MAIMED! The Shooter and the Ripper

#PWHS #Article #MAIMED #Shooter #Hooker #Ripper #Policeman #Evansville #GeorgeTragos #SamCarter #LouThesz
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In March 2020 Kris Levin contacted me to try and solve the mystery of "Who was Buster?" Buster being the wrestler named in Lou Thesz's book, Hooker, during the story about George Tragos crippling some kid. Who Buster was seemed to have been lost to time. Kris was refused to accept this. He asked several times if I could find out who it was, or if anyone else would be able to help him out. I palmed him off a couple of times, thinking the whole endeavor was pointless. Eventually I gave in and decided to do a bit of research, if for nothing else just to stop Kris from pestering me with his unrelenting passion for this subject. After a couple of false leads, I actually managed to solve the mystery and uncovered so much more than either of us had bargained for.

My research, along with Kris' and the help of many other people including Gerald Brisco, Tom Prichard, Bill Tragos and LuFisto, culminated in the debut episode of the audio-docudrama, Tales From The Mat. You can hear that here: MAIMED! The Shooter and the Ripper.

You might be wondering why there is a need for an article as well? The answer is simple: There was so much research put into this from my end, me and Kris decided it'd be great to record all of the notes I made while putting this crazy story together. Not only did we explore whether the "Buster" story was a truth or merely a myth, we looked into the man known as George Tragos and even uncovered a police frame-up involving the man who Thesz remembered as being called "Buster", Sad Sam Carter. There was so much detail it could not all be included in the docudrama. Therefore below you will find a whole heck of a lot of notes accompanied by my own thoughts, conclusions and theories on the various situations.

Just before we get to the details, I need to thank Tim Hornbaker, Nathan Hatton, Mark Hewitt and Jason Presley for providing some additional details.

George tragos: the key points

When Tragos was born is a mystery in itself. According to a 1910 census he was born in 1894 or 1895. In 1917 he filled in a draft registration card stating he was born on March 24, 1894. A newspaper obituary stated he was born in 1901 and his gravestone is marked born on March 14, 1897.

You might think a gravestone marked up by his family would be 100% reliable. It has been my experience with pro-wrestlers that gravestones lie. As do newspaper obituaries. Official documentation can not always be trusted either. Why would someone's gravestone lie? Well, sometimes a wrestler has "kayfabed" (given an age for the public, rather than his real age) for so long, that is the only age anyone knew. There are several known cases of this from George's era and before. Normally to make an aging veteran seem younger and keep up the facade of real competition. Sometimes the reasons were more nefarious though.

Of course, it may actually be the government documentation he lied on. Again, why would he have done that? In 1910 he was already working in a factory. If he was born in 1897, he'd have been under age to do so. Being born in 1894 made him 16 and of legal age to work in there. By 1917 the age didn't really matter, but it's possible he had lied on the census, so thought it was better to lie on the draft card also.

This is one mystery we can not give a definitive answer to. Those seem the most likely options to me though.

​ - Died on September 5, 1955.
 - Buried in St. Louis, Missouri.
 - Born in Katsarou, Messina, Greece.
 - Parents: William and Stavroula Tragos.
 - Arrived at Ellis Island on March 28, 1910 on the Martha Washington.
 - Wrestled as an amateur for the Greek Olympic Club Chicago.
 - Wrestled as an amateur for the Gary, Indiana Y.M.C.A.
 - Trained by George Pinneo (at Gary).

 - April 20, 1910

The following information is provided on the Chicago Ward 19, Cook County, Illinois Census Form (confirmed by his kids to Tim Hornbaker):

Living with his uncle, George Tragos; brother, Christ Tragos; cousin, James Tragos; father, Bill Tragos; and boarders Bill, James, and Thomas Kalas. 
Arrived in New York in 1910.
Is currently 15 years old.
Born in Greece.
Works as a packer in a candy factory. 

 - February 18, 1916

He lost to Thomas Murray in the preliminary round of the first annual Greek Olympic Club Wrestling Tournament.

 - May 19, 1917

The following information is on his Draft Registration Card:

Born on March 24, 1894.
Born in Katsarou, Messina, Greece.
Lives in Chicago.
Worked as a Machine Operator.
Employer - ???? Electric Company
Place of employ - Can't read.
Dependent father & mother.
He is single.
No military experience.
Claims exemption for dependent parent.
Medium height.
Slender build.
Light brown eyes.
Dark brown hair.
Slightly wounded ear.

 - March 25, 1917

He finished second in the Greek Olympic Club's Wrestling Tournament. Roy Straits won. 158lb weight class.

 - April 15, 1918

He finished third in the A.A.U. National Wrestling Tournament. Lost to the winner W.H. Wicker in the semi-final; won third place by default over W.R. Milchewski. 158lb weight class. He represented the Greek Olympic Club.

 - April 1918-March 1919 

He moves from the Greek Olympic Club to the Gary, Indiana Y.M.C.A.

 - March 18, 1919 

He won the A.A.U National Wrestling Championships. 158lb weight class.

 - April 3, 1919 

It's reported he is entered into the Central A.A.U. Wrestling Championships. 158lb weight class. Tournament to be held the next two days.

 - December 28, 1919 

It's reported he is the Amateur Wrestling Champion for 1919 in a "Chronology of Season's Sports." 158lb weight class. 

 - March 10, 1920 

It's reported he will compete in the International Y.M.C.A. Wrestling Championship on March 20. 158lb weight class. He is said to be the current Y.M.C.A. Champion.

 - April 5, 1920 

He defeated Spiegel in the National Amateur Wrestling Championships. 158lb weight class.

 - April 6, 1920 

​It's reported many of the wrestlers in the National Amateur Wrestling Championships will represent the USA at the Antwerp Olympic Games.

 - April 6, 1920

He didn't win the National Amateur Wrestling Championships tournament.

Tragos lost to W. MauererI.

Eino Lino won the 158lb weight class.

[Tragos' family believe he went to the 1920 Olympic Games even though he lost. They have "participation medals" which may or may not be from the Olympic Games. I could find no evidence to support that Tragos went to the Games, however, that does not mean he didn't go. He may have gone as a back-up or in some other way to represent his native home of Greece]

 - February 24, 1921 

He defeated H. Mulby in the preliminary round of the Indiana A.A.U. Wrestling Tournament (Indiana University Vs. Gary Y.M.C.A.). 1775lb weight class.

 - February 25, 1921 

It's reported Tragos and Ted Mumby are "looked upon as being the most prominent of this [175lb] class."

 - February 25, 1921 

It's reported the Tragos-Secrist semi-final match will likely be called off in the Indiana A.A.U. Wrestling Tournament. 175lb weight class. Another paper says he will face Ted Mumby.

 - February 25, 1921 

It's reported Tragos is the International Champion.

He defeated Ted Mumby in the Indiana A.A.U. Wrestling Tournament. 175lb weight class.

He forfeited to Secrist in the finals of the Indiana A.A.U. Wrestling Tournament. 175lb weight class. He stated he was too tired after going the 15 minute distance with Mumby.

 - March 3, 1922

There is to be a show held in Granite City tomorrow night. It's all wrestling. The card:
1 - Joe Henderson (of Detroit) Vs. Kid Curley (of Wood River, Ill.)
2 - George Tragos Vs. Gus Eisel
3 - Boris Femetroff Vs. Steve Pappas
Tragos is said to have represented Greece in the 1912 Olympics.
Eisel is said to be the middleweight champion.

 - March 23, 1922 

It's reported "Tragos, who is making his first appearance on the mat here, comes pretty well recommended. He has met and defeated the best of the European stars and was winner of the Graeco-Roman Championship in the Olympic Games."

 - March 23, 1922

"Tragos is probably the strongest man Eisel has ever grappled with and the Missouri boy will have to be at top form if he keeps his record clean. The Greek wrestler is 26 years of age, and despite the fact that his professional experience is rather short, he is considered one of the best middleweioghts in the country.

Tragos has had four bouts as a professional. He defeated Charles Peterson in Argos, Ill. He also won from George Peters and Tony Borkich in Gary, Ind., and went 3 hours and 37 minutes to a draw with Pete Lewis. Bulgarian middleweight champion. The match was called owing to the lateness of the hour."

Tragos and Eisel wrestled to a draw. It lasted 1 hour and 22 minutes.

[From May 7, 1924-August 4, 1924 Tragos was a fixture in Charlotte, North Carolina, and likely in other surrounding cities, although nothing else from this time frame could be located.]

 - May 7, 1924

"George Tragos, former National A.A.U. champion and Olympic star of 1920" arrives here. He is looking for a bout with middleweight champion, Chris Jordan.

 - May 8, 1924

"For some time he has been the wrestling promoter at the University of Missouri."

 - May 17, 1924

"George Tragos is over at Davison college gymnasium undergoing the usual preliminary grind in preparation for the coming battle at the city auditorium next Monday night."

"Both men [Tragos & Joe Turner] weigh about the same. Tragos is several years younger than Turner and he knows the game. In 1920 he was one of the big guns at the Olympic games and for the past few months he has been coaching wrestling at the University of Missouri."

 - May 18, 1924

"George Tragos, University of Missouri wrestling instructor, and stat at the Olympics in in 1920, staged his final workout at the 'Y' gym yesterday after when he and Cromatie, bantamweight of Davidson college, who is to enter the Olympic tryouts to be held in New York on May 27 and 28, worked several bouts together on the mat and Tragos is confident that he will defeat Turner in the wrestling classic of the season when these two men meet at the city auditorium Monday night."

[Why was Tragos not going to the Olympic tryouts, but the other guy was?]

 - May 19, 1924

George Tragos was a middleweight. Joe Turner was "many years the Missourian's senior."

George Tragos defeated Joe Turner.

 - May 22, 1924

A match has been signed between George Tragos and Billy West. It's said Tragos is "working strenuously for the match."

 - May 30, 1924

"Tony Bernardi, Italy's wrestling idol, is expected to arrive in the city this morning and begin a hard day's training for his tilt with George Tragos tomorrow night at the city auditorium."

 - May 31, 1924

George Tragos defeated Tony Barnardi.

 - June 2, 1924

It's announced that Tragos-Turner 2 will take place. The date is to be announced later.

 - June 3, 1924

George Tragos was at the Charlotte Observer office.

 - June 4, 1924

"Turner demanded that Tragos make the middleweight limit of 158 pounds; but this Tragos cannot do. He tips the beam at around 170 or more now and without sufficient time and a suitable gymnasium to work in, could not reduce to this extent without serious danger.

A compromise was agreed upon at 165 pounds."

 - June 6, 1924

Tragos is working out for his bout with Joe Turner on monday. [June 6 is a Friday]

 - June 9, 1924

It's said tonight is "probably the last chance the Charlotte wrestling fans will have an opportunity to see" George Tragos.

Tragos says he has lost about 7 pounds to make the agreed upon weight.

Joe Turner defeated George Tragos.

 - June 10, 1924

"Joe Turner got his famous crab hold on Tragos last night and put him out of business for a while."

 - June 18, 1924

"Tragos who has defeated [Joe] Turner on one occasion, was right there on the baldheaded row." [for the Turner-Cy Thompson match]

 - July 6, 1924

"While the wrestling fever is raging in Charlotte, George Tragos remains in the background hoping for another chance at Turner. Tragos stated a few days ago that he thought he was entitled to another bout with Turner and he brought out the fact that no more crab holds would be put on him by Turner if he was matched with the Charlotte ace again. Tragos has been going through the training mill steadily since he lsot his last match at the auditorium and before he leaves the city he is hopeful of giving a better account of himself.

Tragos is powerfully strong and a fast and clean wrestler. He represented the United States in the Olympic games at Paris in 1921 and his showing there was very creditable."

[The Graeco-Roman Olympic Games tournament took place from July 6, 1924-July 10, 1924. The Freestyle tournament took place from July 11, 1924-July 14, 1924]

 - July 21, 1924

George Tragos is introduced to the audience during a show featuring Joe Turner versus Pete Dallas.

 - July 22, 1924
 
It's said Tragos will leave the city shortly. Tragos, Joe Turner, Cy Thompson and Pete Dallas are all said to have offered their services for a benefit show here.

 - July 23, 1924

"The following letter was received by The Charlotte Observer sports department last night:

'July, 22, 1924.

'Sporting Department,

'The Observer,

'Charlotte, N.C.

'Dear Sir:-

'I would appreciate your help in securing for me a match with Joe Turner. As it now stands we have a match apiece and if given another chance I feel certain that I can beat Turner again. I figure tht I am entitled to another match, and I have been training every day for the last four weeks and am in good shape.

'Mr. Arnold, the promoter, seems to ignore my repeated challenge, and any help you may be able to give me will be greatly appreciated

'Thanking you for past favors, I am

Yours truly,

(Signed) 'George Tragos.'"

It's said Tragos came to the city about three months ago.

 - July 24, 1924

"Tragos has been working daily in Mr. Arnold's gymnasium and it is a sure thing that he has not gained in weight since his last engagement with Turner.

Tragos has been dickering for a return engagement with Turner for several weeks."

"It is understood that Mr. Tragos expects to leave Charlotte in the near future and before he goes he is anxious to grapple here again. According to many fans who attend the wrestling bouts regularly, they want to see Tragos in action, and if he is given another chance on the local mat it is a cinch that he will give a good account of himself."

"It beinds to look as though another wrestling match is to be inflicted upon Charlotte. George Tragos wants to grapple with Joe Turner, he says."

 - July 30, 1924

It's announced Tragos will take place on Monday. [July 30 is Wednesday]

 - August 2, 1924

George Tragos completed his training for the upcoming Joe Turner match today.
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 - August 3, 1924

It's said Tragos will leave after the match to return to Missouri.

 - August 4, 1924

Joe Turner defeated George Tragos.

[I made no notes on the 1928 Olympic Games, it was because there was no doubt that George Tragos did not attend those games.]

 - October 31, 1935

"Following his custom all fall, [Promoter Charlie] Loch has produced a new wrestler to introduce to the home folks. He is none other than a Greek by the name of George Tragos. He hails from St. Louis, so has been dubbed 'Little Jim Londos.'"
He is said to be facing George Kogut tomorrow.

 - November 1, 1935
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It's reported that George Tragos "hailed as Little Jim Londos" defeated Roland Malott.

- From 1937-1939

He wrestled as "George Kondylis" primarily out east. In Maryland they even referred to him as "George Kondylis Tragos" / "George Tragos Kondylis." During this time he grew mustache. The name came from a Greek man named Georgios Kondylis. Georgios was a general in the Greek army and the prime minister of Greece. He died in February 1936. Georgios also had a mustache. Tragos ws billed as Georgios' nephew. During this time he was also said to be a protege of Jim Londos and/or the "next coming of Jim Londos."

the life and career of sam carter

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All information is about Evansville, Indiana and from local newspapers unless otherwise stated.

 - July 9, 1930

Samuel Carter and Marie Stettler are granted a marriage license.

 - July 10, 1930

"Ring Slipped From Pocket of the Best Man

A WEDDING ring, even if it did slip out of the pocket of his best man, could not lose itself from Samuel Carter, a policeman, as he walked up the steps of the court house to obtain a license to wed Marie Stettler, 1625 West Maryland street.
The ring did slip out of the pocket unnoticed by either Carter or his best man. A bystander picked up the gold band after Carter had entered the clerk's office, but the act was seen by another bystander.

A chase followed and the thief was caught being allowed his freedom when he produced the ring. The band was returned to Carter."

 - March 26, 1931

The local police force said "Use Sammy Monday night or never."

 - Professional debut March 30, 1931.

Defeated George Manus at the Memorial Coliseum, Evansville, Indiana.

Was still a policeman at the time.

Weight: 235-250lbs.

Height: 6'2-6'3.

Was said to be an ex-Central Evansville Highschool grid star.

Played as a lineman.

Also said he played independent football since he graduated.

Played for the Evansville Elevens (pro).

Noted a protege of Chris Jordan.

Worked with Jordan since Christmas.

Dr. Ralph Wilson was on this card.

Wilson was later noted as a mentor to Carter.

Promoter: Francis A. Stagg.

 - April 17, 1931

It's reported Carter is now a fully fledged traffic officer.

 - April 25, 1931

"They are both ["Socko" Dick & Carter] very good," said Chris Jordan. "They have more than the usual talent for wrestling. I think that each of them with the proper handling will go a long way in the mat game."

 - April 29, 1931

"You know," philosophized Sammy, "that I've learnt enough about this wrestling game to know that I've got to get a championship of some kind before I can do much good. I'd be the state amateur champeen today if that bird that refereed my match at Tere Haute had let me do my stuff and bang 'em to the mat as I wanted to. The title 'Evansville heavyweight champion' wouldn't be so bad, would it?"

"That's right," used Sammy. "I forgot about him [Dr. Ralph Wilson, of Evansville] Doggone it, but I need a title."

The reporter asked if he was the champion of Evansville coppers.

"Now you're talking sense," came back Sammy, all enthused. "Sure I'm the champeen of the Evansville police force."

The reporter said "There are some powerful big boys on the force." I replied, "Maybe one of 'e could take you."

"Don't be silly," was the reply. "The first time one of them things he can wrestle, I'll just grab him by the nap of the neck, take him over the Y.M.C.A., get Chris Jordan, my trainer, to referee and then church will be over."

"The next time you mention my name, call me the champeen of the Evansville policemen. Don't forget it."

[Sammy lost to Ernie Zeller in the finals of the amateur tournament at Terre Haute, Indiana (confirmed by local newspapers). Sammy tried to wrestle like a professional, but the tournament was under collegiate rules]

 - May 12, 1931

"Emmet Bell, Evansville's rule-making police chief, today was busy writing another rule for the city's policemen.

To take its place with the other regulations that say cops must shine their shoes daily, march to work in formation like Coxey's army and never, never ride in an auto while on duty. Rule No. .000001 will read something like this:

Every Evansville police officer must each morning take a series of calisthenics exercises, do three miles road work and cop caught eating creampuffs is liable to suspension.

P.S. The same goes for officers who can't whip collegians.

The reason for this is Sam Carter, ponderous heavyweight wrestler and pride of the police force.

Carter was beaten by Sock Dick, Evansville College assistant coach, in the wrestling match last night - Carter giving out - and up - after 12 minutes.

The officer was not in condition and after tossing Dick out of the ring he was so discouraged when the collegian bounced back in that he hollered 'uncle' to the referee before the pride of Reitz and the Purple Aces even got a hold on him."

 - May 15, 1931

"Sad Sam Carter, Evansville's behemoth wrestling traffic cop, has started training seriously.

Sad Sam, let us recall, is the chap who retired after 12 minutes of grappling with Arthur 'Sock' Dick of Evansville College gridiron fame, complaining of not enough training.

Last night, Sad Sam took to task a group of newspaper laddies at the American Legion fights, begging them to desist a bit from putting him 'on the pan.'

'I'm a good guy,' Sam said sadly, 'and we're all pals. I don't know why you fellows climb aboard me all the time.

'Why, after that fight with Dick, I reading one paper 'Sam's belly was rolling like a watermelon' - in another, 'Chief Bell makes a new rule for his cops about eating creampuffs and losing to collegians; and still another that 'Sam hollered "Nuff!"'

The 250-pound cop then told of his training activities.

Working Hard Now

'I'm working hard, boys, and I'm going to show you guys something. I practice every day and I'm in strict training. Why I've even quit chewing gum!'

Your correspondent has a vague suspicion that Sad Sam was departing from the truth in that statement. Another traffic cop, Ed Painter, told me that he and Sam dropped into a lunch stand this week and ate a hamburger.

'That was good,' Sam said, 'let's have another.'

So Ed got one, too.

Sam's disappeared in two gulps.

'Boy,' he said, 'a bowl of chili and a barbecue in a hurry!'

Painter watched with goggling eyes as the chili and sandwich disappeared in near record time.

'I liked those hamburgers,' said Sam, 'just one more.'

His buddy was becoming alarmed.

'That ought to be enough, oughtn't it, Same?' he asked timidly.

'Well, just a piece of pie and some peanuts and I guess that'll do until lunch time,' Sam replied.

Sam Likes His Ham

Of course, I'm taking Ed's word for all that but ever since I saw two small boys watching Sam devour a ham sandwich and argue whether it was his 31st or 32nd, I'm willing to believe almost anythng about the sad one's gastronomic feats.

Carter also complained last night that his wife's life was being made miserable.

'Every time I come home,' said the grappler, 'the missus opens a paper and says, "Looky here, Sam" - and I look and it's another story razzing me.'

Sam's nose was still a bit red from the bruise it received in the bout with Dick.

'The only break I got was that accident last week when a car ran into Painter and me,' Sam chuckled. 'Everybody I see asks how I hurt my nose and I tell 'em it was the accident.

'But no fooling,' he continued, 'the only guy who gets more razzing than me is Frank Tuley and I'm a close second!'"

 - June 23, 1931

It's reported Carter "has not been so interested in the mat game for the past couple of weeks for some reason or other."

 - June 29, 1931

It's reported Carter's son is born.

 - July 21, 1931

It's reported Carter will soon try his hand at the mat game again.

 - August 7, 1931

Carter issues a challenge to "Tiny" DePriest, claiming to be in the best condition of his life at 247lbs.

DePriest has never had a public wrestling match.

 - August 18, 1931

It's reported Carter can be seen swimming, running, jumping the rope, skipping and all kinds of other calisthenics most days.
He says he is now under 245lbs.

The next day it's reported he weighs 256lbs.

 - August 19, 1931

It's reported DePriest, Carter, Dr. Ralph Wilson, Auree Scott, Patsy Flannigan, Louis LaChene and other have all been working out daily at Long Beach.

 - August 20, 1931

"Well, well, and another well but what have we here but Sly Sammy Carter seeking a comeback on the mat. I can't tell you just where he has been in the wrestling world to come back from but that's the way the boys are referring to his tiff with Tiny DePriest, 235 pounder, tomorrow night at Bosse Field.

The last time I saw Sammy he was saying: 'Give m some of that Sew It Seams. I want to get back in the wrestling game and I need a big boost.'

I took one squint at Sammy and decided that he was entirely too big for me to boost. A horse, you know, can only do its best. A great big horse, feeling mean, might have given Sammy a boost at that time. It was about three weeks ago and I'd judge that he weighed around 265 or 260. That is entirely too much avoirdupois for me to monkey with so I acted accordingly.
However I note in the public prints that he has secured a 'comeback whirl' on his own initiative.

The last time Sly Sammy appeared before the public as a grappler was against Socko Dick. Sammy trained a la Chuck Wiggins, so they tell me for the match, taking it very lightly as it was just another straw on an elephant's back.

But when he tugged for some 10 minutes with the determined Socko, he was panting and puffing like an old locomotive on a hard uphill pull.

In fact he had to hold up his hand and signal for time before he could muster up enough energy to say 'I forfeit.'

Having thus been stopped as a matster, he went into retreat and for some time nothing was heard of him. However he has heard the call of the mat again and they tell me he is in very good condition if not in the proverbial pink."

 - August 21, 1931

Carter returns to the mat in an amateur bout, on a pro-card and defeats another local wrestler Tiny DePriest, in DePriest's debut, at Bosse Field.

 - August 22, 1931

"Sammy was in good humor after the match last night. He watched George Zaharias trim George Tragos, and remarked while the match was going on: 'Boy, I wish I could twist ears like those birds can.'

 - September 20, 1931

Carter and Tragos are scheduled for the same show - not wrestling each other.

"POLICEMAN HELD FOR PERJURY AS FRAMEUP OF NEGRO IS CHARGED

Lynn Out on Bond, Three Other Officers Suspended as Witnesses Admit False Testimony Against Bud McGill

LAUNDRY WAGON DRIVER ARRESTED

Says He Told Holdup Story to 'Help a Friend'; Woman Admits She Was in Cat at Time of Shooting

A city policeman and one of his friends faced perjury charges Saturday night as a result of confessions by two persons that their testimony in the Circuit Court trial of Bud McGill, colored, was false.

The policeman is Ernest Lynn, 31, 706 E. Florida-st, who shot McGill last May 25 during what Lynn described as an attempted holdup on Outer Covert Avenue.

Arrested with Lynn were Carl Ritz, 32, laundry wagon driver, 120 E. Columbia-st, and Miss Lena Morrow, 39, 40S S.E. Third-st.

Ritz and Lynn were charged with perjury. Miss Morrow was held as a witness and was released on her recognizance.

Ritz remained in jail while Lynn was released on $1000 bond.

The perjury confessions became known Saturday night following a meeting of the Safety Board, when it was also announced three other policemen had been suspended, pending Lynn's and Ritz' arraignments before Circuit Judge John W. Spencer Jr., Monday at 9 a. m.
The three policemen are: Samuel Carter, 1624 Fountain-av; Adrian Gaffney, 409 E. Missouri-st and Ermin MaVeety, 1025 W. Indiana-st.

Judge Releases McGill

Investigation of the case, resulting in confessions, came to a head following Judge Spencer's release of McGill from the County Jail Saturday. McGill had been charged with robbery.

Judge Spencer declared he was not going to send a man to prison on the kind of evidence that had been offered during McGill's trial, and indicated that he was inclined to believe charges that McGill had been 'framed.'

Ritz, who had testified at a preliminary hearing for McGill in City Court, that he had been driven by, had helped place McGill in Lynn's car after the Negro had been shot, and had followed Lynn's car to police headquarters, admitted in his confession, that he had never even been near the place that night.

Lynn had testified during McGill's trial that McGill had jumped on the running board of his car, held him up and forced him to give up his purse. He said that he had shot at the Negro in self-defense.

McGill, in his own defense, testified that Lynn was parked in his automobile with a woman. The Negro said he was walking across a field close to the car, and that Lynn yelled at him, jumped out of the car and began shooting.
Lynn denied at the trial that there was a woman with him.

Miss Morrow's Story

Despite the fact that Lynn told a Press reporter Saturday night that he 'didn't even know that woman they had up there tonight.' Miss Morrow, in the signed statement she gave police, said she had known the policeman over a year.
'On the night of May 25th, while attending the wrestling matches at the Coliseum, Mr. Lynn agreed to take my home,' she says in her statement. 'Lynn and I left the Coliseum together between 10:30 and 11 p. m.

'Ernest Lynn, instead of taking me home, took me for a ride. He drove his automobile on Outer Covert Avenue and parked at an intersection just off Covert Avenue.

'Lynn had asked me to permit him to love me. I refused but finally consented to get into the back seat with him.

'When we had been in the back seat for a while I heard a tapping on the window on the right side of the car.

'Lynn got out of the car and said to a Negro who was standing there: "What the hell are you doing here?" The Negro started to run and Lynn followed him. I stayed in the rear seat of the car.

'It was very dark and I could not see Mr. Lynn or the Negro. However, I heard Lynn fire four or five shots. In five or 10 minutes Lynn returned to the car with the Negro.

'I am not positive, but I believe the Negro was limping and was being aided to the auto by Lynn.
'Lynn was very mad and cursing. He asked the Negro what he did with his purse.

'The negro kept repeating that he didn't get Lynn's purse. Lynn told the negro to get in the back of the car and as the negro started to get in, Lynn struck him. I don't know whether he kicked him or struck him over the head.

'Before Lynn put the negro on the back seat he asked me to hold the flashlight on him. While I was holding the flashlight, Lynn lifted up the front seat and put something under it.

'Lynn asked me to go to the Police Station with him, but I refused and he took me home.

'Some time after the shooting, Lynn met me on the street and said that he was not going to say anything about me being with him.'

Connection of the other three policemen, Carter, Gaffney and MaVeety, with the case, is the result of a search they made of the field at the scene of the 'holdup' where they said they found a gun which Lynn identified as the one he said McGill used to hold him up.

This was despite the fact that two other policemen were reported to have searched for the gun for hours, in vain, just after Lynn bropught the Negro to police headquarters.

In his signed confession, Carter declared the three policemen searched the field from, about 1 a. m. to daylight, to no avail. Lynn suggested that they search McGill's home on North Evans Avenue, and it was there that they found a 38 calibre revolver.

'We then returned to Covert Avenue and looked again for the purse,' Carter says. "After we were unable to find the purse, Lynn suggested that we all agree that the gun had been found in the field and to use it as evidence against McGill. We all shook hands and agreed never to tell any different than that the gun was found there.

'We all came back downtown and handed the gun in to the turnkey and told him that we found it out on Covert-av where Lynn shot the Negro."

Officers MaVeety and Gaffney denied any plot to protect Lynn.

'I picked up a stick when we were searching,' MaVeety said.

'That's the stick the robber used on me,' Lynn said.

'So I supposed it was. That's all I know about it. We shook hands, but I didn't know it was about any plot.'

Gaffney said he was hunting for money he believed Lynn had lost in good faith.

'I really thought McGill had robbed him,' Gaffney declared.

Carl Ritz, who faces the perjury charge along with Lynn, told a Press reporter that he got 'in bad' trying to help out a friend.
'I was at the home of Fred Slater, 610 Baker-av, a cousin of Lynn, one night,' Ritz said. 'Lynn came in and we were kidding him about shooting the Negro and the hold-up.

'Well, just remember that you were out there that night and that you saw me and that you know all about the holdup,' Lynn told me.

'Naturally, I thought he was just kidding, and I thought no more about it until I was subpoened as a witness. Then - well, I'd known Ernest four years, he was a good friend and I didn't want to let him down.'

Lynn, interviewed at his home after the Safety Board meeting, said he was hazy about what happened.

'I simmply turned in my badge,' he said. 'I don't know what the others confessed to.'

When told of the details of their confessions, Lynn said, 'Something sure went wrong. That's bad.

Talked Loud

'I just couldn't understand what they said at the hearing, tho they all talked loud at times.

'I do know that Judge Spencer slapped me on the back once and said, "I'm for you, Lynn."'

Lynn said he was looking for a lawyer and refused to talk about the details of the alleged robbery.

'Do you know Miss Lena Morrow?' he was asked.

'I don't know that woman they had up there tonight,' Lynn replied.

Talks on Lowe Case

Safety Board President Edward Deikmann declared after the suspension of the four officers that the city police force had 'cleaned house.'

'If Lynn is found guilty of perjury he will be fired from the police force for good,' Diekmann said. 'The others probably will be given hearings after they appear before Judge Spencer.'

He said the only case pending before the board was that of Patrolman Horace Lowe, colored, charged with shooting Homer Jackson, 16-year-old colored boy, when he found the foumd the youth in a crap game.

Deikmann said Lowe would probably be given a two-week suspension as punishment for the shooting.

Explaining how evidence for the charges against Lynn was obtained, Police Chief Bell said he was making an investigation after the policeman testified in court but couldn't trace the woman in the case.

'Someone gave me a tip finally that she passed the Police Station every day,' Chief Bell said.

'I watched for her and when she passed tonight I had someone on hand to identify her and ordered her brought her to testify.'
He refused to divulge who had given him the tip."

---- Different newspaper ----

"3 OFFICERS CONFESS 'PLANTING' OF GUN IN LYNN SHOOTING CASE

Courier-Journal Reporter Uncovers Clues That Lead to Confessions of Men Involved; Declare Story Policeman Told of Wounding Negro in Holdup Attempt Was False; Victim's Account of Disturbing 'Petting Party' Upheld by Woman in Case; All Face Four Charges

The complete story of how Granville 'Bud' McGill, 40, colored, 503 North Evans avenue, was 'framed' on a robbery charge after he had been shot by Ernest C. Lynn, 34, traffic officer, was told in confessions obtained last night.

Investigations that have been made secretly by reporters of The Courier and Journal, Circuit Judge John W. Spencer, jr., Chief of Police Emmett Bell and Detective Chief Ira Wiltshire resulted in a complete confession of the 'frame-up' last night by three officers involved and two other persons figuring in the case.

The confessions in brief tell of how McGill came upon Lynn the night of May 26 this year, while the officer was engaged in a petting paty with Lena Morrow, 39, 408 Southeast Third street, in the rear seat of his parked car on Outer Covert avenue; how Lynn shot the colored man and the officers later obtained a fun from McGill's home and 'planted' it at the shooting scene to bear out a robbery theory.

SPENCER STARTS PROBE

The first word on the 'framing' of McGill developed 10 days ago when McGill went on trial before Circuit Judge Spencer. The colored man told substantially the same story given in the confessions last night. Judge Spencer stopped the trial and began an investigation into the serious 'framing' charges. Reporters of The Courier and Journal began digging after clues which were given to Judge Spencer, who in turn cooperated with Chiefs Wiltshire and Bell.

Small success resulted until yesterday when new clues uncovered by William Barlow of The Courier and Journal staff resulted in a Saturday night conference at police headquarters between Judge Spencer, Chiefs BEll, Wiltshire and Courier and Journal reporters.

PROMPT JUSTICE IN CASE PLEDGED BY SAFETY BOARD

The safety board, through President Dieckmann, issued a statement last night after officers and witnesses had confessed to perjured testimony in the McGill case, pledging prompt punishment for those 'who have been false to their oath and their uniforms.'

The statement also gave credit to Judge Spencer, Chief Bell, Chief Wiltshire and The Courier and Journal in helping uncover the conspiracy. It follows:

"The McGill case, in its inception, was a holdup case, which went through the police department as a matter of routine. There were no suspicious circumstances visible at that time. But at the trial of the case in circuit court, the experienced legal mind of Judge Spencer immediately detected certain falsities in the testimony, with the result that he held the case over for further investigation and called me into conference, suggesting a full and complete analysis of the facts by the police department. I promised he cooperation of the department and immediately instructed the chiefs to make a searching investigation. The department quietly and secretly began that hardest of all tasks - an investigation of itself - with the result that officers tonight admitted perjured testimony and made complete statements of their guilt.

'The safety board will stand behind its officers to the limit when they are engaged in proper activities and for the good of the department and the welfare of the city it will seek prompt and just punishment for officers who have been false to their oath and their uniforms.

'The safety board thanks the Evansville Courier and Journal for its assistance in the solving of the case, it thanks Judge Spencer for his suggestion to the safety board to investigate its police department, and it commends the chief of police and the chief of detectives for their prompt action and clever police work.'

Lynn no later than yesterday afternoon had made a new statement to Chief Bell and Wiltshire in which he still maintained that he was alone in his automobile the night of the shooting, that he was held up by McGill when he turned his ear around and shot the negro as he ran away with his pocketbook.

WITNESS ADMITS LIE

Carl Ritz, 32, 120 East Columbia street, Krauss laundry driver, who testified in court and had made affidavits that he drove by the shooting scene on Outer Covert avenue just as the shots were fired and had assisted Lynn in bringing the negro to the city, was one of the first to admit that he had lied.

'It's all a lie, I wasn't even out there. Lynn just had me testify that,' he admitted and later came out with the complete story. Traffic Officers E.E. Maveety, Samuel Carter and Adrian Gaffney came through with the truth then and admitted they had 'planted' McGill's gun to aid Lynn and that their testimony in circuit court against McGill on the robbery charge was false.
Miss Morrow, clerk in an uptown department store, next told of being out with Lynn the night of the shooting and the circumstances surrounding. Meanwhile Lynn was being questioned in another room and he also admitted he was out with a woman, but declared:

SAID SHE WAS MARRIED

'I can't tell you who she is. She is married and her husband would kill me if he ever found it out.' This was also found to be false since Miss Morrow is not married.

Lynn was discharged from the department immediately after the confessions had been signed and was placed under a $1,000 bond which was signed by Mr. and MRs. Earl Lynn, 700 East Florida street. Officers Maveety, Gaffney and Carter were suspended and ordered to be in court Monday morning. Carl Ritz was placed under $1,000 bond for his appearance Monday in circuit court. Miss Morrow was released on her own recognizance.

Lynn reached at his home, by telephone after he had made bond, shouted at a Courier and Journal reporter 'No, it's no use,' when asked if he wished to make a statement.

FACES SERIOUS CHARGES

Charges which can and perhaps will be filed against Lynn, Maveety, Carter, Gaffney and Ritz are perjury, subornation of perjury, conspiracy to commit a felony and contempt of court. The charges carry prison terms varying from two to 14 years and heavy fines ont he major charges, down to a $1,000 fine and three months in jail for contempt of court.

The statement of Ritz, which police still believe fails to tell all the truth, shows that after the shooting about midnight of May 25, Lynn told the story at Ritz's boarding house in Columbia street. After everybody had left Lynn told him to say that he was there just after the shooting occurred. He admits that he went to court, testified as Lynn had suggested and that he got no remuneration for his false testimony. He later admitted that Lynn had loaned him $50 when his mother died, but that he had paid all of it back to Lynn except $11. The loan was made after the shooting.

OFFICERS ADMIT READILY

Gaffney, Maveety and Carter readily admitted their part in the frame-up. They said that at the request of Lynn they spent almost three hours searching the field which McGill was shot and at Lynn's suggestion decided to search McGill's home in North Evans avenue. There they found a .38 caliber gun in a tin box and returned to Covert avenue. Lynn then suggested that they all agree to say the gun had been found in the field and to so testify in a robbery charge against McGill. 'We all shook hands and agreed to stick to the story,' Carter declared. The others said practically the same.

'We were just sticking by a brother officer and believed that McGill had held up Lynn,' remarked Gaffney.

The story told by Miss Morrow last night and McGill on the witness stand are almost identical. However Miss Morrow said that McGill tapped on the window of the car while McGil says that he passed only near it when Lynn saw him and shot. The bullet passed through McGill's back and lodged beneath his stomach permanently crippling him.

HAS SHOT ANOTHER

Lynn several years ago while a street car motorman, shot Douglas Spradley, Boonville youth, who he said had held him up at the end of the street car line.

Arriving at police headquarters just as the last confessions were being typed, Edwin P. Dieckmann, president of the board of safety, became enraged when he read the confessions of the policemen.

'I called all you men in and asked you to tell me the truth and you lied - I have felt it my duty to stick by the policemen because the public is prone to knock you men without understanding the trials you have.

'This thing is unthinkable - disgusting Bah! It makes me want to quit this job. I haven't words to tell you men how low down and despicable I think you are. You aren't fit to mingle with honesty people. Any man that would frame a man into the penitentiary - that would attempt to send an innocent man, colored or white, to prison on perjured testimony surely belongs in prison himself.

TAKES AWAY BADGES

'Take those badges off and turn them in. Don't ever come to me or the chiefs here for sympathy. You have given the whole department a black eye and brought it in disrepute.

'What sort of a conscience have you men got, anyway? The safety board has been honest and decent with you and you betrayed us and the public who pays your salary. I don't ever want to talk to you again. I'm through with you, absolutely through.

'Thank God, Judge Spencer had enough sense to see through your testimony when it came up in court and McGill wasn't sent to the penitentiary,' shouted Dieckmann.

Judge Spencer yesterday released McGill on his own recognizance. The colored man's trial was to have been continued tomorrow, but since new clues had been uncovered, and were being developed, Judge Spencer yesterday vacated the trial date of tomorrow and allowed the colored man his freedom without bond.

Coroner Ed Kraft, Baptisttown druggest, has also been active in the investigation and testified at the McGill trial that the colored man had always borne a good reputation.

Traffic Captain William Perrett also aided in the investigation and declared that he remembered seeing Lynn leave the Coliseum the night of the shooting wiht a dark-haired girl who works on Main street.

'I don't know the woman's name but she passed the headquarters every morning until the day of the trial and after that she never came by any more,' Perrett said. Lynn yesterday afternoon denied Perrett's statement and said he left the Coliseum with P.L. Kluga.

Painter will be called in to make a statement, Chief Bell said last night. Painter was discharged from the police force a few weeks ago over the theft of a pair of binoculars, allegedly stolen from an uptown store during a fire and found in Painter's possession. Painter was on the traffic squad."

[There was a lot of stuff printed in newspapers about this case, after the initial reports I started to try and just type up the new information, as there was just so much being put out there]

 - September 21, 1931

"Prelim Card Changed

A change in the preliminary card has been made on the request of Charles F. Artes, member of the state athletic commission. The schedule match between Sammy Carter, Evansville Policeman, and Maurice Ping, has been postponed until after the meeting of the Evansville board of safety Thursday."

Buster Carter, young brother of Sammy, is announced for the show in an amateur bout.

Buster is still attending Central high school.

"DIEKMANN SAYS POLICE SHAKEUP WON'T HIT CHIEF; FOUR OFFICERS ARE FREED ON BOND

HEARINGS ON FRAMEUP WILL BE THURSDAY

Carter, MaVeety and Gaffney Are Arrested in Court

Four Evansville traffic policemen and Carl Ritz, laundry wagon driver, were formally charged with perjury in the case of Granville 'Bud' McGill, 40, colored, in Circuit Court Monday.

Their hearing has been set for 9 a. m. Thursday.

Ernest Lynn, who testified that McGill attempted to hold him up the night of May 25, $.$. MaVeety, Samuel Carter and Adrian Gaffney are the officers.

MaVeety, Carter and Gaffney were placed under arrest in the courtroom. Ritz and Lynn had been arrested Saturday.
Bond for Ritz and Lynn was set at $2000 each by Circuit Judge Spencer. Bond for the other three was $1000 each.
The five men were taken by Chief Deputy Sherriff Bert Morris to the sheriff's office where they were held until bond was arranged.

Gaffney's bond was signed by City Court Balliff Hassell Parks; MaVeety's by Rubin E. and Grace M. Trice; Ritz' by George L. Krauss, 105 N. Main-st; Carter's b Manson Reichert and Lynn's by Matilda Lynn, 300 E. Walnut-st.

Robbery charges against McGill were dismissed after Police Chief Bell was placed on the stand and and testifiedf tht he had obtained confessions admitting perjury.

The statements made Saturday night by Officers Gaffney, McVeety and Carter, Ritz and Miss Lena Morrow, 39, 40S S. Third-st, who was Lynn's companion the night of May 25, were introduced as evidence.

Former Officer Ed Painter, also involved in the case, was not seen in the courtroom and no mention of him was made.

Big Crowd Attends

The crowd overflowed the room, many standing in the hallway in an attempt to hear the proceedings.

Prosecutor E. Menzies Lindsey filed a joint-affidavit against the five and was believed preparing an affidavit charging Painter with conspiracy.

Lynn testified at McGill's trial that the colored man had attempted to hold him up and that he shot McGill as the latter fled.
Testimony given by the officers and Ritz at McGill's robbery trial held up Lynn's story.

Ia an atempt to verify Lynn's account of the alleged holdup and robbery, MaVeety and Gaffney testified they had found a gun and a stout club at the spot, whereas, McGill charged the officers had 'framed' him.

The Negro declared he was passing Lynn's auto, in which Lynn and a woman named Margaret were seated, when Lynn suddenly looked up and noticed him.

McGill said Lynn ran after him and shot him in the back.

Ritz Changes Story

After Ritz, the laundry wagon driver, had been repeatedly questioned by Lindsey and by Edward Diekmaan, Board of Safety president, he confessed, according to Diekmann, he had acted as an 'alibi' witness for Lynn.

Ritz testified in the robbery trial of McGill that he passed the Covert Avenue 'holdup' scene a sort time after Lynn had shot McGill and he swore no woman was with Lynn at the time. He said he assisted in bringing McGill to Police Headquarters.
He admitted Saturday night that he was not near the spot at the time and that he had testified for Lynn thru friendship. He further admitted he owed Lynn money.

Shook Hands

Samuel Carter also made a statement Saturday night in which he said it had been agreed between the traffic officers to support Lynn in the robbery trial. He then related how they had gone to McGill's home after the shooting, finding a revolver.
Lynn brought the revolver into court and declared it had been found in a weed patch near the robbery scene. Carter said that after Lynn 'found' the revolver in the weed patch, they all shook hands and agreed upon the story.

Miss Morrow, in a statement to police Saturday night, admitted she was with Lynn in his auto the night he shot McGill.
The perjury statute carries a penalty of from two to 14 years upon conviction.

In dismissing McGill, Judge Spencer scored the five men accused of perjury.

'While this court is in no sense a court of inquisition, nevertheless the Circuit Court possesses inherent power to ferret out perjury occurring in its courtroom,' Spencer said.

'This case presents a most amazing example of the dangers of accepting first impressions. The case of the State of Indiana against McGill was complete, each element of the crime of robbery fully established by the testimony of officers sworn to uphold the law. The witnesses for the defense were the defendant and his family, none of them disinterested.

'A miscarriage of justice has very nearly resulted. It is unfortunate that respect for our courts has fallen so low, that five men without hesitation blot the records of this court with vile perjury, to the end that a fellow citizen may be deprived of his liberty thru process of law.

Truth Reveals Itself

'Most abhorrent of all perjury is bearing false witness against a neighbor to insure his conviction on a criminal charge.

'To a decent mind such an act is incomprehensible. Yet, we have found that situation in this case.

'Fortunately, the truth has an unceasing way of revealing itself in due course. The court is convinced that the defendant in the case has committed no crime.

'This is in no sense a criticism of the legal representatives of the state. The prosecuting attorney was deceived and imposed upon by his own witnesses.

'With respect to those whose evil machinations almost sent this defendant to prison for at least 10 years, I am sure the prosecutor needs no recommendation from this court as to his course of action.

Policemen Are Sued

Attorney Oscar Lanphar, acting for McGill, filed suits in Circuit Court and Probate Court Monday.

The Circuit Court suit was filed against Lynn, asking $20,000. It charges Lynn shot and struck McGill, that McGill is now a permanent cripple and that he has spent $250 for medical treatment.

The suit also asks a restraining order preventing Lynn from carrying out a threat to dispose of his personal property or to withdraw money from his bank.

The Probate Court suit was filed against Lynn, Gaffney, MaVeety, Carter and the City of Evansville, and asks $10,000. It charges conspiracy to enable Lynn to shelf himself and to send McGill to prison.

The suit contains a request for an order of restraining the City of Evansville from paying any wages due the four officers, and preventing men from disposing of their property or withdrawing money from their banks.

Lynn first gained city-wide attention as 'the shooting conductor' after he fatally wounded Douglas Spradley, 20, when the youth attempted to hold up Lynn when he was a conductor on the Walnut Street car line, June 9, 1926.

Lynn said following that shooting that he became suspicious when he noticed a large sedan parked without lights. He drew his gun and when Spradley climbed aboard and demanded Lynn to turn over his watch and money, he fired.

Spradley was shot thru the body and Lynn then fired thru the window at Spradley's fleeing companions.

Lynn said after he had shot Spradley that 'he hated to shoot the boy, but it was the only thing he could do."

"FIREMAN GAVE FRAMEUP TIP

Say Ritz Promised Immunity for the 'Truth'

Information that the testimony of Carl Ritz, 32, 120 E. Columbia st, in the case of Granville 'Bud' McGill, colored, was false, was obtained by Circuit Judge Spencer thru Willard Fetinger, fireman at Hose House No. 10, it was learned Monday.

Ritz's arrest Saturday night was followed by the unraveling of facts in the McGill shooting case resulting in the arrest of Traffic Officer E.C. Lynn for attempting to 'frame' the colored man on a holdup charge, and Adrian Gaffney, Sam Carter and E.E. MaVeety, traffic officers, who also testified for Lynn.

Ritz also disclosed the fact that the 'woman in the case' was Miss Lena Morrow, 39, 40S S. E. Third-st, who was taken into custody and also confessed, Fettinger believes.

Overheard Remarks

Fettinger told The Press Monday that he became aware of Ritz's part in the frame-up from remarks he overheard Ritz make at their boarding house at 120 E. Columbia-st.

Judge Spencer authorized him to tell Ritz that he could get 'out of the mess' safely if he would tell the truth, Fettinger said. He old Ritz last Friday, he said, but the offer of immunity had no effect.

'Lynn and Ritz seemed to be good friends,' Fettinger said. 'Right after the shooting May 25, they visited each other a lot. I heard Ritz say several times that he knew nothing about the shooting. Ritz told Grover Long, C. & E., welder who lived at the house, that he owed Lynn $50 and that Lynn was using the fact as a club to make a 'stool pigeon' out of him, Long told me what Ritz said.

Went to Attorney

'I went to Oscar Lanphar, McGill's attorney, last week and told him what I knew about Ritz. Lanphar advised me to tell my story to Judge Spencer. I got in touch with the judge and he sent a messenger out to the hose house to get the information.
'It was then that I was authorized to make Ritz an offer of immunity. I talked to Ritz Friday and told him that if I was in his place I would get up there and tell the truth. I told him what Judge Spencer had said about letting him off. He still said he didn't know anything about the case at all.'

Fettinger said that following Ritz's arrest Saturday night he went to the police station and faced the laundry wagon driver.
'I would have gone to the police in the first place if they had appeared to be interested in the investigation,' Fettinger said. 'I believe it was Ritz who told who the woman in Lynn's car was.'"

"SAFETY BOARD MEETING SET FOR TONIGHT

Four Involved in McGill Case to BE Kicked Off of Force

Rumors that Police Chief Bell would be 'fired' Monday night at a special session of the Safety Board were denied by Board President Ed Dieckmann.

Dieckmann declared Bell's conduct in the police scandal that resulted in the dismissal of four traffic officers was entirely above criticism.

'The board is not even considering any such move,' Dieckmann asserted. 'In this case and in every other case in which I have been associated with Bell in discharge of his duties, I have found him true to his trust.'

'There is no censure for Bell whatsoever coming from the board.'

Angry Statement

When officers Ernest Lynn, E.E. Maveety, Samuel Carter and Adrian Gaffney were suspended from the police force Saturday night for attempting to frame Granville 'Bud' McGill, shot by Lynn, Diekmann scored Bell severely for his conduct in the investigation.

According to police officers who overheard the conversation, Diekmann said: 'Chief, if you are not big enough to handle this department, we'll get some one who can handle it.'

But Diekmann apparently made the statement in the heat of the excitement and had cooled off Monday.

This conversation apparently was partly responsible for the rumors that the chief would be fired.

The four officers involved in the frame-up will be formally discharged from the force at the special meeting Monday night, according to Diekmann.

Mayor In Terre Haute

The Safety Board president said he requested May Griese to sit in with the board and 'help straighten out the police force matters,' but the mayor said he had to go to Terre Haute to attend a meeting of the State Park Commission.
The mayor is not a member of the state commission.

'I don't see why I should be fired,' Chief Bell said. 'I couldn't be blamed for believing what Lynn had to say about the shooting. HE is an officer and is supposed to tell the truth. I had no reason to believe that his statements were false.

'Mr. Diekmann and I are the best of friends and I know he would not work against me. I spent the entire week trying to straighten out this case and I know I am in the clear.

'I can't see how the fact that those four officers perjured themselves could affect my position.'

Chief Bell, Diekmann and Mayor Griese held a conference at the mayor's office Monday morning before the mayor went to Terre Haute.

Diekmann refused to say what was discussed."

"SCORED OUT TO GET TRAFFIC COPS' JOBS

Job hunters Monday besieged Traffic Captain Perrett.

'I've got four vacancies, or I expect to have soon, and 200 applicants,' Perrett lamented.

'And every one of the applicants swears he's more truthful than George Washington and doesn't even know what the word perjury means.'

'The worst part of it is, tho, I'm four men short and the board won't hire a single one of these 200 applicants until after tonight and I guess everybody who wants to is speeding around over the city's streets and doing driving just about how he wants to.'"

 - September 22, 1931

"The Indiana Athletic Commission ordered Promoter F.A. Stagg not to use Sammy Carter, the wrestling cop, who is charged with perjury in connection with the police scandal."

 - October 1, 1931

It's reported a motion to quash the charges against the four policemen is filed.

It's also reported that the four policeman (Gaffney, Lynn, Carter & Maveety) have been replaced.

 - October 5, 1931

It's reported the motion to quash the charges has been denied.

 - October 7, 1931

Sammy Carter is available for line use in an independent football game between Iron Fireman of Evansville and a team from Vincennes.

 - October 8, 1931

It's reported that Carter pleas guilty. [only noted the bit about Carter]

 - October 9, 1931

It's reported that Carter's trial will take place on November 6, 1931. [only noted the bit about Carter]

 - October 21, 1931

Francis A. Stagg wants to use Sam Carter, local 245-pound grappler, in an upcoming match. He has to seek permission from the State Athletic Commission.

 - October 23, 1931

"TO WRESTLE OR NOT TO WRESTLE

Sly Sammy Carter is worried. Carter wants to wrestle. He has a license issued him by the State Boxing Commission, but the commission's representatives here have refused to let Carter appear in a bout until authorized by the state body.

Carter has not been suspended or if he has he has not been notified.

Commissioner Charles Artes was supposed to decide today."

 - October 25, 1931

"CARTER GRAPPLES ON TUESDAY'S CARD

Sammy Carter, ponderous Evansville heavyweight grappler, will appear at the Coliseum Tuesday night, it was announced last night. Carter's differences with the state athletic commission, which had temporarily frowned upon his mat activities here have been [????] out satisfactory, and Carter will be pitted against a suitable foe to be secured by Stagg today."

 - October 26, 1931

"Carter is taking up the mat game as a professional and will leave later this week to fill two engagements out of this city."

 - October 27, 1931

"Sad Sam Carter giant Evansville boy, will meet barefoot Billy Evans in the 15-minute opener" of the show being held tonight. They went to a timelimit draw.

George Tragos also appeared on this card.

 - November 2, 1931

"Carter Trial Venire Draw

A special venire of 25 men was ordered drawn Wednesday for the trial Friday of Samuel Carter, first of the former police traffic officers to face a hearing on charges involving the 'Bud' McGill frame-up scandal."

 - November 3, 1931

Tragos & Carter are on the same card.

 - November 7, 1931

Carter is reported to be 23 years old.

Carter is found guilty of conspiracy and perjury by a jury in Circuit Court.

Took the jury 30 minutes to decide upon a verdict.

Sentencing will be passed on November 13, 1931.

Carter is released on a bond of $2,500.

 - November 8, 1931

W.D. Hardy, Carter's attorney, files an appeal with the State Supreme Court.

 - November 19, 1931

Carter is in county jail pending the court's setting amount of the appeal bond.

It's reported Carter was fined $500.

Given a sentence of 2-14 years.

A retrial was denied.

 - November 20, 1931

It's reported Carter was fined $25 and costs.

 - November 21, 1931

Carter is granted a new trial.

Released on bond.

No date set for the retrial.

 - December 6, 1931

Robert "Lew" Plummer put on a drill session here.

He grappled with Bob Jessen, Sammy Carter and Maurice Ping.

Plummer is preparing for a match with George Tragos.

 - December 13, 1931

Robert Lou Plummer took part in a public workout.

He grappled with Carter and Maurice Ping.

 - December 18, 1931

It's reported Sammy Carter, 247lbs, has offered his services to for the Courier & Journal Christmas Tree Benefit Wrestling Show.

 - December 21, 1931

Sammy Carter is confirmed for the charity card.

His opponent ins to be determined.

 - December 22, 1931

Sammy didn't appear on the charity card, but his brother, Buster, who was still a student in Central high school, did.

 - January 11, 1932

The five cops file a motion to quash the charges against them.

 - January 26, 1932

The date for Carter's new trial is set to February 18.

 - February 18, 1932

A jury of 25 was selected by midday.

Trial started at 2PM.

Adrian Gaffney turned states witness.

He testified on the goings on of the day.

 - February 19, 1932

Carter denies being a party to the plot to frame McGill.

Carter says he only said he was originally due to being threatened by Police Chief Emmett Bell.

Bell admits to make a threat.

Douglas Spradley, a man shot by Lynn previously, claims he and another prisoner, George Nalley, were also both framed by Ernest Lynn.

The jury is sent to deliberate at 5:30PM.

They were locked up for the night at 11PM.

 - February 20, 1932

Carter is found guilty of conspiracy to commit perjury at 10:10 in the morning.

He was found not guilty of perjury.

The jury recommended leniency be given to him.

Sentencing will take place on March 4.

Carter could face from 2 to 14 years in prison.

 - February 21, 1932

It's reported Carter's attorneys will file a motion for a new trial and if overruled, will appeal the Indiana Supreme Court.

 - February 25, 1932

The perjury count against Edgar Painter is dropped.

The charge of conspiracy to commit perjury still remains.

 - February 26, 1932

Ernest C. Lynn is convicted of both perjury and conspiracy to commit a felony.

He will face from 1 to 5 years and 2 to 14 years in jail.

It's noted in the report that Carter was convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony also. 

 - March 5, 1932

At 10AM Carter received 2 to 14 years imprisonment in the Indiana Reformatory.

He is also fined $25.

Special Judge Edward Meyer overruled Carter's motion for a new trial.

The judge ordered Carter into the custody of Sherrif Habbe.

Carter has the option of a $3,000 appeal bond.

He will carry the case to the State Supreme Court.

He received bail by noon Saturday.

Ernest C. Lynn settles a $10,000 lawsuit filed by Granville "Bud" McGill.

Lynn settled for about half of the amount.

The suit was filed due to the bullet wound in McGill's back caused by Lynn.

 - March 8, 1932

Edgar Painter is acquitted of conspiracy to commit a felony.

 - March 10, 1932

Ernest C. Lynn is sentenced to 2 to 14 years for conspiracy to commit a felony.

He is also fined $100.

Lynn is also sentenced to 10 years on a charge of perjury.

 - April 2, 1932

Ermin E. MaVeety was convicted of count two, charging perjury, which carries a prison sentence of 1 to 5 years.

He was found not guilty of count one, charging perjury.

MaVeety had waived his right to trial by jury.

He was tried by Special Judge Edward H. Meyer.

 - April 13, 1932

Carl Ritz is found guilty of perjury.

He received a suspended sentence of 1 to 5 years.

He is also found guilty of conspiracy to commit a felony.

He received a suspended sentence of 2 to 14 years and a $25 fine.

He is also found guilty for contempt of court.

He received 90 days in county jail.

 - April 18, 1932

Ermin MaVeety "rather than have what he called 'having his record smeared,' decided to appeal to state supreme court from a suspended sentence of one to 16 years on charge of perjury."

Adrian Gaffney, who turned states evidence, received a 1-10 years suspended sentence for perjury.

He received a suspended sentence of 2-14 years for conspiracy to commit a felony.

April 19, 1932-July 28, 1932

No mention of Carter in press.

 - July 29, 1932

"Sam Carter, professional wrestler, will instruct the amateur wrestlers."

That is in relation to an amateur card promoted by Francis A. Stagg and Dr. Karl Kraft.

Buster Carter was on the card.

 - August 1932

No mention of Carter in the press.

 - September 20, 1932

Carter loses to Sid Nabors on a Francis A. Stagg card.

 - October 18, 1932

Carter loses to Nabors again. 

He slaps his hand away at the end of the match, when Nabors tries to shake Carter's.

 - October 26, 1932

Carter leaves Evansville for Kansas City with Jack Roller to embark on a career as a professional wrestler.

 - October 28, 1932-December 28, 1933

All is quiet on the Carter front.

 - September 12, 1933

In the births column: "Mr. and Mrs. Sam Carter, 1607 West Maryland street, son, Donal Delona."

 - March 6, 1934

Carter wrestled to a 10 minute draw with Joe Hein in the preliminary.

 - September 26, 1934

"Sam Carter, former wrestling-aspirant, refereed the first match. Except for the fact that he moved his 230 pounds with some difficulty Sammy got along o.k."

Two other newspapers said Carter was still a heavyweight wrestler.

 - October 10, 1934

"In the preliminary match, which was a preliminary match in every sense of the word, fat and pouchy Georgie Tragos defeated LaVerne Baxter, two falls out of three. Sad Sam Carter gave Baxter the first fall when he disqualified Tragos."

This is said to be Tragos' first appearance here since November 1932.

 - November 25, 1934

It's said Carter is going to play in an independent football game: Bud Davidson's All-Stars Vs. Colored All-Stars.

It's said "football stars that glittered brightly on local high school gridirons and college fields during the past decade will don moleskins again."

The Colored All-Stars won 15-0.

Carter played Right Guard.

 - December 4, 1934

Carter has moved his way up to refereeing the main event.

[He continues to ref regularly]

  - December 28, 1934

Samuel Carter and Ernest Lynn both have their verdicts overturned by the Indiana Supreme Court.

Their cases were heard by the Vanderburgh Circuit Court.

They had previously been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.

Lynn had also been charged with perjury.

"The convictions were reversed on the grounds the prosecutor had failed to approve affidavits on which the men were arrested." 

"Since the reversal was not due to any failure in evidence, the proper course is to endorse an affidavit in Circuit Court, round up the witnesses, and re-try the case," said Prosecutor Denton.

 - December 31, 1934

It's said Ernest C. Lynn and Carter will be re-tried within 60 days.

 - January 16, 1935

"Sam Carter, 25, of 1607 W. Maryland-st, wrestling referee and former policeman, was fined $11 in City Court Wednesday on a charge of assault and battery.

Ben Cotton, 60, of 1320 Edgar-st, Karges Furniture Company engineer, said Carter struck him down in the engine room at the plant. Carter pleaded not guilty."

The fine was actually $1, he was charged $10 in costs.

Judge Marlon J. Rice oversaw the trial.

 - February 25, 1935
"[Orville] Brown planned to work out Monday afternoon at the Tabernacle, using Sam Carter and Joe Hein as his punching bags.

Carter, the sad referee who gave up the mat game when the going got rough, has a cauliflower ear. He has had a secret ambition to look like a wrestler and in a workout last week with Frank Fausch, who also aspires to a wrestling career, Promoter Stagg accommodated the Carter ear desire.

Stragg stepped on Carter's ear and the result was very satisfactory."

 - February 26, 1935

"Ponderous Sammy Carter and Franklin Fausch were on hand to work out with Brown and when they learned he would not appear, they mixed on the mat. After several minutes of terrific snortin', puffin' and grappling, Fausch remarked that 'Sammy was a better wrestler than referee and I think he's a pretty good referee.'"

 - February 27, 1935

Ermin E. Maveety also has his conviction reversed in the Indiana Supreme Court for the same reason as Lynn and Carter.

 - March 19, 1935

Carter refereed a match between Billy Edwards and Jack Warner, the match ended in a draw.

Edwards objected to Carter's refereeing throughout the bout.

At the end of the bout Edwards challenged Carter to a match, and Carter accepted.

Another report said: "Sad Sam, who had given Warner plenty of needed assistance in his match with Edwards, found Referee Chris Huber much less effective and Sad Sam lost the impromptu affair, two falls to one." The report continued: "Sad Sammy is down to a mere 247 and he looked to be in pretty good shape. Carter stayed with Edwards for 13 minutes and then found himself flat on his back. Sammy got the second fall on disqualification in seven minutes and then Billy took the deciding flop in seven more.

The crowd of about 1000 cheered Sammy lustily but the home town boy threw them down.

'Edwards wore me out in his match with Warner,' Carter said after the session. 'I had to toss him around more than Warner did. I'm getting in shape tho, and some of these days I'm going to surprise these guys around here.'"

 - March 24, 1935

"Sam Carter, something of a falling leaf in the wrestling game in the past, is perking up these days.

Sam is reducing (honest) and taking the mat game seriously. If you ever notice the name 'Jim Haskell' in the wrestling notices just say to yourself: 'Well, there's Sad Sam taking it on the lam again.'

In the same article Carter offers his opinion on who the (local) Masked Marvel is: "I know it isn't me because I'm not that good," said Sam. "And I know it isn't Frank Fausch because - well, just because I know it isn't Frank.

"His feet are not as big as Plummer's and he is inches broader than Tommy Marvin.

"I'm telling you this guy is Mammy Yokum in disguise. Yes sir, its Mammy sure as the world."

 - March 31, 1935

"Evansville's ponderous Sammy Carter, who has done a little bit of everything - footballing, policing, wrestling, coal mining and refereeing - is ready to answer the call of the mat again.

He has been in training since the first of the year and can prove that 46 pounds of loose flesh have disappeared during hours of tugging and grunting on the Agoga tabernacle mat with such fellows as Franklin Fausch, Joe Heim, Norman 'Brueder' Crowley, and various professionals who have stopped off in Evansville for a day or so between matches.

'I weighed 290 pounds late in December when I decided to get down to business,' said Sammy. 'I weighed 244 Friday after I had worked four hours with Jackie Warner.

'Wrestling is just like anything else,' continued Sammy. 'If you want to be good, you've got to bear down. You can't get anywhere missing around. I've tried it.'

TWO YEARS ago Sammy sallied forth to make good in the wrestling game but it wasn't good to him.

He jumped down to Knoxville and Matros Kirilenko, the mad Russian, flattened him in four minutes. Five other matches followed and the best he had to talk about was a 16-minute stay with Sol Slagel at Charlotte, N.C.

'They treated me awful and were rough about it,' confided Sammy to the writer on return home.

Sammy's mat ambitions burst into flame at the Coliseum three or so years ago when he grappled in an impromptu bout with Charley Blackstock.

Nervous and excited to such an extent he hardly knew his name, Sammy crawled into the ring with Blackstock, who has a sense of humor. Noticing Sammy's condition, he decided to have some fun. He let Sammy 'go to town' and was tossed here and there. Then he began running around the ring with Ponderous Sammy in hot pursuit. Finally Sammy became winded. He stepped to the center of the ring and with head up, chest out and the bearing of a champion said so all could hear: 'Come out and wrestle like a man.'

Blackstock walked over, grabbed Sammy and banged him to the mat and it was all over.

Since then Sammy has learned a lot about wrestling in the same manner Kipling learned about women. He has come into contact with them as opponent and referee. Perhaps the opponent is superfluous as all referees are opponents today.

Just a few weeks ago, Sammy slipped out in the dark under and took on Mountain Boy Thor Johnson, 344 pounds at Kansas City and Dick Raines at Peoria. He went 14 minutes with the Mountain boy and a few more with Raines.

'After wrestling Raines, I felt pretty good,' said Sammy, 'until Raines came up and said, "you wrestle just like you referee"' Sammy has an idea Raines doesn't like his refereeing.

Anyway Sammy is working out diligently and making plenty of progress according to some of the wrestling experts. Dr. Ralph Wilson says he has plenty of promise and Ralph means it.

Fausch, however, is his greatest booster and believer. 'In all my 15 years of wrestling, I've never encountered anyone so tough as Carter,' Fausch declared the other day."

 - April 21, 1935

"Sad Sam Carter, one of the world's worst wrestling referees, will leave this week for an extended tour of the South via the wrestling mats.

Sad Sam will wrestle in Tulsa, Okla., before going on down in Texas, where he has a dozen matches. He will visit with his brother, Buster, at Durant, Okla."

[He went on a two day tour to Alabama a week or so earlier, where he won and lost one]

 - May 2, 1935

It's said Carter is billed as "Evansville's Wrestling Policeman" while touring the south.

 - May 26, 1935

"Evansville's most recent contribution to the wrestling game, Sad Sam Carter, trifle sadder than usual, scribbles a narrative of his traveling experiences in the southwest, his theme being 'Primo Carnera may be a big shot fighter,, but he's a bigger shot moocher.' He vented.

'On the night of May 9, I Wrestled in Texarkana, Ark., and Carnera, the big hearted spaghetti bender, came down from Hot Springs to referee for $100, about five times as much as I got for wrestling,' pens Carter. Then Vacturoff was on the card and he and I had matches in Hot Springs the next night. We borrowed the promoter's car. As we were ready to shove off up came Carnera and his half-pint manager wanting to go with us, and willing to share the expenses. After 100 miles, we had a blow-out. Our tools were in bad condition and as Vacturoff and I tried to get the car on the jack, Carnera and his manager stood by, hands in pockets, watching. Finally the manager asked Carnera to lift the car for us. He lifted with all his strength but didn't even move the bumper. *** We drove Carnera and manager to their hotel in Hot Springs and they stepped out and said 'Goodbye boy.' Vacturoff called the back and said, 'How about a little expense money?' Carnera tried to make us believe he couldn't understand English and called his manager, who just murmured and walked away. Vacturoff and I decided we'd rather be little wrestlers than big shot moochers like Carnera and his manager who 'wouldn't give one dollar for transportation of two people 150 miles.'

Sammy concludes by saying he is learning more about the art of wrestling every day and guesses he's doing right well considering everything which calls for a lot of consideration."

 - June 2, 1935

Carter arrived back in the city along with Dick Raines.

Carter had to cut his tour short due to a "siege of boils."

 - June 6, 1935

New affidavits will be filed in the Carter, Maveety and Lynn cases as they go back to City Court to be re-tried.

 - June 11, 1935

The new affidavits are now ready for Carter, Maveety and Lynn, they just need to be signed before being filed.

The three are being charged with conspiracy to commit perjury and perjury.

 - June 11, 1935

Carter appears on a card as a referee.

Lou Thesz wrestles on the card.

 - June 11, 1935

Carter is said to be done to somewhere between 220-229lbs.

 - June 13, 1935

It's expected Carter, Maveety and Lynn will be arraigned on the new charges today.

The former officers file a motion to quash the charges, this will be heard on Monday.

Carter is being charged with conspiracy to commit perjury.

His bond has been set at $1,000.

Lynn is being charged with conspiracy and perjury.

His bond has been set at $2,000.

MaVeety is charged with perjury.

His bond has been set at $1,000.

MaVeety is said to be in Florida.

 - June 17, 1935

Edward Meyer is acting as the special judge.

The motion to quash the affidavits will now be heard on Tuesday.

 - June 18, 1935

Carter refereed a match between Lou Thesz and Dan O'Connor.

Carter got into a wrestling tangle with O'Connor during the bout and Thesz saved him.

Said to be Thesz's first appearance in Evansville.

 - June 20, 1935

"Sad Sam Carter has been trying to interest them [the police force] in a wrestling program and Wire and Pemberton are said to have displayed plenty of promise."

 - June 23, 1935

Lou Thesz is due to arrive in Evansville.

Francis A. Stagg has lined up Carter and Elmer new for a public workout with Thesz.

[Carter has been acting solely as a referee since arriving back in Evansville]

 - June 24, 1935

The motion to quash the affidavits for Carter and E. E. Maveety was heard.

The motion was overruled.

The motion to quash the affidavit for Ernest Lynn will be heard at a later date.

 - June 26, 1935

Lou Thesz wrestles on a show.

Carter referees on the show.

 - July 2, 1935

Lou Thesz wrestles on a show.

Carter referees on the show.

 - July 11, 1935

Carter wrestles and loses an extra attraction on the regular show.

[This is his first match on a show here, besides being apart of public workouts, since returning]

 - July 16, 1935

Lou Thesz wrestles on a show.

Carter referees on the show.

 - August 6, 1935

Raines is scheduled to come here and start training for a match against World Heavyweight Champion, Danno O'Mahoney.
Raines will workout with Lou Thesz, Sam Carter, Bruce Nolan, Sock Dick, Bob Wagner, Joe Hein & Buster Carter (Sam's brother).

 - September 29, 1935

"SLY SAMMY CARTER, Evansville's wrestler-referee, is ready to agree with the guy who said this is an age of specialization.
You've either got to wrestle or referee. You can't wrestle one night and referee the next, sayeth Sammy.

Sammy reached definite conclusions a few weeks ago when he went to Detroit to wrestle a fellow named Hanson in the semi-final match.

'I was a little nervous and excited by the large crowd and the fact I had been honored with a semi-final match,' said Sly Sammy, 'and you can believe it or not but before I had got myself straightened out regarding wrestling and refereeing, I was pinned.'

'What was the time?' I asked.

'Oh, it was just terrible,' replied Sammy. 'Just one minute.'"

 - October 8, 1935

"SAD SAM HAS TALE OF WOE

He Wants To Be No. 1 Mat Man Here

Sad Sam Carter feeling very badly about Evansville's apparent indifference to his prowess as a big-time wrestler, has announced that he will the home folks that he can 'take it' in his bout with Dick Lever tonight at the Tabernacle.

Carter, in his pre-match prediction says nothing about winning. He simply stated that he would 'show them that he could take it.'

Lever is a first class workman. Sad Sam is aware of the fact and that may be the cause of his 'I can take it' declaration.
Carter is all hot and bothered about Bob Wagner, too. Wagner, since an injury to his knee several months ago, has been making Evansville his home. That are rumors of an impending march to the marital altar.

Carter isn't concerned about the wedding plans but he does resent Wagner classing himself as 'from Evansville.'

'Wilson quit, Dick quit and that left me as Evansville's gift to wrestling,' Carter said. 'Now Wagner, who lives somewhere on the West Coast, comes along and tabs himself as being Evansville's No. 1 wrestler.

'How does he get that way?'

Going from wrestling arena to the gridiron, Sad Sam has organized a kid football team. The boys are known as the 'Sad Sams' and they are in the market for games with boys, 14 years old and under.

Carter, who used to play a lot of pretty fair football at Central and in independent circles, is the coach.

'Those boys can really play the old game,' Carter said. 'If any team wants a game have them get in touch with me.'

The 'Sad Sams' play at Pleasure Park."

Carter defeats Dick Lever (former Masked Marvel).

 - October 15, 1935

Carter defeats Bull Marvin

 - October 18, 1935

"Stagg said Sammy Carter would be placed on the card if an examination late Friday by Dr. Ralph Wilson found his injured ear in wrestling condition."

 - October 22, 1935

Carter defeats Jack O'Brien.

Carter is said to weigh 226lbs.

 - October 27, 1935

"Sam's Case

And now for Sad Sam. Sam admits that when he crawls in the ring he loses his nerve. He's so scared he can't talk.

'I know I'm big, and I can take it and dish it out but all those people just naturally get my goat,' says the sad one. 'I keep telling myself "now don't get scared, Sam, don't get scared," and then I just naturally get scared. Ain't it awful?'

You answer that one."

 - October 29, 1935

Carter defeats Joe Jansa.

 - November 5, 1935

Carter defeats Bob Blair.

 - November 10, 1935

"SLY SAMMY CARTER, Evansville heavyweight, who has been making strides in the wrestling game, was worked up no little last night over publicity given Arthur 'Socko' Dick's victory over him five years ago.

'I'm getting up in the wrestling game,' said Sammy,'and it's not right. I never said a word about Sock when he was wrestling. I respected his ability. Now I've got a chance (and he displayed an invitation and an entry blank to participate in a world's heavyweight championship tournament at Philadelphia) to get somewhere. I don't think it's fair.

'I'm in good condition now and so is Sock, according to reports. I'd like to wrestle him. I'll be at the Agoga tabernacle Tuesday night ready to take him on.'

When informed that Sock might not care to wrestle at the tabernacle, Carter said he didn't care to wrestle at Dreamland.
Carter, however, said he'd meet Dick in a private match with only newspapermen present.

About five years ago when both Sock and Carter were novices at the game, they met at the Coliseum and Sock won. Since then both have had two or more years of professional experience.

Carter said he planned to leave Friday to take part in the Philadelphia tournament."

 - November 14, 1935

Carter receives word that the Philadelphia tournament has been postponed.

 - November 19, 1935

Carter defeats Jack Nisbet.

Originally Carter was scheduled to face Joe Cox.

Whitey Grovo replaced Cox.

Finally Grovo was replaced by Nisbet.

 - November 26, 1935

Carter loses to Ellis Bashara.

This was said to be Carter's debut in the main event.

Carter was originally scheduled to face Cy Williams in the semi-final.

This is said to have been his first shot at a semi-final match.

Carter then he was scheduled to face Jack Spurgeon in the semi-final.

Bashara was originally scheduled to face Lou Thesz in the final.

Thesz is confined to a St. Louis hospital with a throat ailment.

 - December 3, 1935

It's announced Lou Thesz can not appear on the local card due to illness.

George Tragos will instead face Ernie Zeller.

 - December 4, 1935

"Ernie Zeller, Terre Haute lad and former Indiana State football star, defeated George Tragos, Greek veteran, in the second match. It was a fast affair, with Tragos rough as usual, Tragos punished Zeller's left arm with a series of hammerlocks before the Hoosier won the only fall in 21:45 with a toe hold and body pressure."

[This is Zeller's first professional match in Evansville, Indiana.
 
 - Zeller was a standout footballer and wrestler in high school and University.

 - In April 1931, Zeller defeated Sammy Carter in the finals of an amateur wrestling tournament at Terre Haute. (the one where Sammy tried to use pro moves)

 - Zeller, after university, played professional football and he wrestled professionally in the off season.

 - Zeller wrestled the next few weeks against various opponents all wins, moving up the card.

 - On January 28, 1936, Zeller beat Lou Thesz in the semi-final.

Now, this is where speculation really plays a part. It's possible that Zeller is the guy Tragos took offense to losing to in the "Buster story" from Hooker. It is also possible that he did work over Zeller's arm legitimately in this match. However, if he did, it was nothing so serious that Zeller couldn't wrestle the following week on the same card as Tragos. The truth is we'll never know if the arm work in the match was all for show, or if it was Tragos just trying to show Zeller who was boss. It's just a theory as to how Thesz got the story so wrong.

The "Buster story" goes as follows:

"I remember one out of town card we made together where Tragos was booked with a young hotshot from Evansville, Indiana who had been in the business only a short time. The kid, whose name was Buster something, had a lot of newspaper publicity because he had been a very good amateur and the local promoter was very high on him. The promoter, who hoped to make some big money with the kid, was building him into a star by having him win all his matches in impressive fashion and in very short times - what we called “squashes.” That’s what the promoter had in mind that night, but he obviously didn’t know anything about Tragos, who had been blackballed from more than one promotion because he would often refuse to lose to an inferior opponent.

True to form, Tragos refused to lose that night. Business was business, but he wasn’t about to lay down for some green rookie. The promoter got very angry and lost his head. He shouted 'this kid can actually wrestle you stupid asshole, so why don’t you just go out there and try your best, okay?'

It was a very stupid thing to say, but the promoter was like a lot of promoters in that he actually knew little to nothing about real wrestling. Tragos wasn’t afraid to compete with anyone, with good reason, and he jumped at the chance. When he and this young Adonis went on, the rest of us emptied out of the dressing room and crowded into the back rows to watch what some of us knew was going to be an execution. Sure enough only a couple of minutes into the match, Tragos hooked one of the kid’s arms with a double wristlock, a deadly hold if used properly, and he jammed it home. It tore the ligaments, tendons, and muscles in one motion, and I’m sure the ambulance had no trouble finding the arena because the kid was screaming at the top of his lungs and could probably be heard blocks away.

They rushed him to the local hospital and put him in a bed. A couple of days later, and internal infection set in, which quickly developed into gangrene. A week later, the surgeons amputated the kid’s arm. Tragos considered the kid’s loss all part of the sport."]

 - December 10, 1936

Georgie "Pordgy" Tragos defeats "Sad" Sam Carter.

Tragos is the bad guy and Carter the hero.

"Carter hurt his shoulder when he missed a flying tackle early in the bout and was never able to perform at his best. Tragos finally won the smother hold in 7:30."

"'I couldn't move my left arm.' Carter said. 'I don't know how it happened but I'm sure sorry. I guess I didn't look so good against Tragos but my shoulder was bothering me so I didn't know what I was doing.'"

"Carter hurt the shoulder early in the match when he missed a flying tackle. Tragos roughed it up with the Evansville boy, bloodying his nose and kneeing him in the stomach to with with a smother hold."

Initially it was thought, by Dr. Ralph Wilson [former wrestler] that Carter had torn some of his ligaments loose.

 - December 13, 1936

"Sly Sammy Carter, Evansville heavyweight will be on the shelf for a month at least as a result of an injured shoulder sustained in the match with George Tragos Tuesday night.

An examination by Dr. Ralph Wilson yesterday revealed the shoulder bone had been pulled apart from the shoulder blade.

Carter suffered the injury right after Arthur "Socko" Dick, his rival for mat honors here, had challenged him from the ring.

'That's another bad break,' commented Sammy in the dressing room after the match. 'Some of the fans may think I'm afraid to take Socko on.'

'Sure they will,' cracked Tommy Marvin.

'There's only one for you to do,' continued Marvin.

'Rush right out there in the ring now, rip your shirt off, pound your chest and bellow: "Bring him on. I'll beat him now with one hand."'

Sammy sat there with a puzzled expression on his face. He didn't know how to take it. Finally he said: 'I might be able to beat him with one arm but I'll wait till I can use two to make sure.'"

From a different paper: "But Carter injured his left shoulder in his match with George Tragos last Tuesday. Dr. Ralph Wilson says that Carter will not be in shape to wrestle for four or five weeks."

 - January 7, 1936

"Tragos Beat Carter

In his last appearance here, about a month ago, Tragos threw Sammy Carter and injured Carter's shoulder to such an extent that he has been idle since."

[The above is to help advertise an upcoming match of Tragos']

 - January 28, 1936

Sammy Carter reportedly loses a match to Abe Kashey in Rochester, Minnesota.

[This is the first match reported in Evansville for Carter since his injury]

 - March 10, 1936

"SAM CARTER, WRESTLER, IN SERIOUS STATE

Sam Carter, professional heavyweight wrestler, was in a critical condition Tuesday at Deaconess hospital suffering from septicemia which resulted from a wound sustained in the ring.

He was thrown from the ring at Cedar Rapids, Ia., last week during a match and suffered a shoulder wound in which infection developed."

From another paper:

"Operate on Sam Carter

Sam Carter, Evansville heavyweight wrestler, who received a shoulder injury last week in a match with Abe Kashey, at Cedar Rapids, Ia., underwent an operation for infection at the Welborn-Walker hospital Monday. Dr. Ralph Wilson performed the operation."

[See April 16, 1936 for details on the injury]

 - March 11, 1936

"WRESTLER HERE CRITICALLY ILL

Sam Carter, professional heavyweight wrestler, was in a critical condition in the Deaconess hospital lst night suffering from blood poisoning. He was thrown from the ring during a match at Cedar Rapids, Ia., last week and suffered a shoulder injury in which infection developed."

From a different paper:

"Carter's Condition Slightly Improved

The condition of Sam Carter, Evansville wrestler, confined to Deaconess Hospital, with a serious blood infection, was slightly improved Wednesday, according to Dr. Ralph Wilson.

Carter re-injured an old shoulder injury in a match at Grand Rapids, Ia., last week and returned to Evansville last Saturday.

Tuesday the infection had spread and his temperature soared to 107 degrees. The fever had abated somewhat early Wednesday."

 - March 15, 1936

"Carter Improving After Operation

Sam Carter, local heavyweight wrestler, who is nursing a bone infection on the outer edge of his left shoulder blade, was reported improved last night at Deaconess hospital following an operation.

Carter's temperature, which was at 107 degrees a few days ago, had gone down to 99 by last night.

Dr. Ralph Wilson diagnosed Carter's ailment as osteomyelitis, after examining X-rays and performing the operation."

From another paper:
"Carter's Condition Reported Better

Sam Carter, Evansville wrestler, was reported improved at the Deaconess Hospital Saturday following a second operation for a shoulder infection.

Dr. Ralph Wilson, who operated, said infection has settled in the left collarbone at the shoulder joint. Carter hurt the shoulder wrestling here last winter and injured it again at Rochester, Min.

Dr. Wilson scraped the bone and drained the infection.

Carter's temperature dropped to 99, after going to 107 Friday."

 - April 5, 1936

"Sad Sam Carter, local wrestler recovering from a shoulder injury, is not so well. . . . Sam is the original hard luck guy."

 - April 9, 1936

It's said Art Shires is in town for his upcoming match. He will stay in Evansville after the match on Tuesday to visit Sam Carter in Deaconness hospital. They knew each other from their time in the Northwest.

It's said Carter was injured in a match at Austin, Minnesota. Since his time in hospital he has lost "plenty of pounds."

"Carter is improving and hopes to be able to leave the hospital next week. He is not expected to be in shape for wrestling again until fall.

'Sammy is a good guy,' Shires said, following his visit. 'All of the men in the game predicted a bright future for him and it is too bad he got this setback.'"

 - April 14, 1936

"Sam Carter has been removed to his home."

 - April 16, 1936

"SLY SAMMY CARTER raised his hand weakly from under the sheet to extend greetings. A smile spread over his palid face and pads of fever perspiration stood out on the brow.

The arm that two months ago was as large as the average fellow's leg was little more than a big bone covered with skin. The long bony fingers of his right hand trembled.

His thin legs protruded from the knees below the sheet.

On one side of the bed sat his two husky, rosy cheeked sons, four year old Charles and two year old Leon.

'Daddy's feeling good today,' said Charley.

It was a touching picture.

'I'M NOT WHIPPED YET,' said Sam. 'I'm never going to be whipped. I can fight back. I'llc ome out of this.'

For six weeks he has laid on his back fighting for his life. There have been days when little hope was held for his recovery and at other times he has seemed on the road to health.

He sank mighty low early this week and the attending physicians told him that his left shoulder blade should be removed but Sam said 'no.'

He was improved yesterday after an artificial magnot treatment.

To the statement, 'You seem to be in good spirits,' he replied:

'Dan, I'm always in good spirits. I've had so many tough breaks, some probably my own fault, that I can take it and keep my chin up. I'm not pitying myself. I'm just anxious to get well and back in the harness again.'

SAM FIRST injured his shoulder in a match here with George Tragos, St. Louis Greek wrestler, late in November.

There seems to be a 'jinx' attached to Tragos. In a match here with Jim McMillan two years or so ago, Tragos suffered two broken ribs. Empyema set in and Tragos lingered for months in a St. Louis hospital.

Sam, however, rested for a few weeks and the shoulder, he thought, was sound again. He got a match in Minneapolis in December and went over. He secured more matches and was apparently on his way in the mat game.

It was in a match with Cliff Thiede, Southern California football backfield star, at Austin, Minn., Feb. 19 that he sustained the injury that put him on his back.

'We were tackling each other,' he said. 'and I sprang back against the ropes. Thiede hit me hard and high and I flipped backward over the ropes, landing with my full weight in the left shoulder. I felt something snap. I knew I was hurt and hurt badly.'

Infection set in and it perforated the bone somewhat liek a honey comb. The medical name for the disease is osteomyelitis.

THE INJURY came just when it seemed Sam was ready to cash in. He was down to 220 pounds and in the greatest condition of his life.

'I was wrestling three or four times a week,' Sam said, 'and while I wasn't making big money, I was winning most of my matches and getting better shots all the time. I was making more money than I ever made in my life but I would have doubled my income within a month had I not injured my shoulder.

'I learned a lot about wrestling from Joe Stecher. He doesn't wrestle before the public now but works out almost daily. He goes after in the workouts and you've got to hustle to stay with him very long. He imagines things, saying 'I'll get you Lewis' or 'I've got you Londos.'

Lou Plummer, he says, is the greatest drawing card in the Northwest, especially Minneapolis. 'I know he made over $10,000 in ten weeks,' Sam said, 'and I'll bet you he hasn't got $500 right now.'

Sam said Jimmy Londos drew $2100 in Minneapolis with Cliff Olson as the opponent and Plummer came back the next week against Frank Speer and drew $4400.

EVEN IN HIS present condition, Sam can see a ray of sunshine.

'You know,' he said, 'this illness has proven one thing to me. I have a lot of friends. You can appreciate them when you're in my condition.'

Sam was just the same 'playboy,' an overgrown youngster, that he was when he played football at Central high school some 11 or 12 years ago until he became serious about wrestling.

By hours of hard work on the mat and observance of the training rules, he knocked his weight down from 190 to 230 pounds.

'I doubt if he will ever wrestle again,' said Dr. Ralph Wilson, attending physician.

Sam says he will. Don't bet that he won't. He's fighting - fighting to pull through without an operation that would mean the end of his wrestling  will."

[I do not have access to any Austin, Minneapolis newspapers, so I can not confirm the date/location/opponent. However, from this point forward it's always said to have been against Cliff Thiede in Austin.

On March 3, 1936, Carter wrestled Earl Wampler without incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (confirmed in local newspapers)

On March 4, 1936, Carter was scheduled to face Abe "King Kong" Kashey in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but he became seriously ill from an arm infection and had to return home to Evansville, therefore the match did not happen (confirmed in local newspapers)]

 - May 7, 1936

Sammy Carter is operated on, at Wlborn-Walker hospital, to have his shoulder blade removed.

"The operation, an unusual one, was performed by Dr. Ralph Wilson, a former outstanding professional mat star. Dr. Wilson said that the operation was Carter's only chance for recovery, the shoulder blade having been infected from end to end.

Immediately following the operation Carter was given a blood transfusion, with his sister, Nancy Carter, supplying a pint and a half of blood. Miss Carter recently was the heroine in an attempted holdup at the Victory theater.

Dr. Wilson said that he was hopeful that Carter would survive the operation, although he was unable to tell immediately as to Sam's condition.

Although Carter will have limited use of his arm, his wrestling career is definitely ended, Dr. Wilson said."

 - May 8, 1936

"By Dick Anderson

Sammy Carter Is Pitching His Best At Old Hard Luck

SAD SAMBO CARTER, whose ambition was to be a leading heavyweight professional wrestler, fights for his life at the Welborn-Walker Hospital. And Sambo will never wrestle again. It's tough medicine, tougher than you think, because Sammy was wrapped up in the mat game. He made several attempts but not until a few months ago did he take himself seriously. He trained religiously and shrunk from 260 pounds or thereabouts to a mere 225 . . . which is something for Sammy.

The powers that he in the game liked Sammy. They gave him every opportunity to make good and Sam appreciated it. He was always trying and he was getting some place. Several months ago he heaved his massive frame at Cliff Thiede in a match at Austin, Minn. Thiede sidestepped and Carter tumbled thru the ropes and into the aisles.

When he struggled back to the mat he was powerless and Thiede dumped him easily. There were jeers and boos. But Sammy smiled thru his pain. That night he didn't sleep a wink. Several doctors looked at his shoulder, his left one, but could not definitely classify the injury. He was advised to return here.

Thursday Dr. Ralph Wilson removed his shoulder blade. The spread of infection necessitated the operation and Sammy's wrestling days came to an end. Dr. Wilson says that he will have only limited use of his left arm.

The operation is the climax to weeks of fighting to overcome the infection that resulted from his fall from the ring in Austin. Sammy battled every inch of the way. He wanted to go get well and get back in the game. His injury came just as he was getting 'into the money.' He had a match with Jim Londos in the offing . . . the fans in the Northwest liked him . . . and he was in line for many good spots . . .

But Sammy's old hard luck stepped in again and once more he had to take it on the chin . . . but Samy's used to that and he will be pitching as of old . . . once when Sammy played football for Central High School he battled Clinton in the mud and cold . . . pneumonia developed and the guy with the scythe was calling close to Sammy but he fought him off . . 

Wrestlers are a hard lot . . . as a whole . . . but hard or not they have a fine sense of good fellowship. . . . Dick Raines, who wrestles Pete Schuh Tuesday night here, arrived in Evansville Thursday and was one of the first to offer himself for a blood transfusion.

Dick's blood was tested and if another transfusion is necessary he will submit. Bil Nelson, Emilio Costello to you, has been one of Carter's staunchest friends . . . wrestlers from here and there are contributing. . . . 

It's a tough break, Sammy . . . but keep on pitching."

 - June 2, 1936

Sammy Carter goes to the Agoga Tabernacle to watch the matches.

"Dr. Ralph Wilson, Carter's physician, promised him a trip to the tabernacle as soon as possible. Carter will watch the matches from a wheel chair."

 - June 20, 1936

"Wrestler Visits Foe He Injured

"Cliff Thiede, Long Bech, Cal.,  visited Sam Carter, local wrestler, at Welborn-Walker Hospital.

Thiede is the wrestler who opposed Carter in the match at Austin, Minn., in which Carter suffered injuries to his left shoulder which have kept him in bed for the past six months.

Carter missed Thiede on a flying tackle and when he returned to the ring Thiede threw him. The next day Carter's shoulder begam to give him trouble and upon his arrival in Evansville he was taken immediately to the hospital where he has remained since.

'I've been trying to get down here to see Sam ever since the match,' Thiede said Saturday.

'I certainly am sorry it happened.'"

 - June 27, 1936

"Sammy Carter Is Guest At Fights

Sam Carter, recovering from an injury received in a wrestling match, attended the boxing matches at the Fox arena Friday night.

Sammy got a big kick out of the matches but was ready to 'beat it back to the hospital' when the action was over. Carter weighs 160, about 70 pounds off his normal weight."

 - June 30, 1936

Sammy Carter attended a wrestling match to see Clif Thiede in action. Carter said, "I told you he really turned on," he continued "He's plenty tough."

"I'd like to be out there," remarked Sammy as he watched the matches from his wheelchair. 

 - July 4, 1936

"CARTER OUT OF HOSPITAL

Sam Carter, injured wrestler, has been discharged from Welborn-Walker Hospital. Carter is showing rapid improvement but he is unable to use his left arm."

 - July 7, 1936

"CARTER UNDERGOES KIDNEY OPERATION

Sammy Carter, former heavyweight wrestler, who underwent the removal of his shoulder blade as a result of an injury received on the mat, underwent an operation for an abscessed kidney Monday at Welborn-Walker hospital."

 - November 14, 1936

"Roberts Quits As Lynn Case Judge

Attorney Louis L. Roberts has disqualified himself as special judge in the case of state Vs. Ernest Lynn, charged with perjury and conspiracy, expected to come up for trial for the fourth time soon.

Roberts has acted as special judge in the three previous trials. Lynn was convicted in the first trial, but the judgment was reversed on a technicality. The last two trials results in jury deadlocks. Lynn, allegedly shot Granville McGill, Negro, in 1930 and attempted to convict the Negro of robbery. Lynn was a police officer at the time."

[This is the last mention I found of the case. I did find prior to trials and the reports confirmed the deadlocks. My best guess is the case never went to court again and was dropped, which makes me think the cases against the other officers, including Sam Carter, was also dropped, probably with the excuse of it costing too much money]

 - November 25, 1936

Mr. & Mrs Samuel Carter, 1625 W. Maryland-st. have a baby girl, Marcia Ann.

 - December 6, 1936

"NICK ELITCH, Serbian wrestler, who has more than a little of Charley Chaplin's talent, was confined until yesterday to a bed in the Walker-Welborn hospital, suffering from an infected leg.

'I have blood poisoning. I think I die,' Nick said yesterday.

'I think of all dose things and den comes Sammy Carter in to talk wit me. Sam's all bent over and looks very pale. I look at him again and I say 'you sicker 'en I'm. Get in bed here. I get out.'

And so Nick left the hospital after three or four days confinement, yesterday. 'And I think I be able to referee on your benefit card Tuesday night if I don't die,' he said.

A year or so ago Carter was going great guns in the mat game. Young, husky and fond of the sport, he was on his way to greater mat things when injured in February. He weighed around 235 at the time. He has never been well since. One operation followed another. He lost a shoulder blade. Now they say he has a kidney that may have to be removed. He can't straighten up when walking."

 - November 1, 1937

"BUS CARTER ENTERS PRO WRESTLING GAME

Bus [Buster] Carter, brother of Sammy Carter who was seriously injured in a wrestling match two years ago, has turned professional wrestler. He started his career with a victory over Johnny Kolker in Hannibal, Mo. last Friday.

Carter is scheduled to wrestle in St. Louis this week. He attended college in Oklahoma and was an outstanding wrestler as well as boxer. He weighs 204 pounds."

 - January 26, 1938

"'Sailor' Olsen was present [at this week's wrestling match] to wrestle Bus Carter, Evansville boy undefeated in six matches here, but Carter didn't show up. Inspector George Mayer announced that the was suspending Carter.

Sammy Carter, former heavyweight grappler who manages his brother Bus, said that if Mayer went through with his threat to suspend Bus, he 'would sue Mayer and the C.A.C. for plenty.'

'Bus did not sign a contract or say he'd wrestle,' said Sammy, 'and they can't suspend him'

Lorin Kiely of the C.A.C. said that Carter promised to wrestle.

Inspector Mayer admitted that Carter had no state license although he (Carter) has wrestled here six times. Mayer admitted it might be difficult to suspend one who did not have a license."

 - November 13, 1938

Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Carter, 1625 W. Maryland-st. have a baby boy, Samuel Lee.

 - January 12, 1944

"Ran into Sammy Carter on the street the other day and he was grinning from ear to ear. 'Got interested in that all-time all-city stuff you ran a few weeks ago,' he said, 'and I couldn't figure out why someone didn't put Frank Leigh in at center and "Oats" Willis at tackle. They were two of the very best. I guess Bud Davidson was the best lineman of them all, however.' Sam was quite a footballer too back in the early twenties but when asked why he didn't include himself, he said: 'I wasn't quite that good.'

Carter is in the trucking business now and 'getting along' to use his own words. He was on his way in the heavyweight wrestling game when a shoulder injury almost cost him his life."

 - January 7, 1947

"By Dick Anderson

SAMMY CARTER MISSED THE 'BOAT' ONE NIGHT IN LITTLE ROCK, ARK.

SAMMY CARTER, the former Evansville cop who turned professional wrestler and received serious injuries which ended his mat career, used to tell me how he 'missed the boat' one night in Little Rock, Ark.

Sammy was on a wrestling jaunt at the time and that night after a bout he was out in front of the arena trying to get a taxi. A big goon walked up and started arguing with wrestlers and the taxi driver and and finally succeeded in clambering in and driving away while Carter and a couple of his pals were left standing on the curb.

'I shoulda belted the big lug on the chin,' Carter told me. 'It woulda gained me national recognition. I know I coulda tapped him out like a light.'

The big lug was Primo Carnera, then the heavyweight champion of the world and Sammy Carter was an unknown grunt and groan exponent. 'Look at the situation,' said Carter. 'Say I had tapped him on the chin. He goes down, there is a scramble and I get tossed in the jug for knocking out the heavyweight champion. Of the world, too.

'The next day the paper headlines say: "Carnera Belted Out by Wrestler Carter". What a sensation. And I coulda done it as easy as not.'

When Sammy was telling me the story I asked him why he hadn't gone ahead and belted the lug. 'I don't know,' said Sammy. 'I guess I didn't think of the possibilities until the next day.'"

 - May 15, 1950

Sammy carter dies of a heart attack at 11:15 P.M. He was 40 years old. He died at his home on 1625 West Marland street.

It's mentioned that Carter had been running an excavating business.

On May 28 it would have been his birthday, the graduation of his son, Donald, from Memorial high school, and his daughter, Marcia Ann, from St. Boniface school.

He is survived by: his children Donald, Marcia Ann, Charles Leon, Sam Jr. and Kenneth; wife Marie; mother Clara; sisters Opal R. Culley, Nancy Elmendoirf and Mrs. Otto Kayse; and his brother James A.

It's noted his brother Wesley (Bus) Carter was killed in World War II.

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• Article Information

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Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.

MAIMED! The Shooter and the Hooker.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: October 15, 2020.
Article: #246.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.