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In 1891, Soapy talked his otherwise law-abiding brother-in-law from
Texas into
joining his criminal empire in Denver. William "Cap" Light, who had been serving as a
deputy marshal in Belton,
Texas,
changed his colors when he joined Smith.
Light was with
Soapy when the
gang "attacked” the Glasson Detective Agency. Allegedly the agency had
attempted to force a confession from a pretty young girl and upon hearing
about it, Smith and his men raided their offices with pistols in hand.
This further led to Soapy's reputation as a hero with many of the locals.
However, by 1892, polite society in Denver had begun to demand
anti-gambling and
saloon
reforms. Smith had also begun to lose his "crown” as the Denver boss,
partly because of rival gangs such as the
Blonger Brothers, but also due
to his own bad temper and drinking problems. He had also become so
well-known, that it was becoming difficult for his "paid” politicians to
continue to turn a blind eye as they had done for so many years.
Finding many of his operations restricted and seeing opportunity in the
booming mining camp of Creede,
Colorado,
Soapy and his gang moved their empire. He soon opened the Orleans Club
gambling hall and
saloon which
operated much like his Tivoli Club in Denver, but without the restrictions
that had been imposed in the larger city.
Soapy Smith moved his operations to Creede,
Colorado in
1892. This
image available for photographic prints
HERE!
At his new club, Soapy briefly displayed a petrified man for a price of
10˘. The "petrified man,” affectionately called "McGinty” was also a hoax,
as it was actually nothing more than cement over skeletal remains.
However, the oddity brought customers into the
saloon and
made a small profit. But the objective was that once they were inside, the
"dupes” would take advantage of the crooked card games. In the meantime,
he had convinced his brother-in-law, William "Cap” Light
to accept a position as a deputy marshal in the camp. Once he had wielded
his influence, he claimed himself as the "camp boss.” As such, he
protected his friends and associates and expelled violent troublemakers. Again, he
also endeared himself to the camp by using his money to build churches and
help the poor. |
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