Soapy Smith's Soap Box: February 2022

February 27, 2022

George W. Lewis: Soap Gang member

SHOT THE GAMBLER DEAD
Salt Lake Herald
February 28, 1893
(See text of article below)

(Click image to enlarge)

he life and Death of George W. Lewis

At the time Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel was published, the information on Soap Gang member George W. Lewis was pretty limited. I knew he was a member of the Soapy Smith gang, as well as the Charles “Doc” Baggs’ gang, and that he was shot and killed in Ogden, Utah, February 26, 1893. I found a newspaper article on his death which lent truth to earlier accounts, plus a lot more detail on his activities and death in Ogden where he was the "king pin of Ogden’s sure thing men." Lewis was 44 years of age at the time of death. He was reported as being wealthy, owning real estate and other property in Ogden, San Francisco and Leadville, Colorado.

_________________

SHOT THE GAMBLER DEAD.

____

Eugene Borel, a Victimized Sheep herder, Kills George Lewis.

____

OGDEN’S SUNDAY TRAGEDY.

____

Borel Had Been Fleeced of His Hard Earned Savings.

____

He Brooded Over His Loss and Sought a Terrible Revenge – Four Shots Fired at His Victim – The Murderer Attempts Suicide.

____

OGDEN, Feb. 27. – George Lewis, the well known gambler, was shot three times and almost instantly killed a few minutes before noon yesterday by Eugene Borel, a French sheep herder. The grand jury, which is now in session, took the matter up this afternoon, and although no official report was made, judging from the nature of the evidence which was undoubtedly adduced, an indictment for murder will be found and returned tomorrow morning.

BOREL HAD BEEN FLEECED.

In the latter part of November the Frenchman came to Ogden, fresh from the Wyoming hills, where he had been herding sheep for several years. By denying himself every luxury he had saved between $1,700 and $1,800 of his wages. Shortly after his arrival the herder who was not so unsophisticated as his general make-up would indicate, was lured into a sure thing dive, which then existed on lower Twenty-fifth street, and fleeced of $1,700 of his money. The gang then shipped their victim off to San Francisco, one of them accompanying him as far as Reno, as recounted in THE HERALD at the time.

HAD LEWIS ARRESTED.

Upon his arrival in San Francisco Borel hunted up a brother he has there and borrowing $100 returned to Ogden in search of his vanished fortune. Lewis, who was then and continued to be up to the time of his death, the king pin of Ogden’s sure thing men, was arrested, but the other members of the gang escaped. The preliminary examination was held before Judge Bishop, but the evidence was not deemed sufficient to convict on the charge of flim flaming or obtaining money under false pretenses. The court, however, cinched him on general principles and imposed a fine of $30 and costs for gambling. Lewis appealed to the district court.

As Borel had no money left with which to furnish bonds, he was sent to the city jail and held as a witness. On Friday Lewis withdrew his appeal and paid the fine and all costs in the case.

BROODED OVER HIS WRONGS.

During his detention at the jail the Frenchman became very taciturn and evidently brooded greatly over his loss. He never was talkative, but as the time passed he withdrew even more within himself and seldom spoke. It became evident that the loss of the money had greatly affected his brain and the officers agreed that he was not exactly right under his hat.

DEMANDED HIS MONEY.

When made acquainted with the fact that Lewis had dismissed the appeal, Borel was seemingly indifferent, but he did not remain long in that state of mind. Hunting up Lewis he demanded his money and was put off by the gambler, as he had been several times before. He then waited upon Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Allison and requested that the case be taken up before the grand jury. That body being otherwise busily engaged, he was requested to wait.

THE FRENCHMAN’S REVENGE.

On Sunday morning Lewis and another gambler named Kirby entered Morse’s book store, and after having made some purchases, turned to leave. At the door they encountered Borel. He again demanded his money. Lewis laughingly remarked, “Wait until tomorrow,” turned the corner of Grant avenue and proceeded south. The Frenchman followed and when the two reached the middle of the block, drew a 38-calibre revolver from his breast and commenced firing. The first shot took effect in the gambler’s hip, the second passed through Kirby’s coat sleeve, the third also missed its mark, but the fourth entered the small of Lewis’ back.

The wounded man started to run after the second shot had been fired and when the fourth struck him under the point of the left shoulder blade he fell in the entrance of a laundry, nearly at the corner of Twenty-fifth street. The last ball did the fatal work, and within twenty minutes Lewis was dead.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

After doing the shooting, Borel deliberately walked to the police station, revolver in hand, and entering the jailor’s room, laid the gun on a table, muttered something about having “done it,” took a small vial from his pocket and swallowed part of its contents. The pump work of Dr. Joyce saved the would-be suicide’s life. On his person was found a diary, written in French, the contents of which, when interpreted, plainly showed that the killing was premeditated, and might have been more extensive had Borel met Mr. Allison.

LEWIS WAS WEALTHY.

Lewis was 44 years of age. He had real estate and other property on Ogden, San Francisco and Leadville valued at from $25,000 to $50,000, according to the encumbrances there are upon it. His entire estate was virtually willed to his mother, who lives in Phoenix, Ariz., and his half brother, Professor T. B. Lewis, of this city. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.

_________________

KNOWN HISTORY OF LEWIS

A story on George Lewis published in the Rocky Mountain News, March 2, 1893 states that he had once belonged to the Charles “Doc” Baggs’ gang.

"Lewis was a great man for roping in ministers," said a well-known sport last night. "In '79 he and 'Doc' Baggs used to travel together and they were never so happy as when they struck a pious fish. I remember one time they ran across a minister from a small country town who had come to Denver to get some cash from a well-known local capitalist. He had about $600 with him when 'Doc' Baggs picked him up, and you know 'Doc' is a pious looking guy himself. 'Doc' got to talking with the dominic, and finally persuaded him that it would be a good scheme for him to take back to his church $1,200 instead of $600, and the only way to do it was to play three-card monte. Lewis, of course, dropped in at the right time, and it was not long before the dominic got on to the game, but his money was all gone. Lewis gave him $5 and bought him a ticket back home."

It has been written that in San Francisco in 1882 Lewis had shot and killed seventeen-year-old Ed Patterson, but as of now I have found no newspaper accounts.

MEMBER OF THE SOAP GANG

The Rocky Mountain News cites Lewis as having left Denver for the last time in 1886, but this is not accurate. It is not known when George Lewis joined the Soap Gang, or how long he remained. It is known that he was in Creede, Colorado in 1892 where he was one of Soapy’s “witnesses" to the excavation of McGinty the petrified man. His name pops up again in Denver when Soapy put McGinty on display at The Exchange saloon and gaming house. Towards the end of March there was a legal hurdle regarding ownership of McGinty. The Rocky Mountain News and the Creede Candle carried the story in which “George W. Lewis has sued Jeff Smith and J. J. Dore for possession of McGinty, the petrified man.” J. J. Dore had "leased" Soapy Smith the petrified man, and now attempted to regain possession. Soapy wanted full ownership of McGinty, so he had George Lewis return to Denver and sue him and Dore, as if he was the real owner. It is likely that Dore was never made aware of the legal case. Soapy won full possession of McGinty. That afternoon McGinty was taken to another saloon Soapy owned, called the White Front. It resided across from Manhattan Beach, a private amusement park at Sloan’s Lake four miles from downtown Denver, where it was unlikely that J. J. Dore would ever find it.

Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog