Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-24
Many Noted Criminals Said to Be
Included in the Bunch.
SOME ARE WELL KNOWN LOCALLY
One Half Million Said to Have Been
Secured by Grafters.
LIST OF EIGHTY-FTvE VICTIMS
Come from All Parts of the United
states, Alaska and the DOmiRiOn
of Canada--some Big
Pickups.

Charging conspiracy to commit an Of
Tense against the United States in viola
ton of section $40 of the federal statutes
the federal grand Jury yesterday afternoon
returned an indictment against J. c. Ma
bray. alleged head of the gang of big
store" swindlers, and over eighty-four other
defendants said to have been implicated
in the Wholesale fleeing Of Mikes from
all parts OF the country.
In the list of co-defendants with Mabray
are Benjamin Marks of Council Bluffs
John r. Dobbins, alleged 'steerer" for the
gang in the case OF T. w. Ballew, the
banker of Princeton, Mo, who went up
against a fake horse race and dropped
$50, 900; and James Griffin of Council Bluffs,
who is said to have been employed by the
gang as one Of the jockeys in the fake horse
races The identity of the other defendants
was NOT disclosed and will not be until
they are arrested by the government Of
ficers.
Wednesday night and even Thursday
morning there were persistent rumors to
the effect that the list of indicted would
include several local city and county Of
ficials and local bankers. Colonel NJ. L..
Temple district prosecuting attorney,
stated, however, after the grand jury had
made lite report that no officials or bankers
were included in the indictment.
No bench warrants were issued yesterday
under the indictment, but they will be 1t
is understood, today. Ben Marks, who has
been seriously Ill for several weeks follow
ing a severe operation which he underwent
at a local hospital, is at his home on Wen
street and his attorney will, II was stated
last night have a bond ready for him this
morning. The amount of the bond under
the indictment was not determined by
Jpdge Mcpherson yesterday.
John r. Dobbins who was recently re-
leased on bonds in the sum of $500 from
the county jail where he had been since
being brought back from New York is said
| TO be in the city and will probably be taken
into custody today. James Griffin, Il was
stated yesterday by Postal Inspector Sven
son. had been subpoenaed as a witness
before the federal grand jury, but failed
to put in an appearance and is said to have
left the city.
Amounts Not Mentioned.
Although specific amounts are not men
toned in the indictment, 1t is authortta.
lively stated that the amounts lost by the
alleged victims Of Mabray and Others
named, will exceed 100000 The sums lost
run from $500 to $4,000 the latter sun
|
according to the evidence at hand, by g
Missouri banker. The list OF names of vic
tins given In the indictment includes mer
of prominence In all parts of the country
and there is set forth in the specific
charges a number OF letters of an incrimin.
! ating character. which gives a touch o.
sensationallsm to the document. Victims IT
! eighteen states, the territory of AlaskS
and the Dominion of Canada are named
indicating the wide range of territory ovei
which Mabray and his associates are al
legged to have piled their vocation. AS {
basis OF operation, they used. according t.
the indictment, the cities of Council Bluffs
Davenport and Burlington Ia; st. Louis
Little Rock. Seattle, Denver and New or
| leans, to which places. it Is alleged, vic
time were taken by the numerous steer
ers"
Some Sensational Letters.
In setting out the specific instances Il
which violations of the postal laws ar
charged the indictment includes copies o
many sensational letters alleged to hav
been exchanged between Mabray and hi
associates. which refer to alleged deals
and name various sums Of money as hav
ing changed hands = result OF tn,
operations OF those mentioned In the in
dictment Ono Of these letters ~ date,
from New York hotel and invite
Friend John" who, It is alleged, is May
bray himself, TO go to New York City
declaring Il have a town right across III
river from New York in Jersey. a swel
| an, De-