men went out together, presumably to tap the wire and bet the money. This time they did not return.

Schaefer told his troubles to James Oxford, a city detective, and then wired to stop payment on the check. Ellis was later arrested at the Coates House, where he was stopping. He had engaged one of the most costly two-room suites in the hotel and the police believe had come to town to conduct extensive operations. It is supposed that the other man has gone to Topeka to cash the check and he probably will be arrested there.

John Schaefer is a farmer living north of Topeka on the Kansas avenue road about a mile and a half from the Menal bridge. The $10,000 check he wrote in Kansas City was drawn on the German American bank, not the Merchants National. Mr. Schaefer, who is an elderly man of about 62 years, told his experience to President Metzger of the German-American bank when he returned to Topeka and the check has been looked for. It has not been presented for payment.