Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-26
Council Bluffs
STORY OF A MISSOURI MIKE
Complaint of Man Who Dropped
$4,000 to Maybray Gang.
jockey HAS FAKE INJURY
He f. Told Rider Is Dying and Stake
holder Flecs with His Draft
d 60 Avoid Certain
Arrest.
JOCKEY HAS FAKE INJURY

The manner in which the victims Of the
}. Z. Maybray gang Of big store swind-
lers who were induced to come to Council
Bluffs with the admitted expectation of
picking up some easy money were in
stead fleeced Of their own coin is related in
detail in the petitions filed Saturday in
the district court in suits brought by
Mikes to recover their cash. Although
the story since the arrest of Maybray and
several Of his associates has become a
familiar one, it is still interest
\ ing and is evidence Of the truth Of the old
saving Of Parnum's about there would be
mo race suicide where suckers were con-
cerned.
The story Of the Fleeing OF the victim Is
substantially the same in each Of the five
petitions, and that Of w. H.. Bedford Of
Bolckow, Mo, who was separated from
5000 on a fake horse race will suffice.
Bedford, although from the state whose
citizens are credited with being required
/" to be shown" before letting loose Of their
cash. proved, like others before him who
had been gathered INTO the rapacious nav
of the swindling syndicate, an easy mark.
Bedford. it is set forth in his petition, was
brought, on or about August ~, 1908, by the
"conspirators' to the city of Council Bluffs
and was introduced to and interviewed by
one George r. Maxwell, who claimed to be
the secretary Of the club of millionaires In
the ogden hotel in this city.
Gives Draft to Maxwell.
The affable and suave Mr.. Maxwell, who.
by the same token, has so far evaded the
vigilance Of the authorities and escaped
arrest, by various devices and induce
ments enticed and induced Bedford to place
in his hands. as stakeholder on a certain
horse race, the sum of 5000. which Bed
ford had brought with him in the shape Of
q draft on his home bank as evidence Of
his financial standing. 1t is not recounted
that Bedford kissed the 5000 good bye
when he handed it over to Maxwell. but he
never saw 1t again.
The horse race as explained by "Secre-
tary" Maxwell to the gentleman from
Missouri was to be between Red Leo,
owned by one Charles Barrett, who was
to be his own jockey, and Abbie L.,
owned by a man named Tom Rogers, who
was to pilot his own horse. The distance
of the race was to be 600 yards and the
stake TO be AS, 900 on each side. Bedford's
s., OOO, so It was explained to him, was only
needed until the stake money on the race
could be counted and that as soon as this
:, was dore, his money would be returned to
him. Bedford did as he was told.
This little formality of separating Bed
ford from his money over the 'conspira-
tors with Bedford In tow proceeded to a
point Just outside the city limits, where
the race was pulled off. After running
about half the distance one of the horses
stumbled and its Jockey fell to the ground
and a substance like blood" issued from
his mouth and nose. To bring about this
effect of bleeding the Jockey carried In
fmZ--EH ~
blood Of a chicken, which the gang kept
in the yard of a boarding house on Willow
avenue. where one of the alleged jockeys
roomed.
Alleged Jockey Injured.
AS soon as the jockey fell there was
great commotion among the members of
the gang, who all pretended to be intensely
alarmed. Bedford was given to under
stand that the jockey had been fatally in
ju,ed and that the race was off and that,
as they had all violated the law, they
must of necessity all fly from Council
Bluffs without delay or be arrested. Sec
rotary Maxwell assured Bedford that his
money would be returned to him later,
but as time was precious just then, he
could net stop to count out Bedford's par
ticular 5000. Bedford became innoculated
with the fever of alarm, as it was intended
Dy the gang ne SnOuld, ana DelleNeu lnat II
was highly necessary and important that
each shd all of them catch the first train
out of the city and place themselves as
speedily as possible outside of the jurisdic-
ton Of the state OF lowe in order to avoid
arrest and prosecution.
Bedford. 1t appears, was not, however,
without some misgivings as to the integ-
rity Of Secretary Maxwell, as 1t is asserted
in the petition that he demanded the re-
turn Of his money before the race was
started. Maxwell was there with the
promises but not with the goods. He told
Bedford in strict confidence that he could
not hand him back his money at that par
ticular moment, as he (MaxwelD was be-
ing watched by the men on the other side
OF the race, but that he would return It as
soon as the race was run. Under the cir
cumstances there was nothing to do but
TO wait, and the Mike" from Bolckow,
Mo-. Is still waiting.
Although Bedford was presumably to
have acted as stakeholder, he must have
done so lex officio.' as at no point in
the game does he appear to have got his
mitts upon any Of the big bunch of money.
Let us figure your contract on painting.
We know we can satisfy you. II. Bor-