Soapy Smith in Leadville, Colorado, December 1888

‘Soapy’ had his fangs in deep
Los Angeles Daily Herald
January 12, 1896

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OAPY SMITH IN LEADVILLE
December 1888



Following is a newspaper story about a man who witnesses bunko man "Soapy" Smith swindle a drunk prospector, and decides he should take advantage of the victim as well. I start the transcribing at paragraph eight, but the entire article is posted above, for those that wish to read the entire article, published in the Los Angeles Daily Herald, January 12, 1896. From the man's memory this event took place in December 1888.

… “The night I struck Leadville, just to show I didn’t hold myself higher than the residents of Leadville, I went into Richardson’s and bought $50 worth of chips, all for the honor and glory of Kentucky Flat. In one hour and a half I was standing up against the stove thinking it over. I didn’t have enough money left to buy a split [a bet on the faro table], and the essentials for the celebration hadn’t been paid for.
     “While I was chewing on the situation by the stove, in comes ‘Soapy” Smith with a stranger called ‘Doc.’ You know ‘Soapy?’ He was the most capable bunco man that ever came over the divide. He had a record of ‘conning’ a policeman out of his star. The man with ‘Soapy’ was drunk and clamorous for a game. He had his pockets bulging with money. I heard afterward he’d sold his mine over in Clear Creek, and came over to go into the silver. ‘Soapy’ had his fangs in deep. His scheme was not to rob the man outright, but he had it fixed up with the faro dealer —to do the job smooth and clean, and leave no place open for future criticism. Smith just borrowed money from his friend to get into the game, and as fast as a card came out of the box the dealer grabbed off ‘Soapy’s’ stake, win or lose. They played entirely with $50 bills. ‘Doc’ had ‘em wrapped up in packages of ten. I didn’t know there were so many $50 notes on earth as he flashed up, and I yearned for one of the bundles; just naturally sickened and pined for it. He went on with the game, not winning and not losing, same as drunks always play. I invented a scheme to coax him out and rob him. I had a plan that would have worked, but I discarded it. I couldn’t turn crook, tough as my own luck was. All the time this foolish man was shoveling out money in $500 lots to ‘Soapy,’ and the dealer was mowing it away in his lap, it came so swift. Presently the drunk says he’ll step out into the barroom for a drink. Then I says to myself. ‘Here’s where you get action,’ and I followed him through the swing doors into the saloon.
     “He was holding on to the bar, waiting for the drink. I makes a quick step to him and whispers, ‘Smith wants some more money.’
     “The ‘doc’ makes a kick about the kind of luck his friend seemed to be playing in, but goes down in his vest for the stuff. He tossed out a little roll, which I counted in my room over in the hotel. It was $488. The price of two bottles he and ‘Soapy’ Smith broke somewhere was gone from one of those $500 packages. Kentucky Flat had its celebration all night.
     “That, Grant,” said The Busted Prospector, “was the nearest I ever came to turning a crooked trick.”
     “Oh, there was nothing wrong about that any more than any other kind of robbery—just plain stealing, that’s all,” said Crumley.
     “No, it wasn’t robbery,” argued the Prospector. “I might have stood him up and got the whole bundle. It was finding it.” —William E. Lewis in Chicago Times-Herald.

     Was Soapy in Leadville in December 1888? According to the Leadville Herald Democrat Soapy was reported in Leadville on May 1, 1888.

One of the slickest and best known rascals in the whole western country is reported … on his way to Leadville…. The gentleman … —Soapy Smith—is known to many people in Leadville, as he has been here frequently, and always with … a small valise filled with small cakes of soap in little boxes, and a very pretty Mrs. Smith, who travels with him.

     The individual telling the story said he went into "Richardson's" to gamble. In looking at the city directories for 1882-1890, I found one, Rufus Richardson listed as owning a restaurant at the rear of 123 W. 5th in 1887. On the Sanborn maps of 1886 and 1889 the address is listed as a store.
     For the entire story of this amazing confidence man, you can read my book, Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel.

Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog

 

  

"Having got him partly or wholly drunk, he is in a fit condition to understand the beauties and mysteries of 'bunko.'"

—Evening Post (San Francisco)
May 6, 1876