# * The Omaha A .( ^rning Bee _ _________ ___» . —— -- — ■■»— vol. 52—no. 300. gg•••grsssr jsn Vims omaha, Saturday, june 2, 1923.«_rw,8,rdsii.yw;.Yir,d«v.w,l2rtv:.di; zn TW0 CENTS" Bunco Ring Mem bers Se ntenced Eleven Men Convicted at Den ver Get 7 to 10 Years and Remaining Eight Receive 3 to 10 Years Each. 60 Days to Appeal Case By AssorlateiJ PrfM. Denver. June 1.—Visions of peni tentiary walls and long sentences loom through the bars of the county Jail tonight for 19 members of Den ver's so-called "million dollar bunco ring" who were sentenced this after noon 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 he the "brains" of tlje hand, were sentenced to serve seven to 10 years each on two counts charging conspiracy, an-’ ^^fteven to. 10 years each on a 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 yeara on the third count. Their sentences also will run concurrently. Those who were sentenced to from seven to 10 years were 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 tle Rock, Ark.; George (Tip) Belcher: Thomas Beech; Steve J. Olesen; A. H. Potts; Robert C. Davis; Walter By land and Louis Mushnlck. Three lo 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 recom mended special clemency, and on J. H. Foster, William Straub, George Walker, G. H. Williams and G. C. Bailey. In overruling the defendants' mo tion 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 a new trial. . Each of the convicted men learned 4 *f,Js 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 hy the voice of Judse Dunklee as he sentenced them one by one. Wives, sweethearts and other rel 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 a wedding ring. After court recessed she drove away in a big touring car. The only attempt at a demonstra tion was when Judge Dunklee fin ished reading his decision overruling the motion for a 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 vicftd 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. Drove Sullivan, convicted with the others last March, was not sentenced. Dr. D. E. Phillips, appointed by the court to investigate Sullvan'a mental condition, yesterday reported to the court that Sullivan was insane. It is probable Sullivan will be given a jury trial to determine whether or not he will go to an insane asylum. The 20 defendants were convicted on three counts, charging consphMrcy. con splracy to commit confide..ce gaming, and conspiracy to commit grand lar ceny. Under the law, Judge Punklee could have imposed sentneces ranging from one to 10 years in the peniten cs»,lary ■* Widespread Attention. The prosecution of the bunco men attracted widespread attention throughout the country. The case beg3n last aummer when Phillip Van else, district attorney, aided by Colo rado state rangers and scores of Den ver» citizens, sworn in as deputies, swept down on the haunts of the con fld-nce men and rounded up the ah leged member* of the band in raids that lasted all one night and part of the next day. The 20 defendants were found guilty on March 28, last, after the Jury had been out more than 100 hours, having taken 150 ballots. The trial, lasting two months, was railed the "most important In the legal hi* troy of Colorado.” Victims of the band came to Den ver from different parts of the coun try and testified to having lost frrtni $5,000 to $64,787 each. One of the witnesses came here from England to tell of how he contributed $25,000 to the confidence men. Many other victims did not come here for the trial. Den Besmey, formerly a member of the confidence men’s organization turned state's evlder, * Much credit for trailing and trapping the con fldence men was given bv District Attorney VanCIse to J. Frank Nor fleet of Hale Center, Tex. Norfleet, previously a victim of the confidence man, spent two years In trailing the f leaders. Anally locating them In Den ver. Plaintiff in $50,000 Suit for Balm \ iolet Johnstone. Father of Doctor Sued for Damages Quizzes Plaintiff Miss Johnstone Declines to Answer Some Queries of Attorney Connell in Cross Examination. W. J. Connell, dean of Omaha bar risters and father of Dr. Karl Con nell, who 1b being sued for $50,000 damages for alleged breach of mar riage contract by Violet Johnstone of New York, cross-examined the plain tiff for three hours yesterday after noon but without much result. In the words of attorneys. Attorney Connell "did not gain an inch.” George DeDuey cross-examined the other wit nesses. Most of the afternoon was spent in reading paragraphs from let fora sent by Miss Johnstone to Dr. Connell. Only once during the crosa-examina tlon, which showed that Miss John stone was undergoing a severe nervous strain, did she break down and cry. This was when mention was made of the engagement ring given by Dr. Connell to Miss Johnstone. lung Breaks Doctor. “While In Kngland," said the wo man between sobs, “Dr. Connell wrote me that he had purchased my engage ment ring. He said It almost 'broke' him to buy It. “I wrote him I was crazy to see it and I urged him to send ft to me. He wrote me that he wanted to wait until he returned home, as"he wanted to give it to me himself. He wanted to put the ring on my finger. "When he did come home he kissed my finger before he put the ring on and then kissed nie. As he was put ting it on he told me that it was my engagement ring. Snapshots taken of Dr. Connell and Miss Jonstone while both were in Omaha and taken while they were strolling In Kairmount park. Council Bluffs, were Introduced and given to the jury. Miss Johnstone, in order to em phasize some of her answers, would lean half over her seat so opposing council could hear her. On one occasion Miss Johnstone e met at the station by Genersl Duncan and taken to Hotel Fontenelle for breakfast. Later the secretary, accompanied by General Duncan and hla staff, will visit Fort Crook snd Fort Omaha and review the troops stationed at those points. Returning to the city at 12:30. ihe secretary will be the gu»»t of the Chamber of Commerce st a public af files luncheon. At 1:.10 he will meet Ihe officers on duty at the seventh corps am head quarters at the Army building, after which be will Ih> taken to view the AkSarBen races. Secretary Weeks will leave at * p. m Nebraska Rancher, 7<». Diet al Casper, Wyoming Grand Island, Neb.. June 1.—Rob ert Taylor, \well known ranchman and owner of tanking Interests st Elsie, Neb., and oil Interests at Cas per, Wyo . died suddenly at Casper, early today, aged TtS. according to word received here. He was a native of Scotland and a graduate of Edin burgh university. Ills wife and three daughters survive. In earlier years while a resident of Wyoming, he served two terms as state senator. If you like The Bee, tell 1 your neighbors about it. I_1 ____—.5 Pacific Shriners Spend Two Hours Here on Way East Sirens Shrilly Proclaim Arriv al of Nobles From Coast— j Imperial Potentate Among Delegates to Council. A flaming electric eword and crescent design decorating the front of the giant engines, two special trains with sirens shrilling pulled in to Union station yesterday afternoon, bringing 310 nobles of the Mystic Shrine from California and Hawaii, en route to the imperial ouncil in Washington next week. Aboard the second train was Im perial Potentate James L. MeCandless of Honolulu. Many of the local noble* made their beaming obisance before him. With him wai his wife. While the first train stopped, the Islam temple band of San Francisco, 75 piece*, gave a concert In the wait ing room. And while the aecond train stoped. Islam temple glee club. In tuneful has*, tenor and baritone lay*, paid tribute to th* owner of the celebrated race horse, Spark Plug: "Who is the greatest man in. all the world?' ' Barney Google! Barney Google!'’ Nobles Wear Lei. In the other end of the waiting room a gang from Aloha temple, Honolulu, including some Hawaiians, sang the mournful lays of Waikiki. All the Aloha nobles, including the imperial potentate, wore the "l«i" which. Mr. MeCandless explained, atands for love and friendship. Col. Henry C. Akin, former Omahan and potentate of Tangier temple In 1892 and 1893. was one among the Islam caravan. He now live* In Santa Ana. Cal. While the second train stopped, a shower began to fall and the Islamites told the local nobles of the wonders of the California climate where rain never falls at such inopportune mo ments. Daniel O'Brien, chief of police of San Francisco: Ira Colburn, a past potentate of Islam temple, and Capt. Duncan Matheson. chief of detectives of San Francisco, were among the Journeyers. Plenty of Noise. A fife and drum corps of 35 men marched around the station while their brethren were playing and sing ing inside. They fairly drove the train announcer wild. Just as he would start a long chant ahout the train for numerous points, the hand or the glee dub or the 35 singing Joseans under direction of Dick Jose would burst forth and drown him out. He gave up Anally. Altogether the nobles were here more than two hours Hurtle Shlrpser. 9. of San Francisco, a pretty and smiling young miss, mas cot of Islam hand, la the darling of the trains. The travelers were welcomed to the Omaha oasis by a committee of Tangier temple headed by Clarence Hay dock. Cabs and automobiles were provided for those who wanted to take trip* about the city. Fred Kmrrson Brook* Pies. By International News Sertire. Berkeley Cal., June H—Fred Em erson Brooks, noted California poet. died suddenly today at his home here He was born in New York and was T3 years of age. The Weather | For J4 hours, ending 7 p m . June 1 1113 Totuperaturo. H‘gh«*t 17; lowest. «« inrun. 7*. nor mil. *4. Tots I *v?m fine* January \. t 4* tirlrttlvf* Humidity. rorerntag* 7 a nv. 7 4 Noon, fib 1 \ m , tg I'rorlplt Alton. Inches And Hundredth* Total. !!* Total atnc* Januatv 1 *34; dtfldfnc) . I \4 Hourly Temporal nrr*. h a. m . .171 l p m .,,,,...*4 * a nv . *7; 2 p it* ...... *7 7 a m . **1 .5 p m . *b * a nv 7 2 4 p nv * s * a m .7 b \ b p m . 7 * Ift a m ..... 7* b p m . 7 1 It i in Ri! 7 p. m .. . ** IS noon *.v < v m . . . t>. Temperature* rtt 7 l‘ M t*hevenne bb Rapid CM) . 7^ Lhvenport '*15* l* Uk« I'envar , 7? Santa Fa 74 1'odga CMv , 7* Sheridan 77 Lander g 4 Riotig t'itjr «* North riatta 7S: Vatent nv s: fuahlo nr N. Y. GOVERNOR SIGNS DRY LAW REPEAL v • ^ • . W ets Win Victory W ith Approval of Cuvillier Bill by Chief Executive Action Taken at Dictates of Conscience, Advice of High Legal Authority and Implied Wish of People in La«t Election, Governor Alfred Smith Says—At tacks Volstead Act. Puts Enforcement of Laws Up to Federal Officials Albany, N. Y., June 1.—With the stroke of a pen, under the eyes of a deeply interested nation, Gov. Alfred E. Smith committed his public career to the judgment of the future when, late today, he signed the Cuvillier bill repealing the Mullen-Gage state prohibition enforcement ciCt. Bombarded for weeks by “wet” and “dry” propaganda, threat and promise, the governor, seeming to enjoy the situation of keeping the doubt alive, gave no positive indica tion of what action he would take. At Coney Island several weens ago he dampened the hope* of the wet* by announcing he would ‘‘uphold the constitution.” To the palpitating drya he pointed out time and again the overwhelming approval of the people at the last state election for a return of light wines and beer. Follows Conscience. In announcing that he had signed the bill, the governor declared that he followed the dictates of his conscience, the advice of high legal authorities and the implied wish of the people in the last state election. "Because of the far-reaching inter est in this bill displayed by all claes-s of our people," said the governor's statement. “I have given nearly one month of solid and careful thought to its final disposition. "It is fur'here.-t from my thoughts to question the motives of the men and women of integrity throughout the state, who, with an eye to the right of justice, have arrayed them selves on the different sides of the question presented." Only Course Cpen. Reviewing, then, the history of prohibition so far as New York is con cerned the governor pointed out that the people of New York gave an over whelming majority to the democratic p’atform which provided for a refer endum on the use of wine and bier. He then declared fco had acted as the governor of the state only, un der the law, could act. "I have read thousands of letter* and I have listened to the fullest dis cussion," he said, "and no one has pointed out to me any provision of the statutes or any decision of the United States supreme court which imposes upon our state any convic tions! duty to maintain a state en forcement act. and I am satisfied that, as a matter of law, this contentioa does not admit of doubt. Healing With Three Classes. "I am dealing with three classes of people, the radical drys, the radical wets, and those who hold moderate views on the subject. "The drys seem to see a moral duty on the part of the state to maintain an enforcement act. They are un doubtedly led to this by their own frame of mind, because they do not suggest that the state maintain an act merely enforcing the Eighteenth amendment in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the people of the state, but they Insist that there be a state enforcement act ex actly paralleling the Volste.xd act.” Quoting from a decision of the United States supreme coult, which said: "The power confined to congress by the Eighteenth amendment is In no wise dependent upon or affected by action or inaction on the part of the I Turn to 1‘xse Two. f otnmn Six.) Captives to Be Released Soon Major Allen Predicts Freedom Will Come in Few Days. By AwwUipS rma Tientsin, June 1—All the for* eisri captives now held by the Suehow train bandits in thcr Paotiuku strong hold will be released In a few day*, according to MaJ. Robert A, Allen, V S A. medical corps, who arrived here last night, accompanied by IV, Smith, an Knglishman, the two men having been released by the outlaw*; yesterday. 20*000 Cars Arc Sent Wc-t to ( arc for heat Harvest Spe'dat ItUtwtrh to The Omaha B,, Lincoln, June 1.—H. G. Taylor, chairman of the Nebraska railway commlaslon, 1* in receipt of a tele, gram from M. J Gormley, chairman of the car service division of tha American Oar a**»viation at Wash ington, saying that S0.ti#0 freight cars are euroute to point* west to Aid in handling the pending wheat hat vr»t. Maiden Political Speech Will He Made In (.overnor hpeciel Pispateh ia Th, Omaha Bee. Lincoln, June 1 —Governor. Rryan Went to Orleans t>xiay, where he is scheduled to make hi* maiden poli tical .*;>« > ar t explanat: -n of th* conduct i'f h » off.i e to date Tha governor made no outline of hi* ad dress before leaving Nine o’Clock Tonight Is the Dead Line For Your Sunday Omaha Bee Want Ad. AT. 1000 f M ' - i *