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John T. Waller and Jeff R. Smith
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Daily Gazette
November 8, 1881
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OHN WALLER
Early bunco partner of Soapy Smith
New research on confidence man John T. Waller leads to new information on Soapy Smith. This is the first clue that Soapy operated in New Mexico.
John
T. Waller was one of the few known confidence men who is believed to have retired
comfortably wealthy and is not known to have spent much time in jail. The last letter within Soapy's circle of friends and associates states that Waller had moved to Key West, Florida where he successfully operated short cons. Around 1895, according to his obituary, he moved to Dade City, Florida and
invested his money in property and perhaps keeping a link to his past,
he also invested in several traveling circuses. He still held a sizable
estate upon his death in 1915 at age 65. [1]
According to the 1900 census, Waller was born in August 1850 in Ohio. According to his obituary Waller was an early settler in eastern Pasco County, Florida, created in June 1887, matching his arrival there. As of now, the earliest known connection between Soapy and John Waller was in New Mexico territory, just shy of fours months after the shooting death of Billy the Kid. On November 7, 1881 confidence men Soapy Smith and John T. Waller arrive in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It is certain that the two buncos worked the town for a tidy profit.
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LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO
1882
Courtesy of the Library of Congress |
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John Waller gives his residence as "Denver," and Soapy gives his as "Fort Worth, Texas." Eight days later, on November 15, 1881 both gentlemen register at the Exchange Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Santa Fe Daily
Santa Fe, New Mexico
November 16, 1881
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The two newspaper clippings are new but the existence of con man John T. Waller is not new. Up until now, it was known that Soapy and he most likely were close friends, but there was no evidence, until now, that the two operated swindles together. Though it was assumed that Waller and Soapy had a history working together, the two clippings predate what was known.
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The Exchange Hotel
Santa Fe, New Mexico
circa 1890
(Soapy stayed here)
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(Click image to enlarge)
Previously, the earliest date was December 24, 1881 when Soapy received a letter from John Waller in Tombstone, Arizona, using stationary from Nellie Cashman's Russ House.
Friend Jeff
I received your card. I shall not stop in El Paso. You never said what you had been doing. Can you not take time to write a letter and give me some news. I am afraid that you will get busted before you get home. If so send me word [–] as long as I have a dollar you can have half of it. I am doing a good business here. I sold $82.75 yesterday. I took in $43.50 last night and it was so cold that I came near freezing. I shall only stay here 2 or three days longer. I got in here last Wednesday. I saw Taylor & his girl on the stage that day going out. I wish you a Merry Christmas & a happy New Year. Address Colorado City, Texas.
Yours truly,
John T. Waller [2]
Below is a copy of the letter.
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On July 5, 1883, a letter to Soapy (in Denver) from C. C. Lamos of Chicago, head of a retail and supply company from which Soapy purchased cheap watches for use in various swindles.
Friend Smith
Yours came to hand. And I must say I had given you up as gone. I had asked several old boys and they think you are an “angel from Colorado.” Some one said the other day that the Kid died in Colorado. John Waller is doing big work in Montana. I sent him two lots the 3rd. He was in Deer Lodge, Montana, and sent him a big freight order to Portland, Oregon. John has made some big money since he left Chicago.
Well Jeff I sent catalogs … but you can’t tell much about them. Anything you want let me know and I will make the price all o.k. you know that.
Hoping you are doing well and catching on good.
I am yours only
C. C. Lamos
Fair lists are not ready yet. [3]
Lamos supplied gambling equipment (known as sporting goods) and spurious personal items such as jewelry and watches for use by “cheap John” men. This letter shows that Soapy had become a well-liked, repeat customer. It also shows that confidence man John Waller was also a well-respected member of the bunco fraternity. The last comment about “Fair lists” refers to schedule dates for state and county fairs throughout the country, vital information for an ambitious traveling bunco man. It probably cost a sizable amount. That this list was important to Soapy indicates that he was not blindly traveling the west but rather to targeted locations.
Lamos next wrote to Soapy in Denver on December 4, 1883, with an apology and a mention of John Waller.
Friend Jeff
Am dam [sic] sorry the watches did not pan out all ok.… You must always send them back at my expense as I hate like the duce [sic] to have any of the old boys kick on me. I had rather pay the difference myself. 6 oz white watches nice ones 4.25 each, is the best anyone can do. They are nice ones. Just got in a fine lot today. The Silver watches I have just [illegible] up to the Waltham agency here and will see what they say.
He sends this reply and you can’t get any made I don’t think this season as they are very busy at the factory for holidays.
[John] Waller is still in Oregon doing well as usual he is making big money this year. Wishing you the best of good luck.
I am yours only
Lamos [4]
C. C. Lamos writes a response letter to Soapy, on October 20, 1884, mentioning Waller.
Friend Smith
I got an order today from Waller, was a little surprised to see him in
Texas. I have written to Balding [—] also to Wilkinson Hq
[Headquarters], and other parties for them to send you their bottom cash
prices on roller skates and guess they will attend to it at once.
Am glad to hear you are still on earth, and catching on. I suppose
Waller is worth from 25 to 30,000 by this time and we shall hear of him
starting a Bank one of these days.
I should think Denver was a good place for business and it would be a
fine town to stick to. Let me hear from you at any time, whether you
want goods in our line or not.
Tom Lamos [5]
A letter from John Taylor in Los Angeles, dated January 25, 1887, arrived in Denver, with a mention of Waller.
Friend Jeff
I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear from you. I went to a sale yesterday and worked the shells and I turned a party for twenty dollars. There was another party there and they win $90 from a sucker and he caused a great fuss. … There is three or four shell mobs here working besides the body backed [by “protection”]. It is desperate to think it will last very long as the papers are turning loss on them. I have not received a letter from John Waller…. I will now close with my regards to all the boys. I hear from Tom Murphy [that he] was here in Los Angeles last year. I hope these few lines find you and your wife in good health.
From your friend,
John Taylor [6]
Taylor spoke a little too soon about not receiving a letter from Waller. He received Soapy's letter, replied, and enclosed a letter to forward to Taylor. Waller had been traveling the country but had settled in Key West, Florida. Waller and his gang were reported doing well on the island, taking about $300 a night from short cons. In the letter, Waller invited Taylor to Key West, and if he did, Waller would set up a meeting with the marshal so that Taylor could operate. [7] Taylor declined the invitation as he was repenting his ways, turning to religion. The known mentions of John T. Waller and his operations end soon after he relocated to Florida. He died in 1915, age 65 with a "sizable
estate."
John T. Waller's obituary and transcription.
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John T. Waller's obituary
The Dade City Banner
June 4, 1915
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OLD CITIZEN FOUND DEAD IN HIS HOME
Body of John T. Waller Found Dead In His Home Last Sunday
Mr. John Waller, sixty - six years old, was found dead at his home south of town last Sunday morning, May 30th, by sons of Mr. C. Brunt.
The boys had called to see about some goats and after knocking on the door and receiving no answer, entered the house to find Mr. Waller lying dead upon the floor. From all appearances the body had been lifeless for several days and decomposition had set in.
Mr. Waller came here twenty odd years ago and bought valuable property, much of which he still retained up to the time of his death. He owned eleven hundred acres of land near Pasadena, including three orange groves.
He also had an interest in several traveling carnivals, having a partner said to be a French Count, who looked after these but who is now reported to be sick in a hospital in Oklahoma.
No funeral services were held. The interment was in Dade City cemetery. The deceased leaves she that was Mrs. Waller, now divorced, and a married daughter, who reside at Pasadena, Cal.
The exact date of death can only be stated as, "a few days previous to May 30, 1915," as Waller was found dead on May 30, 1915, but “from all appearances the body had been lifeless for several days and decomposition had set in.”
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Waller's grave marker
Dade City Cemetery
Pasco County, Florida, USA
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Grave marker inscription:
TO
JOHN T. WALLER
Found sleeping at
Pasadena, Fla.
MAY 30, 1915
___
In memory of
His honor and
Character
From his friend
C. BALDASSARRE
[1] Dade City Banner 06/04/1915.
[2]: Ltr fr John T. Waller to Jeff R. Smith II, 12/24/1882. Geri Murphy col. The name Taylor in the letter may be that of John Taylor.
[3]: Ltr fr C. C. Lamos to Jeff R. Smith II, 07/05/1883. Jefferson R. “Little Randy” Smith col.
[4]: Ltr fr C. C. Lamos to Jeff R. Smith II, 12/04/1883. Jefferson R. “Little Randy” Smith col.
[5]: Hand-written
Ltr on company stationary fr Tom Lamos of Lamos & Company to Jeff
R. Smith II, 10/20/1884. Jefferson R. “Little Randy” Smith col.
[6]: Ltr fr John Taylor to Jeff R. Smith II 01/25/1887. Jefferson R. “Little Randy” Smith col.
[7]: Ltr fr John Waller to John Taylor 01/23/1887, Geri Murphy col.
John T. Waller Sept 25, 2009
John T. Waller: pages 40, 42-43, 110-111, 137-38.
"One of the healthiest ways to gamble is with a spade and a package of garden seeds."
