The Washington herald., 1909-03-21


men Of unquestionable standing were the
principal victims Of the band of swindlers
which the Federal and State officers
here believe they will soon have broken
up. After operating successfully for two
years or more. during which time they
have taken probably more than million
dollars from their dupes, the chiefs OF
the organization are in custody. The
leader, J. c. Mabray or Gordon, Is held
by the Federal government; his compan-
ions. J. NJ. Johnson, I. J. Warner and F.
NJ Clark, are TO be prosecuted by the
State of Arkansas.
Records prepared by the swindlers them
selves have been found to account for
nearly half million dollars and the Fed
eraI officers are receiving information
daily from every section of the country
chiefly in the cities-pOinting 10 other
large operations. IN many instances. so
gullible were the victims. it is shown that
fraud was not suspected until the arrests
were reported in Arkansas. 'HOwls,
the detectives call them, are coming
from towns and cities on all the trans
continental railway lines in such numbers
that the original estimate of one million
dollars may fall far short Of the actual
sum taken in by Gordon or Mabray and
his partners. But. of course. the whole
story never will be told: too many Of
the customers viii prefer to keep silent.
In one express package shipped from
here by the swindlers a day or two be-
fore the arrest the officers found nearly
$4,000 In the prisoners personal ef-
fects they found money. diamonds, and
pearls worth more than $1,000 To
these possessions are added a handsome
motor car. several carriages and race
horses. said TO be thOroughbreds, and a
stock Of saddles and harness and par
aphernalia used in wrestling or boxing
bouts
Quarters Finely Furnished.
In the suite of offices in the Southern
Trust COmpany's Building. occupied by
Mabray and his partners. was found ex-
pensive mahogany furniture fine enough
and massive enough TO impress almost
any one. This property Mabray acknowl-
edges is his. but adds 10 his admission
that he is not J. c. Gordon Against this
is placed the positive identification Of
Mabray as Gordon by ten or twelve men.
each of whom gave up from 5000 TO
$4,000 in the prisoners fake races or
fights. and complete records Of nearly a
half million dollars in swindling games
found In Mabray's valise when he was ar
rested
The dwellers ia rural places need no
longer be embarrassed when mention is
made Of gold bricks or green goods or
lightning rod contracts that turn out 70
be mortgages. The city no longer has
anything on the country when it comes
20 being taken in by confidence men.
Wi 1er a nd frcr "a far hat
in large places and read the papers ev-
cry day, met men from all parts Of the
country and were otherwise in a position
70 know the difference between a ten
penny nail and a tack: Notwithstanding
their superior advantages in this respect
nearly all the men VINO Bit on the Cor
don bait were city men, practically ev-
cry one WAS man of ordinary intelli-
gence. many had had long business eX-
perience. There were hotel keepers bank
ers. lumber dealers, doctors, bank cash
iers, railroad officials, store keepers, and
very rarely "A farmer in the list of vic
Tins 1t may not have been any excep-
tional brilIiancy that saved the rural
communities. but 1t certainly was the alb
sence OF II that made the city men so
easy to entrap. Still il was a mighty al
Turing game that the Gordon Mabray
syndicate had
AEthiN AAWatS busy.
For nearly two years the syndicate had
headquarters in New Orleans later re-
moved 10 Seattle then 10 Council Bluffs.
and finally, early last month, came here.
Daring ali this time the agents were
busy. Wherever an agent was stationed
the books show that the syndicate had a
store a genteel word TO take the place I
Of plant or "con game" Men with
money were interested in proposed land
deals Horse racing or wrestling were
not mentioned Nothing was hurried |
Sometimes IL took months 70 land vic |
tim properly In one case on record the |
agent worked for two years and at length
tapped" the Mike" as the victims are
called for 81, 600 in some instances the /
fraud was so smoothly handled that the
Mike went back a second time and /
gave up another five or ten thousand dol !
lars before he learned that he was loaded. /
The syndicate insured itself against !
"sQuealing Mikes another name for vic /
Tins who complain-by phOtographlng 4
every event. At some time in the contest /
q picture would be taken. and always /
these pictures contained faces OF the syn |
dicate leaders and the victim close to |
gether. usually shaking hands. These I
pictures could be shown TO "A family. IL 4
necessary, To prove what father had been /
doing when he had lost his thousands 4
They were very valuable. Several Of them \
were found in Mabray's valise.
Land Deals a Lure.
Land propositions were the favorite bait /
Cor men with wealth. The sporting event 4
came in casually. as a side play such as.
they declared. any party Of millionaires
might choose 10 arrange. Gordon, or
Mabray. and his companion millionaires
never by any chance induced the Mikes" /
20 bet on an event. That was left in the
hands OF the agents The case Of J. C.
Kile. a wealthy farmer in Illinois. will \
perhaps serve as well as any of the 400 or
more recorded 10 show how the swindle
was worked. Kile wished to buy land as
an investment. Edward Leonard. one Of
the syndicate's agents. knew of 5000 acres
that could be bought for $50 an acre. and
II bought at once might be sold immedi-
ately for $50 an acre. That sounded good
10 Mr. kile. He and Mrs. Kile accompa-
MED Leonard 10 Little Rock early last
February 10 see the land. On the road
down South Leonard showed the Kiles
supposed newspaper clippings describing
the westward trip Of his principals. J. G.
Gordon. DR.. James. and other million
aires in a private car. The government
found bundle Of these clippings IN Nab
rays vaiise. They evidently were made
in job printing Office. but they impressed
the farmer and his wife. and made them
feel important in being allowed 10 meet
such large men.
There was much delay in arranging a
trip 10 see the land after the Kiles reach
ed Little Rock. The owners were away
somewhere-they usually were hard to
hno-but everything would soon be all
right. kile proved, with a draft for Sl0.-
O0t his financial standing. a requirement
never neglected hv the r,1illionairor 80