Ed Hertel is doing his best to get Texas "Ilegal Of The Day Posts" caught up to Illinois in number of posts. Only 11 more to go, but he has a good Illinois one in the works. Stay tuned.

I should stop being surprised at the things I turn up in these IOTD research projects. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “What the…?!” when I come across something crazy these guys were involved in. Today’s focus falls into that category.

Sent to:
J.A. Carrithers
134-1/2 Soledad
San Antonio, TX
1935

After research:
Cinderella Club

No name of the club on the order. That would take a little more digging, but not much.

But before we get to 1935, we need to go back a few years to get a good look at James Carrithers and what kind of business he was involved in. It is here that I come to one of those “Really?!” moments.

In July 1930, the police are called to the scene of a robbery reported by our Mr. Carrithers. The story reported to police (later denied to reporters) goes something like this:

At 10 am, Mr. and Mrs Carrithers were sitting in their car outside a residence (not theirs) when they sent a little girl (not theirs) into the house to pick up a package. A few minutes later, the girl emerged from the house “with a newspaper-wrapper package of currency” ($1,495 to be exact). As the little girl was opening to door to the Carrithers’ car, another vehicle pulls up and a man with “a blood soaked bandage about his head and face” jumps out, waves a pistol in the air, and demands the package. After the frightened girl hands the money over, the thief fires a round into the ground and drives off.

Now I’m no expert on character, but doesn’t this all sound a bit shady? Why anyone would actually report this theft to the local police (unless maybe they were “friendly” with the law enforcement) is beyond me.

Moving ahead to 1935 (the year of our chips), Carrithers (reported as “Carothers”) again finds himself in the news. This time, fortunately for us, it involves gambling and our chips. One night in early December 1935, Carrithers and three others were busted in the Cinderella Club, 134-1/2 Soledad (address on the chip order) and charged with operating a gaming table. The raiding officers found an operating dice game and blackjack. They confiscated some cash and equipment (possibly the chip above as they were found with other unrelated San Antonio club chips). Carrithers and his comrades would post bond and be released.

The write-up from the local paper:

As the article states, the officers left the club that night and went knocking at the doors of four other clubs that night. All the others were closed and it was suspected that they had been tipped off by the Cinderella Club. I guess there really is an honor among thieves.

My Note: Like Ed, every time I think I have seen it all in IOTD posts something always comes along and adds something new to the list. Why in the world would you involve a young girl in a money drop?