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Bunko Trial Cast of Characters.

 

The Underworld - The Law - Ordinary Citizens

Ordinary Citizens

Below is a list of persons who were involved in the Million-Dollar Bunco Trial of 1923, Colorado's longest and most expensive trial to that time.  It pitted Philip Van Cise, district attorney of Denver, against Lou Blonger and a gang of confidence men who had swindled summer tourists for many years without fear of arrest.

We are interested in hearing from anyone who has information about, or is seeking information on, any of the persons on this list. 

Here's how to contact us.

Photo

Name

Nicknames; Criminal Aliases; and Pseudonyms used by Van Cise in FTU

Other Information

CITIZENS

JURORS

Arthur Armstrong

 

jury foreman, 48, prominent businessman, one of three holdouts, wife suffered collapse on same day as verdict

Herman M. Okuly

 

31, machinist; bribe offered to him at start of trial, brother died near end of trial

Fred Hanson

 

33, railroad car inspector

Oscar S. Larson

 

49, worked at Denver Wet Wash; received death threat if jury acquitted the con men

August Carlson

 

30s, musician

J. C. Tharp

 

29, meter reader, one of three holdouts

Ed Drumm

 

50, night clerk

John E. Russell

 

42, janitor

George E. Sharp

Andrew B. Frank (in FTU)

47, forester, one of three holdouts, hesitated and replied "it was under the circumstances" when asked to confirm his guilty verdict in open court

Jens P. Jensen

 

41, railroad car inspector

Fred G. Steinke

 

36, shoe salesman

Gerald F. Geer

 

40, paint contractor

James W. Ontis

 

alternate juror, 29, worked as foreman

 

Frank Sherriff / Sherif

 

potential juror, excused because his mother's brother, Jacob Sandhofer, had married Simon Blonger's daughter, Emma (DP 1/29/23)

VICTIMS AND NEAR-VICTIMS

J. Frank Norfleet

Mulligan (or L. A. Mullican in FTU) when setting up the Denver con men

(T) Feb. 21, 1923; from Hale Center, Tex.; was swindled (but not by the Blonger gang), then crossed the country in pursuit of the men who conned him; was the mark who brought down the Blonger gang; later wrote Norfleet, a memoir of the incidents

 

P.G. Shaible

P.G. Shibe (name intentionally altered by the newspapers, according to FTU, p. 330)

(T) Feb. 7, 1923; from Chelsea, Mich., bank president, lost $25,000

 

Simon Oppenheim

 

(T) Feb. 8, 1923; from New York, N.Y., real estate dealer, almost lost $50,000

 

Tang Nielsen

 

(T) Feb. 20, 1923; from Tempe, Ariz., farmer, almost lost $5,000

Alfred Schedin

 

(T) Feb. 13, 1923; from Spokane, Wash. (previously Minnesota), almost lost $30,000

John Emrich

 

(T) Mar. 13, 1923; from Fort Smith, Ark.; almost lost $30,000

Henry John Gray

 

(T) Feb. 15, 1923; from Exeter, Devon, England, businessman, lost $25,000

George Kanavuts

 

(T) Feb. 7, 1923; from Sapulpa, Okla., movie theater owner, lost $25,000; attempted pay-off failed (p. 308)

 

J. M. Dudley

 

(T) Mar. 21, 1923; from Wetumka, Okla., 60, farmer, lost $4,000, kept courtoom in stitches

C. E. Henson

 

(T) Mar. 20, 1923; from Haskell, Okla.; lost $14,500, shared his last $200 with man who conned him; attempted pay-off failed (p. 307)

Oswald Landmann

 

(T) Feb. 9, 1923; from Visalia, Calif., fruit grower, almost lost $5,000

 

Thomas Langan

 

(T) Feb. 17, 1923; from Wood River, Neb., 70, almost lost $25,000; address listed as 2345 Elm St., apparently in Denver (DP 9/8/22)

 

G. L. Praetor

 

(T) Feb. 14, 1923; from Burlington, Wyo., sheep rancher, lost $15,600

 

John S. Peck

 

(T) Mar. 21, 1923; from Flemingsburg, Ky., lost $17,000; sued the con men (p. 240-41)

 

Dr. W. H. Scherer

 

(T) Mar. 20, 1923; from Dallas, Tex.; periodontist, lost $25,000 in 1920; hired district attorney Charley Fox and G. A. Fuller of Pinkerton to find con men

 

H. Rasmussen

 

(T) Mar. 21, 1923; from Rawlins, Wyo., 71, undertaker and furniture dealer, lost $2,300; Van Cise refused to pay the $300 he claimed for expenses to testify

 

James F. McGrath

 

(T) Mar. 6, 1923; from Norman, Okla., stock man

 

John C. Pekarek

 

(T) Mar. 14, 1923; from Okeene, Okla., farmer, lost $9,980

Joseph Fassel

 

(T) Feb. 15, 1923; from St. Louis, Mo., 72, wholesale meat dealer, knew he was being conned and supplied name of fake bank

 

Charles Lundell

 

(T) Mar. 21, 1923; from Lubbock, Tex., farmer, lost $15,000

 

Charles Unzner

 

(T) Mar. 8, 1923; from Shawnee, Okla., 66, harness maker, lost $15,650

 

William E. Griffin / Griffith

 

from Walnut, Iowa; lost $20,000; testified in preliminary hearing (p. 243); attempted pay-off failed (p. 307); died Feb. 1923, before he could testify in trial

Frank Donovan

  (T) Feb. 27, 1923; from Texas or New Orleans, 80, rancher and contractor, lost $55,000; sued con men and listed Van Cise's law firm as counsel, causing Van Cise to be disqualified (p. 240); paid $4,500 by con men to keep quiet, took the money and testified anyway
  David Yezner   from Eldorado, Ill.; lost $19,000, according to Reamey; died soon thereafter (Feb. 26, 1922)
 

W. A. Carnes

 

from Ottumwa, Iowa; lost $15,000 (p. 77)

 

C. H. Hubbell

 

from McPherson, Kan.; almost lost $50,000,  but protested the guilt of Mead and Farrell for several days (p. 207)

 

Thomas E. Connor

 

almost lost $20,000, according to Reamey

 

Isadore Nusko

 

almost lost $20,000, according to Reamey

 

A. H. Duzien

 

lost $14,000 (DP 3/22/23)

 

James F. McGrath

 

from Sayre, Okla.; lost $5,000 (p. 78)

 

J. L. Tilton & Aaron Cobbs

 

from Ottowa or Davenport, Iowa; lost $10,800 (p. 77); paid $8,000 to be silent (p. 305-06)

 

T. B. Letts

 

from Palo Alto, Cal.; almost lost $20,000, identified cons in lineup (DP 8/29/22)
 

M. Freeman

 

of 3063 Larimer St., Denver; lost $6,000, in Little Rock, Ark.; identified cons in lineup (DP 8/29/22)

 

William Stanley Harris

 

from London, Mo.; lost $14,000 in Phoenix, identified cons in lineup (DP 8/29/22)

 

Adolph Wishropp

 

from Kansas City, Mo.; lost $7,000, identified cons in lineup (DP 8/29/22)

 

J.D. Flannagan

 

lost $6,000, identified cons in lineup (DP 8/29/22)

 

Ernest Nitsche

 

from Dallas, Texas; 58, florist, lost $25,000 in 1919 (p. 25); returned to Denver to testify, but defendant Ballard jumped bond (p.26); first victim to sue con men, for $25,000 (DP 8/31/22) 
 

Boughton

 

lost $20,000 (DP 9/18/22)

 

Chris Larsen

 

lost $5,000 (DP 9/18/22)

 

Rev. Albert S. Menaugh

  from Goshen, Indiana, 61; committed suicide before Feb. 1, 1921, after losing $12,000 of church trust funds (p. 29)
 

Albert Backus

  from Okmulgee, Okla.; lawyer lost $8,500 in 1918, offered to testify (p. 30)
 

Gust Bergstrom

  from Hudson, S.D.; lost $10,000 in 1919; con men pled guilty and were fined $1,000 each (p. 45)
 

W. H. Wurzbach

  from Pueblo, Colo.; lost $6,800 in 1921 (p. 74)  
 

Victor E. Larson

  from Ontario, Calif.; almost lost $15,000 in 1921 (p. 98) 
 

Morris Freeman

  from Denver; lost $6,000 (p. 135); attempted pay-off failed (p. 304)
 

J. W. Bryan

  from Nebraska; used as a mark (p. 175)
 

Hoxie Thompson

  from Houston, Tex.; friend of Dr. Sherrer; used as a mark (p. 175)
OTHER TRIAL WITNESSES
 

Edwin Grant

  (T) Feb. 14, 1923; janitor at Kittredge Building
 

Harry L. Comstock

  (T) Feb. 14, 1923
 

Kenneth Boehm

  (T) Feb. 16, 1923; proprietor of Elk Hotel
 

Charles J. Johnson

  (T) Feb. 20, 1923; post office worker
 

John M. Price

  (T) Feb. 20, 1923; letter carrier
 

Harry Osborne

  (T) Feb. 20, 1923; post office worker
 

Mrs. A. M. Franklin

  (T) Feb. 23, 1923; proprietor of Empire Hotel
 

Reade

  (T) Feb. 20, 1923; superintendent of Western Union
 

Ernest L. Shine

  (T) Feb. 28, 1923; manager of Union Deposit & Trust vaults
 

C. D.(?) Cooper

  (T) Feb. 28, 1923; manager of Denham Building
 

Jane Hamrick

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; operator of Luxor Hotel 
 

Ella Perry

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; maid at Melton hotel
 

Charles Fuller

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; janitor at Lincoln Apartments
 

Frank Layfield

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; janitor at Richard Apartments
 

Bessie Slack

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; manager of Tremont Hotel
 

J.W. Whitney

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; proprietor of St. Regis Hotel
 

Georgia L. Taylor

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; owner of Alvarado Apartments
 

Henry E. Owen

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; proprietor of Holden Hotel
 

Florence Jones

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; manager of Kilbourne Apartments
 

J. David(?) Smith

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; secretary-treasurer of Shirley-Savoy Hotel
 

Thomas O'Neill

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; operator of Hotel O'Neill
 

J.W. Watt

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; janitor at El Tovar Apartments
 

Frank E. Johnson

  (T) Mar. 2, 1923; chief clerk of Crest Hotel
 

George O. Wolf

  (T) Mar. 5, 1923; stock broker
 

Valdo Wilson

  (T) Mar. 5, 1923; stock broker
 

James N. Wright

  (T) Mar. 5, 1923; stock broker
 

James S. Howie

  (T) Mar. 5, 1923; librarian in the office of the district attorney
 

R. H. Goddard

  (T) Mar. 14, 1923; agent for Iron Building
 

John H. Dunn

  (T) Mar. 14, 1923; secretary of moving company
 

Samuel Witte

  (T) Mar. 14, 1923; expressman
 

J. Frank Dawson

  (T) Mar. 15, 1923; bank teller
 

Dr. Hugh Frank Fisher

  (T) Mar. 15, 1923; doctor
 

Dorothy Lacey

  (T) Mar. 15, 1923; high school student, clerk in building on Champa Street
 

Frank Maul

  (T) Mar. 15, 1923; carpet cleaner
 

Hazel Brickham

  (T) Mar. 15, 1923; bookkeeper
 

George H. King

  (T) Mar. 16, 1923; handwriting expert (and perhaps also an official at Denver National Bank — DP 3/20/23)
 

H. W. Price

  (T) Mar. 16, 1923; bank teller
 

Mary Ahern

  (T) Mar. 22, 1923; landlord 
 

Nellie Ahern

  (T) Mar. 22, 1923; landlord 

CAR DRIVERS

These men drove the cars during the raids of August 24, 1922.

 

Robert G. Bosworth

 

 
 

George E. Cranmer

 

 

 

Christopher F. Cusack

 

 

 

William W. Grant, Jr.

 

one of Denver's leading lawyers (p. 202)

 

Fred W. Hart

 

 

 

Cass M. Herrington

 

 

 

Russell Jordan

 

 

 

Edwin S. Kassler, Jr.

perhaps John Green in FTU (p. 180), driver whose father, FOB, almost tipped off the raid

 

 

Paul Loughridge

 

 

 

William H. Loughridge

 

former Yale football star (p. 211)

 

William D. Sanborn

 

 

 

Oliver Toll

 

 

 

J. Herbert Wilkins

 

 

 

Arthur D. Wilson

 

 

 

Earl Wright

 

 

SUBSCRIBERS TO SECRET FUND

These private citizens bankrolled Van Cise's investigation.

 

Mrs. Verner Z. Reed

 

 

 

William N. W. Blayney

 

 

 

Claude K. Boettcher

 

 

 

Arthur H. Bosworth

 

 

 

Ernest H. Braukman

 

 

 

James H. Causey

 

 

 

George E. Cranmer

 

 

 

Alphonse E. de Ricqles

 

 

 

Tyson Dines, Sr.

 

 

 

William D. Downs

 

 

 

John Evans

 

 

 

Edwin B. Hendrie

 

 

 

S. Nelson Hicks

 

 

 

William V. Hodges

 

 

 

William A. Hover

 

 

 

William S. Iliff

 

 

 

Charles A. Johnson

 

 

 

Edwin S. Kassler, Sr.

 

 

 

Harold Kountze

 

 

 

Charles Loughridge

 

 

 

Henry McAllister

 

 

 

William P. McPhee

 

 

 

Hugh McWhirter

 

 

 

Harold W. Moore

 

 

 

John W. Morey

 

 

 

John K. Mullen

 

 

 

Thomas B. Stearns

 

 

 

William E. Sweet

 

 

 

James R. Thorpe

 

 

 

Jesse F. Welborn

 

 

 

Frank L. Woodward

 

 

OTHER HELPFUL CITIZENS
  Philip A. Zang 

 

former manager of Blonger's building, loaned passkey (p. 112)  
 

Ben S. Read 

 

president of Mountain States Telephone (p. 113)
  Alexander W. Young   checked telephone wires (p. 121)
  Oscar Cass   owner of Cassidy Hicks Wall Paper Company (p. 124)
  Arthur L. Jones   assistant general manager of General Electric Company, kept Dictaphone working (p. 126)
  Dr. William P. Smedley   dentist who worked on Norfleet in final con (p. 189)
  William I. Reilly   member of the State Industrial Commission, provided tip that led to French's arrest in Estes Park (p. 215)

NOTES:

FTU stands for Fighting the Underworld, by Philip Van Cise, 1936.  Page numbers refer to the book.  If you're interested in reading up on the case, you can find Fighting the Underworld in many libraries or in the used book section of Amazon.com.

DP stands for The Denver Post.  Dates indicate which issue.

(T) indicates the person testified during the trial.
 

Rule

 


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