Madison Journal - Fake "G-Men" Captured Date submitted: January 12, 2014 Submitted by: Richard P. Sevier USGenWeb NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. ************************************************************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************************************ "G-Men" Jailed Here Fake 'Federal Men' Foiled In Holdup Attempt At Club Madison Recently From April 5, 1940 Madison Journal Attendants at Club Madison were in for a big surprise last March 22 when a tall young man walked into their place, hastily flashed a badge beneath his lapel, and said, "I'm a Federal man!" "Let me have a look at your licenses," he demanded, as he stepped behind the bar and glanced up on the wall. Wheeler Suspicious Dick Wheeler had been standing in the door as he walked in "There's something wrong here," he thought, glancing sharply at the stranger. "That man is not with the government; he's not dressed well enough. No federal man wears shoes with holes in them and clothes that look like they haven't been pressed in a week. I'd better do something about this." There was no gun in the club, so Wheeler decided to go next door and get his own. As he walked out he overheard the "federal man" say, "Your licenses are all right, but it's against the law to run slot-machines. I'll have to take them." That decided it for Wheeler. "It's a hold-up," he thought. Two More Men As he went around the front of the building, he noticed two other men in the car that the stranger had driven up in. Quickly, he crossed the stile over the fence and went to his house for the gun. Armed with a shotgun he crossed the fence again, and went around the back of the building to intercept the men. In the meantime A. C. Boutwell, owner, was stalling for time. He knew that Wheeler had gone for his gun, and wanted to keep the men there until they could be captured. The slot machines could not be removed; for they had been set on a 400-lb. base so the stranger decided the best thing to do was to clear out. When he got in his car and the motor running, ready to leave, he was jumped by Wheeler with the shot gun. "O. K.! Unload" Wheeler commanded. The men were disarmed of their two pistols and lined up against the wall, and the Sheriff was called. Two of the men were brothers, Jessie and Billy Cooper, from Old Floyd, La., and the third, who had represented himself as a government agent, was named Edward Badner, of Lumberton, Miss. Checking on their record, it was found that they had robbed the Economy Oil Company in Rayville, La. They are now in the Parish jail, waiting for their trial to be held Monday. When the badges were removed, the Sheriff had a laugh. They were tin badges with "Junior G-Man" written on the face!