Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-29
NINE OF VICTIMS OF MABRAY
GANG BRING ACTIONS IN
FEDERAL COURT.
WOULD RECOVER MONEY
LOST ON FAKE RACES
Similar Suits Commenced in District
Court Dropped-Frank R. Baker,
Mysterious "Mike," Threatens to
Kill Himself if Identity is Revealed
Goes Before Grand Jury.

Special to Times Republican.
Council Bluffs, Sept. 20. - Nine
Mikes" have commenced as many
suits in the federal court against j. C.
Benjamin Marks and 9th
ers. Petitions asking judgment
for amounts alleged to have
been lost by the plaintiffs in
fake horse races, foot races, wrestling
matches. were filed yesterday in the
United States circuit court by N. A.
Crawford. attorney for the plaintiffs in
some twenty odd suits in the district
court in which victims of the Mabray
swindles seek to recover from Mabray,
Marks and tother local men for losses
they claim to have suffered.
The nine suits are said by Mr.. Craw-
ford to involve the same parties as
similar suits in the district court The
latter, Mr.. Crawford said yesterday
are to be dismissed.
Summons in all of the suits were
filed yesterday morning in the office OF
the clerk of the United States circuit
court. During the afternoon Mr.. Craw-
ford was engaged in preparing copies
Of the summons for service on the de-
PENDANTS. Until the service is made
the papers will not be made public.
At the same time the new suits were
filed in the federal court suits brough
by the same plaintiffs in the distric
court were dismissed. The plaintiffs il
the suits dismissed yesterday and The
amounts they sued for, follow:
w. H. Bedford, Bolcknow, Mo, S.,
900; George S. Bedford. Greeley, Colo
s1225O; John Hemelbrecht, Bancroft
Neb., $4,000; Thomas Cade. Fond D,
Lac, Wis, $4,000; j. E. Harrington
Hartzeil, Colo. $4,000; Ralph P. Mat
tingly, Nashville, Tenn, $4,000;
Pierpont, Maryville, Mo, $1,000
Thomas Agern, Fergus Falls. Mimi
$4,000; John TIoz.ek, Chicago, $4,000.
A Man eff Mystery.
Sealing the lips of the postal in
spectors and the United States attorn
eys by a threat Of self destruction
his identity be disclosed, Frank F
Paker has become the "Mysteriou
Mike. of the 100 odd victims of tn
so-called Mabray "swindle syndicate.
The story of how he was feeced is sti
a secret.
Bakers name was included in tn
returned last Thursday by the FEEDER;
grand jury in session then in this cit
but further than that he is a myster
There is no hint of him in the Mabra
records and if he came to Counc
Bluffs and testified before the gran
jury he did it without soul being til
wiser for his presence, excepting, {
course, the cautioned government OF
ficers.
Baker disclosed himself to Postal Ir
spector j. S. Swenson many weeks ag
while the investigation of the gres
swindle syndicate was at it's heigh
He told his story fully and then aske
that his name be withheld The il
spector told him that his testimony w;
desirable and he would find it difficu
to conceal his name.
!. Il will commit suicide If it b.
!, comes public" Baker threatened,
! could not bear the disgrace to myse
and my family. If my name gets {
any of the records, my address-n
identity-must be kept secret"
So altho his name was given by t
grand jury among the list of victim
). his residence and identity has be
= carefully guarded by the inspecto
and the attorneys. So far Bake
tragic seal has held fast and his seer
:, promises to remain one until he I
y moves the ban, or evil chance thro-
= the searchlight Of publicity into /
haven of mNSterY