135

Chicago Dispatch.
June 6/93.

8
CROOKS AT WORK
Short Change Men Use Buffalo Bill Tickets.

Capt. Shippy and Lieut. Bonfield
Know Billy Beecher's Gang of
Crooks Are at Work.

They Secure General Admission Tickets to
the Wild West Show, and by Representing
Them to Secure Reserved Seats Find Buyers
Who are Fleeced--Bonfield and Shippy
Make Damaging Admissions--Big Ed Price,
Bunk Allen, Gil Fitzgerald and Other Notorious
Crooks at Work Without Fear.

Those who witness the mimic warfare at
the Wild West show between the Indians
and the pioneers, in which the rascals are
repulsed by honest men "under command of
Buffalo Bill," little realize that a real warfare
is being waged between other rascals and
honest men in which Buffalo Bill is as ever
on the side of the people and fighting for the
people's rights.

Billy Beecher's gang of circus grafters
saw in the Wild West show an opportunity
for a summer's engagement and Billy went
to the managers of the show with a proposition
for the "grafting" privilege. This
was refused and Beecher went away vowing
that he would do business anyway. Since
that time he has with a gang of smooth
men successfully victimized verdant strangers
by selling them 50 cent tickets of admission
as reserved and even box seats. This
caused considerable kicking, in every instance
the victim abusing the management
of the show for the swindle.

In truth the management was not an interested
party, but for the past month has
been doing its utmost to break up the gang.
In this it met the antagonism of the
Woodlawn Park police, whose actions and
statements lead to the supposition that they
are not only cognizant of but a party to the
swindle and participants in the division of
the spoils.

How the Swindle Is Worked.

The game as worked is this:
Buffalo Bill refuses to sell tickets of admission
to these grafters. During the week
they get small boys to go in and buy two or
three tickets, giving them 5 cents as pay
for their trouble. In this manner they secure
several hundred tickets and are ready for
the Sunday's rush.

About an hour previous to the opening of
the show they range themselves on Sixty-third
street, just outside the main entrance
to the grounds. Here they announce that
tickets to the show inside are for sale, and
keep up a continual cry. They stand as
near to the grounds as possible and thus fool
many. They do not tell anyone that they
charge the "usual slight advance," leaving
the victim to do all the talking. If a man
asks for a dollar seat he gets it, and if he
asks for three box seats he gets them, but
they are not box seats or reserved seats,
but merely the 50 cent general admission
seats. Repeated attempts to break up the
gang have failed.
Yesterday Manager Scheible, of the show,
stamped the tickets in large type 50 cents.
This covers the whole piece of cardboard,
and in a measure spoiled the game of the
swindlers.

The fakirs were on their guard yesterday.
They suspected an attempt to trap them into
the short change game, and were honest for
two hours. A reporter for THE DISPATCH
handed them a $20 bill, asked for a reserved
seat ticket, and had the bill returned with
the information that they had no change.
Another reporter gave them a $10 note and
was given $9.25 change and a ticket. He
thought he had a 75-cent seat, but was sent
down into the 50-cent section. He
made a kick and returned to the
entrance, where he met Manager Scheible
to whom he stated the case. The
latter was ignorant of the identity of the
reporter and, in answer to his tale of woe, replied:
My dear sir, you should have purchased
your ticket at the box office. You
have been swindled. We have done everything
in our power to protect our patrons
and would esteem it a favor if you would
enter complaint at the police station. The
ticket is stamped plainly '50 cents.' Yours is
not the first case today. There have been
over a hundred similar complaints."

Many Cases Reported.
While this conversation was going on
George Belfeldt, a visitor from Wisconsin,
came up, accompanied by his wife and a lady
friend. They told the same tale. They purchased
reserved seat tickets and got 50-cent
tickets.
"Were you told they were reserved seat
tickets!" he was asked.
"Yes," was the reply. "I don't care for
the amount out of which I was swindled,
but don't like to own up to being beat."
A young man, accompanied by his best
girl, met a similar fate. They left the
grounds and approached the fakir, to whom
they, or, rather, he, kicked.
"You went into the wrong gate," replied
the cheerful liar. "Just go around
grounds to the Sixty-second street gate and
you will be shown the best seats on the
grounds."
The hour was late, the show was in progress,
the crowd was inside, and the Beecher
gang adjourned for a division of the spoils.
Yesterday they were cautious. They knew
they were watched and charged no more
than 75 cents for 50 cent tickets.
How did they know they were watched?
They received their information from
the police at Woodlawn station, where
Captain Shippy is in command, ably assisted
by Lieutenant Jim Bonfield. One of the
officers saw the reporter in conversation with
one of the employees of the show and communicated
the fact to his superior. The
latter, instead of offering aid to the newspaperman
in getting the facts of what appeared
to be a swindle, assisted the supposed
swindlers, told them to look out for THE
DISPATCH reporter described his appearance
and has obstructed the way to an investigation
that was carried to a successful finish
despite police antagonism.

Lieutenant Bonfield's Vile Talk.

When THE DISPATCH reporter visited the
Woodlawn station to get the police version
of the affair he was met by Lieutenant Bonfield,
who launched into one of the most
violent and vilest anathemas that ever issued
from the lips of a totally depraved man. He
continued to grow in warmth as he talked,
and swore at the top of his voice, cursing
THE DISPATCH, Buffalo Bill and his subordinates,
and condemning the investigation into
the methods of the crooks as an attempt to
injure his reputation. The loud talk of the
lieutenant attracted a crowd and soon no less
than a hundred spectators were listening to
Lieutenant Bonfield giving his imitation of a
mad policeman. But his talk was not wholly
without truth. He made some admissions
which, in a soberer or calmer mood, he would
not have made.
"I knew you were coming," he said. "I
was posted and it didn't đo you much good.
The ticket sellers were on. Beecher was
here yesterday in this station and your
trick didn't work. They didn't overcharge
anyone today, did they? If they did bring
the man here and let him swear out a warrant."
"How about Officer Henderson, who was
transferred from Buffalo Bill's show?"
"It was easier to transfer him than to have
him before the trial board. He shoved a
man off the sidewalk in front of the Wild
West show."
That was the exact reason of his transfer.
A man had been overcharged by the
grafters and had objected. The grafter
made himself obnoxious, blockaded the sidewalk
and was shoved off, after refusing to
move on. Officer Henderson enjoys the reputation
of being one of the best men on the
force, but erred in objecting to the presence
of those whose existence, it is alleged made
a probable increase in the finances of his superior.

The theory should be advanced in charity
to Lieutenant Bonfield that his temper got
the better of his judgment, but the fact must
not be lost sight of that he admitted that
through the police department fakirs and alleged
criminals were posted on the expected
arrival of a man detailed to discover whether
or not they were crooks.

Other Noted Crooks.
Captain Shippy overheard the blasphemous
remarks of his subordinate and offered no
objection. For his benefit THE DISPATCH will
volunteer the information that three notorious
crooks are working the short change
game in his district. Here are their names
and here are their records briefly put:
Henry Pierce did four years at Fort Madison,
Iowa, for short change. Was released
six or eight months ago, and is trying to
earn a term at Joliet, but can't.
Charley Ziegler, pal of Pierce, also short
change man. He did a stretch of four years
recently in Anamosa, Iowa, for that offense.
Eddie Masters, an opium fiend, buys and
speculates in world's fair and Buffalo Bill t
ickets, as a blind; is a short change man.
Big Ed Rice, who operated in Shippy's
district, was arrested by Detective Bill
Stewart, on general principles. His presence
here was made known by THE DISPATCH.
Bunk Allen is now located at Tony's
saloon, West Madison street between Peoria
and Green. Bunk, in company with Gil
Fitzgerald, visited the fair yesterday. They
walked up and down Stony Island avenue
with two famous lost angels. It is said that
Gil is looking for a new location to be run in
someone else's name.

DEDICATE NEBRASKA'S BUILDING.

Elaborate Program for the Exercises Tomorrow-
The Speakers.

Commissioner-General Joseph Garneau has
arranged an elaborate program for the dedication
ceremonies of the Nebraska State
Building tomorrow. Buffalo Bill and his outfit
of soldiers, Indians, and cowboys, representing
the early history of Nebraksa, will
form an interesting feature. They will assist
in receiving Gov. Lorenzo Crounse and party
at the Fifty-seventh street entrance, and will
escort them to the east door of the building.
In a brief address Gen. Garneau will turn the
structure over to the Governor, who therupon
will formally dedicate it to the public. Brief
addresses upon the subject of the resources
of the State will be made by W. J. Bryan,
Member of Congress, ex-Gov. Robert W.
Furnas, and others.

At the conclusion of these exercises the
"butter artist" of the world, Mrs. Caroline
W. Brooks, will mold butter in the presence
of the public in the second story of
the building the seal of the state to be put
on exhibition in the Nebraska Dairy Exhibit.
The party will then march to the Administration
Building and pass in review before her
Royal Highness, the Infanta, and thence to
the Nebraska exhibit at the Agricultural
Building, where the profession will disband.

It is expected that a large number of Nebraska
people will be here to attend this
event. Four or five hundred arrived yesterday
and several special train loads are scheduled
to arrive today.

Chicago Tribune June 7/93.

THAT COWBOY RACE.
It seems the "cowboy" race, on
horseback of 500 miles, from Chadron,
Neb., to the World's Fair, is still in
contemplation, and that the announcement
of its abandonment was not
true. The villainous exhibition of
cruelty to animals will be a failure,
however. The Illinois authorities propose
to take a hand, and to arrest
any and all persons participating
therein the moment they cross the
state line. This is the proper way to
do. Iowa should do the same thing.
It is a shame to American civilization
to even allow a start to be made.
Nebraska is failing in her duty.

TO PREVENT THE COWBOY RACE.
President Haynes Will Offer Reward for
Any Taking Part.
NEW YORK, June &-Special Telegram.-President
Haynes, of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, announced here to-day
that he is determined to prevent the cowboy
race between Nebraska and Chicago. He says
he will offer a reward of $500 for the names of
any alleged cowboys, who attempt to take part
in the contest.

Chicago Herald
June 7/93.

NEBRASKA WILL OPEN

DEDICATION OF HER STATE HALL.

Preparations for Travelers' Protective Association
Day at the Fiar--Good Reasons
for Expecting Lower Rates by
Railroad in the Near Future.
To-morrow will be Nebraska day at the
world's fair. The state building will be
dedicated with appropriate ceremonies.
Governor Crounse will receive the building
in behalf of the state from Commissioner
General Joseph Garneau, Jr., and in turn
will dedicate it to the uses for which it was
erected. There will be music and speechmaking
and other exercises of a typical
western nature. Buffalo Bill and his band
of cowboys and Indians, numbering 200,
will be on hand as an escort for Governor
Crounse and his staff.
The Nebraska building is the first of the
state buildings to be reached at the Fifty-
seventh street entrance to the fair grounds.
It has not only a commanding position, but
is in every way a credit to the enterprising
transmissouri commonwealth. Nebraska
makes a fine showing in the general departments
of the exposition, and has special
pavilions in such buildings as agriculture,
forestry, dairy, horticulture and the apiary.
In the state building there is also a collection
of grains and other products of the
state. These are arranged by counties.
The second story of the building has reception
and retiring rooms for ladies and
gentlemen. In a large room upstairs there
is an Indian tepee and a pair of
stuffed buffaloes. The popular interest
in the latter exhibit has been so great
that it has been necessary to put a railing
around it. Visitors wanted to peer into the
teepe and handle the buffaloes, to see if
they were real. There is one room on the
second floor completely furnished and decorated
by Nebraska women which contains
various articles of skilled handiwork. To
the agriculturist, however, the center of attraction
is the large room on the lower
floor, containing the exhibit of cereals.
"Corn is King" and "Sugar is Queen" are
two prominent mottoes that are worked in
native grasses. The building contains a
reading-room, postoffice and other conveniences
for Nebraskans. There will be a
room upstairs set apart for Nebraska people
who bring their lunches to the fair in
baskets.

Procession to the Building.
To-morrow Governor Crounse will be escorted
from the Woodlawn station by Buffalo
Bill and his cowboys and Indians, the latter
representing Nebraska in the early days
Colonel Cody calls himself a Nebraskan, and
a portion of his troops hail from the same
state. On arriving at the state building
there will be addresses by the governor and
other prominent state officials. Congressman
W. J. Bryan, ex-Governor R. T. Furnas
and Senator Allen are expected to be
present. Later the visitors will march to
the agricultural building, where the Nebraska
section will be opened to the public.
The procession will march past administration
building and will pay especial honor
to her royal highness the Infanta Eulalia
and suite. Mrs. Caroline Brooks will give
public exhibition of butter-making during
the day at the state building. A large number
of Nebraskans from Omaha, Lincoln,
Hastings and other cities in the state are
expected.

NEBRASKA'S BUILDING TO BE OPENED

Ceremony Takes Place Tomorrow, When Distinguished
Speakers Will Be Heard.

At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the governor
of Nebraska and suite will arrive at
Woodlawn station, whence he will be
escorted by Col. William F. Cody, cowboys,
Indians, etc., to the state building. This escort
is intended to represent Nebraska in the
early days. On arriving at the building the
governor will be received by the Hon. Joseph
Garneau, Jr., commissioner general of the
Nebraska Columbian exhibit, and the following
program carried out:
Address by the commissioner general, tendering
the building to the state.
Response by Gov. Crounse.
Music.
Addresses by W. J. Bryan, M. C., ex-Gov. R.
W. Furness, and others.
Music.
After the exercises the visitors will march
to the agricultural building, where the Nebraska
section will be opened to the public.
The line of march will be south from the
state building past administration building,
where it will pass in review before her
royal highness the Infanta Eulalia and suite.
Mrs. Caroline H. Brooks, the butter artist
of the world, will give a public exhibition
during the day at the state building, where
she will model in butter a great seal of the
state of Nebraska which will afterward be
placed in the dairy exhibit in the dairy
building. J. Sterling Morton, the secretary
of agriculture, is expected to be present and
take part in the Nebraska day exercises.
Large delegations of Nebraskans from
Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings,
and other cities in the state are expected.
No special invitations have been issued, but
a general invitation is extended to all
visitors on the exposition grounds to witness
the ceremonies.

NEBRASKA'S SHOW.
State Building Dedicated With Buffalo Bill's
Assistance.

Colonel William F. Cody and the cavalry
company of Indians took a prominent part in
the dedication of the Nebraska state building
this morning. The governor of Nebraska
and a distinguished party of citizens of
that state were met at Woodlawn
station by Colonel Cody and his Indians, and
escorted to the state building. This was
done as a representation of Nebraska in
the early days. Commissioner General Joseph
Garneau, Jr., received the party and delivered
an address tendering the building to
the state. He was followed by Governor
Crounse, who accepted the gift for the state
of Nebraska. Other addresses were delivered
and after the exercises the visitors
went through the agricultural building,
where the industrial section was opened to
the public.

Chicago Dispatch June 8 1893

NEBRASKA'S BUILDING TO BE OPENED

Ceremony Takes Place Tomorrow, When Distinguished
Speakers Will Be Heard.

At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the governor
of Nebraska and suite will arrive at
Woodlawn station, whence he will be
escorted by Col. William F. Cody, cowboys,
Indians, etc., to the state building. This escort
is intended to represent Nebraska in the
early days. On arriving at the building the
governor will be received by the Hon. Joseph
Garneau, Jr., commissioner general of the
Nebraska Columbian exhibit, and the following
program carried out:
Address by the commissioner general, tendering
the building to the state.
Response by Gov. Crounse.
Music.
Addresses by W. J. Bryan, M. C., ex-Gov. R.
W. Furness, and others.
Music.
After the exercises the visitors will march
to the agricultural building, where the Nebraska
section will be opened to the public.
The line of march will be south from the
state building past administration building,
where it will pass in review before her
royal highness the Infanta Eulalia and suite.
Mrs. Caroline H. Brooks, the butter artist
of the world, will give a public exhibition
during the day at the state building, where
she will model in butter a great seal of the
state of Nebraska which will afterward be
placed in the dairy exhibit in the dairy
building. J. Sterling Morton, the secretary
of agriculture, is expected to be present and
take part in the Nebraska day exercises.
Large delegations of Nebraskans from
Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings,
and other cities in the state are expected.
No special invitations have been issued, but
a general invitation is extended to all
visitors on the exposition grounds to witness
the ceremonies.

Chicago Times June 7 1893

Rain-In-the-Face, one of the Sioux Indians
who was with Sitting Bull at his last fight,
and Curly Head, a Sioux scout, said to be the
only survivor of the Custer massacre, blossom
into members of the polite world next Friday
morning. Their debut into fashionable life
will be signalized by a reception which will be
held in the parlors of the North Dakota building
from 8 to 12 o'clock. They are obliged to
adopt those early hours because their professional
engagements compel them to display
their histrionic abilities in the afternoon and
evening.
North Dakota's stuffed ox, which is hitched
to an antique cart on the grass plot, has fallen
under the ban of the director of woka.He
has ordered this display of the traveling facilities
in North Dakota prior to 1871 to be re-
Chicago Record June 7 1893

Chicago Dispatch June 2 1893

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.
Lillian Russell still crowds the Columbia nightly.
Buffalo Bill's Wild West is coining money and deserves it.

BUFFALO BILL.
Qui ne se rappelle encore l' accueil enthousias
qui lui a été fait à Paris, à l'exposition de 1889.
nom du Colonel Cody était dans toutes les bouch
petits et grands se précipitaient en foule pour le vo
Puis son voyage en France, qui ressembla à une vra
marche triomphale. Le Colonel Cody n'a pas chan
depuis, toujours la meme allure superbe à chev
toujours le meme tirurm, ne manquant jamais s but.
Les cow-boys sont toujours surprenants d'auda
et d'adresse, et lui font la meme escorte, que no
avons tant applauded.

Des sauvages authentiques, des Mexicains habil
à lancer le lasso, des Arabes exècutant leurs plu
brillantes fantasias, des Cosaques, qui chanter
dansent, et font les tours les plus-pèrilleux sur le
chevaux. Des Anglais des Allemands Magnifique
de prestance dans leurs uniformes-brillarts, et c
valiers corrects. Enfin je les ai gardés en derni
ieu, nos petits chasseurs à cheval. Ils n'ont paso
uniformes aussi brillants, mais quels gracieux ca
valiers, comme leur officier a bonne allure et comm
leur porte-drapeau fait fièrement flotter nos trois co
deurs.
Autant de sujets différents, autant d' éléments d
succès; allez donc à Buffalo Bill, vous y passere
une soiréetrés-agréable.
Nous rappelons aux Etrangers, qu'un interpret
parlant le Français, l' Allemand l' Espagnol et Te
Portugais est à leur disposition dans nos bureau
de 9h. à midi. Nous serons heureux de recevoir le
visite, et nous nous mettons à leur disposition, porous
tous les renseignéments, dont ils pourraient ave besoin.

NEBRASKA'S BUILDING OPENED,

General Invitation to the Public to be
Present.
Nebraska's state building will be formally opened this morning at 10 o'clock.
Headed by Col. William F. Cody
with his cowboys, Indians and in fact
the whole Wila West show, the governor
of Nebraska and suite will march
from Woodlawn station to the building.
Gov. Crounse will be received by
Hon. Josepb Garneau Jr., commissioner
general of the Nebraska Columbian
exhibit and the following program
carried out.
Address by the commissioner general
tendering the building to the state.
Response by Gov. Crounse.
Music
Addresses by Hon. W. J. Bryan, M. C.;
ex-Gov. R. W. Furness and others.
After the exercises the Visitors will
march to the Agriculture building,
where the Nebraska section will be
opened to the public. No special Invitations
has been issued, but a general
invitation has been extended to all visitors
on the Exposition grounds to witness
the ceremonies.