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For many years Mr. Wingfield had business affiliations with Senator George S. Nixon. The fame of the two men spread to San Francisco where they often dropped in at the popular St. Francis bar. Upon the Senator's death in 1912 he was appointed his successor, but refused the office. His banking interests increased until he was regarded as the State's foremost tycoon. He has large real estate holdings including Reno's leading Hotel Riverside. He controls Tonopah Consolidated Mining Co. Although Mr. Wingfield has renounced gambling and does not even play poker with friends. Nevadans are convinced that he has an interest in the cryptically named corporations which own the big Reno gambling halls.* Last week Banker Wingfield blamed his troubles on agricultural conditions, said that every cent he owned (and he was once believed to own ten billion cents) would buttress his banks. The R. F. C. sent two bank examiners to Reno by airplane to investigate. Nevadans took the shock calmly, jestingly. Lieutenant Governor Morley jingled $17.10 at newspapermen and said, "I forgot to see if I had any money before I issued the proclamation. This came out of the baby's bank and it has to last two weeks." Gambler William ("Curly Bill") Graham said, "We'll get the dough and play the hosses tomorrow." Miners spoke of the Wingfield banks as "glory holes"—rich pockets which suddenly are played out. Police chiefs warned citizens against thugs and offered station house safes as temporary banks of deposit. Most divorce-seekers continued to draw checks on Eastern banks; 15 actions were filed the day of the proclamation. Some merchants accepted checks on the closed banks. The gambling halls (betting is the only form of gambling illegal in Nevada), where $100,000 in silver dollars is often in play, were willing to tide their good customers over. The sentiment of the State was that when onetime Gambler Wingfield checked up he would find himself even better than his books and his banking wheels could spin again.
* Biggest of these is the Bank Club, backed by Jack Sullivan, still in full blast last week. Lesser halls include the Northern Club, Waldorf Bar and Gambling Club, and the Louvre Club. All speakeasies have gambling concessions and silver dollars are in play nightly at the Sign of the Ship & Bottle, the Mine Winehouse and the Cowshed. The Cowshed, about four miles from Reno, was started by Belle Livingstone a year ago and is not to be confused with the Bull Pen, notorious honkytonk. Burned to the ground last summer was the Willows, a roadhouse with elaborate gambling rooms.