J efferson Smith had transformed from a quaint on-the-road flim-flam man, to that of a prominent big time gangster. The gang was infamously known on their recognizance. There were perhaps as many as 100 steerers working for Soapy such as "Reverend "John Bowers, whom at times performed the part of a s aintly man of cloth. "Professor "William Jackson often times portrayed a mine and mineral expert. For protection there were the hard core gunfighters like "Texas Jack "Vermillion of Wyatt Earp/Tombstone, Arizona fame. "Big Ed "Burns, the Leadville, Colorado bunco boss was there as well as "Sure-shot "Tom Cady and a few dozen more cold hearted ruffians making up the rank and file. Each of these scoundrels have their own story of fame.

S aloon proprietors were often paid a percentage of the profits taken in by the bunco gangs for the privilege of using their establishments. Soapy and his gang liberally spent their money in local stores and made many friends in the lower downtown business districts where they worked and thus they were popular with the many of the locals. Moreover, Soapy made an unwritten pact with each city he canvassed. The local townspeople would be left out of the bunco games. lower downtown business districts where they worked and thus they were popular with the many of the locals. Moreover, Soapy made an unwritten pact with each city he canvassed. The local townspeople would be left out of the bunco games.

S aloon proprietors were often paid a percentage of the profits taken in by the bunco gangs for the privilege of using their establishments. Soapy and his gang liberally spent their money in local stores and made many friends in the lower downtown business districts where they worked and thus they were popular with the many of the locals. Moreover, Soapy made an unwritten pact with each city he canvassed. The local townspeople would be left out of the bunco games. lower downtown business districts where they worked and thus they were popular with the many of the locals. Moreover, Soapy made an unwritten pact with each city he canvassed. The local townspeople would be left out of the bunco games.

W hen a member of the Soap Gang needed help Jefferson was always ready to lend a hand, whether it be money or legal aid. The men in the gang grew extremely loyal to their boss. At times the policemen on the beat also sought his aid , in help with situations where they had little power. This often occurred in hard economic times when the poor population grew too large. The police called on the gambler 's of Denver to help with feeding the poor and Soapy 's name was always at the top of the list and rarely did he let them down. Jefferson had become so well known as a charitable man in Denver that Parson Tom Uzzell of the People 's Tabernacle church often sought Jefferson 's assistance, even knowing of Soapy 's criminal occupation. While giving a tour of the city one day, the parson and his entourage came across Soapy. The good parson introduced Soapy as "The most infamous confidence man in American...and my friend." sought his aid , in help with situations where they had little power. This often occurred in hard economic times when the poor population grew too large. The police called on the gambler 's of Denver to help with feeding the poor and Soapy 's name was always at the top of the list and rarely did he let them down. Jefferson had become so well known as a charitable man in Denver that Parson Tom Uzzell of the People 's Tabernacle church often sought Jefferson 's assistance, even knowing of Soapy 's criminal occupation. While giving a tour of the city one day, the parson and his entourage came across Soapy. The good parson introduced Soapy as "The most infamous confidence man in American...and my friend."

S teerers and boosters were always enthusiastic about giving a potential dupe the proper (but bogus) means to win big at Soapy 's games. One of these was The Exchange, a fake stock market investment firm in which victims placed money on a companies stock in hopes of winning a quick return on their wager. The Exchange was rigged so that only the Soap Gang made a profit.