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SWINDLERS MADE USEOF GEO. SILER'S NAME' ' - * 1 ;•DENOUNCES THE SPRINGFIELD J GANG.HIS PICTURE MADE USE OFSilver Admits Having Been Connected with the Association at One Time as Official Referee.CSfwci*] to Th* Iodlaxxapc4i» News 1 SPRINGFIELD, III. August ll.-Every day brings a fresh development In the foot race swindles. New victims are being heard from, and new methods and schemes are being brought to light.It now seems plain that the Springfield Athletic Association.” formed here for the purpose of pulling off prixe fights and foot races, had no other object than to skin victims wherever they could find them. Nobody In Springfield believes that any of the fights were “on the square. principally because JohnnyConnors, who Is deep In the foot race swindles, was the leading figure in the athletic organisation.A letter that the association put out, sapposadly for the purpose of landing easy ones, has been brought to the surface. The letterhead bears the pictures of George Siler, the well-known Chicago sporting writer, and the man who refereed the Corbett-Fltxsimmons fight at Carson City, and Johnny Connors. The letter is of the sure thing variety. It tells the recipient that be has a great chance to pick up some money by betting on this or that fighter, and calls attention to the splendid events that the athletic association Intended pulling off. Siler is announced as the club's official referee, and his well-known honesty is banked on. Of course. Siler's name looks good, and the recipient of the letter looks Into the matter.Siler Makes a StatementIn regard to the use of his name and the circulation of these letters, George Siler sent the following to The News in reply to an inquiry as to his connection with the Springfield Athletic Association:CHICAGO. August 11.—I know nothing of any foot race or prtse-flght to be held under the auspices of the Springfield Athletic Association. I was official referee of that organization several years ago, but have had no connection with it for at least two years.I did not know it was still In existence.I presume the letterhead with my picture Is the association’s old stationery- If the organisation connects my name with any of Its present ventures, be it foot races or prise-fighting, it is making false representations. and furthermore, it is gulling the public.I draw the line on a great many things, and foot racing beads the list, as I class that in the same category with highway robbery. By denouncing the parties using my name in this affair It will be conferring a great favor on yours respectful ly,GEORGE SILER.Man Who Beat the Fakirs.There have been so many stories told by the victims that it is refreshing to hear of a man who skinned the syndicate.''Up In Urbana, near Champaign. Is one- Louis Wald. Wald runs a saloon and Is the possessor of considerable property,. and, although In the saloon business a long time, he was never considered by the real sporty ones as wise.’' i On July IS, two men. representing the i Springfield Athletic Association, were C sent up to Urbana to land Wald.They casualty dropped Into the intended I victim’s place and made themselves at . home. They spent money liberally and ; drew no line on the amount. Two days passed and their spendings continued. On the third day one of the “steerers ap-• proached Wald and asked him how he 1 | would like to make a “bunch of easy 1 money down Sprlngfleld-way.It was explained that there was no : chance for Wald to lose, and that It was- also much easier to get a good wad this l way than by the slower process ofdealing out schooners over the bar.Wald seemed to be Intensely interested , from the start, and, apparently in good . faith, told them to wait a couple of days longer, until he straightened out some persona) affairs. This was satisfactory, and , the spending of money at the Wald bar• continued in even a more reckless man-1 ner than before. Wald afterward said ' that at one time his stock In the cellsr• was threatened from low water.! Whin the two days had rolled around, t Wald was again approached, and seeing that the sklnsters were getting a little ■ Impatient, he told them It would be necessary to have a further delay of threeI days, in order to get $5,400 from his wife. He explained that he had told her all about a plan; that she was enthusiastic over the prospects, and had sent for the money, which would surely be along In three days.Suspecting nothing, the two sklnsters prolonged their stay the additional three da vs, trying their level best to buy out the saloor .’la the bar route. The three ! | dnvg expired on Saturday nlgbt. About 8:15 p. m.. Just fifteen minutes before the Big Four train was due to pull out. Wald called the sklnsters Into a corner, and in a low, confidential tone, told them that• the straightost road (ut of town was one , block east and one south, but to be sureand get a ticket before getting on the tr.ln, as the conductor charged 10 cents i extra if they didn't. Wald says that the ; look of astonishment on their faces wouldII make a picture for the master painter, but tbev took the hint and got out. Wald' says bis receipts from the pair during i their stay were nearly HOO.I was on to them the instant they broached the subject to nie. said Wald,: “but at the same time it dashed through , i mv head that I could make a little soroe-I thing on the side, and not stretch mychances for the hereafter, as they- seemed I loaded with money and in a spending mood. When I saw It was about up, I told them to get, and they got.
Newspaper Details
Indianapolis News
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Mon, Aug 11, 1902
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Brent E.
NA, 03 Sep 2023
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