Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-11-19

| Tho trial Of John r. Dobbns. on a charge
/ of larceny as a steerer for the Maybray
gang, became a rare entertainment yester-
day through the jovial philosophy of two
radiant mikes" who testified before the
district court at Council Bluffs.
/ II was All Fools day. The spectators
went into convulsions, and even Buck
email" Ballew, the $4,000 victim, appear
! ing as complaining witness, smiled. -Four
times testimony was stopped to restore
order. w II. Bedford, a lank Missouri
farmer with all the native wit Of his type,
made gay with his plight and then intro
duced the only serious note OF the days
hearing by declaring that he had ben
drugged in the process Of being MIXED,
Bedfords testimony in this connection
spread great surprise by apparently reveal
ing methods of the Maybray gang not
hitherto known. The witness intimated
that William Carson ,teerer, had exer-
clsed nothing less than hypnotic control
over him The story OF Bedford's eX-
perlence was practically the same as that
OF Ballew, varying only in that the money
Involved was quoted in lower figures and
ttat Dobbins the defendant, did not figure
in the operations.
/ Hermclbrecht Unconscious HumOriat.
The sad and seriously story OF
John Hermelbrecht, who represents Ban
croft Neb., in the Mike frat convention
at the trial. all to the total cost Of 5000
spent on the racing farce which consti-
tuted the initiation, made the hearing q
bit funnier than Fritz in a Madhouse.'
His answers on cross examination de-
serve to become classic.
when you left the Grand hotel to go
out to the race, which way did you So?''
asked Emmett Tinley of the defense.
They did haft me going some south"
"Pm not joking r. HermelbrCcht," ad-
vised the lawyer. Now, which way were
you going?"
Il yust said dot 1 vas soing south-you
think dees bin one yoke zu mir?'
fuss over direction ensued, entangling
the witness woefully.
"vell. maybe you don't think I. know.
1 bin looking nordt now"
The witness was, IN fact, facing south;
of this the attorney informed his vlcLm,
but Hermebrecht shook his head.
You won't take my word for it then2"
asked the lawyer.
Is Now n Doubling Thomas.
Say, ven you gets once vat 1 didt in
desc stadt. maybe you don't belief beoples
either" remarked the witness, sadly re-
membering that SoVOO.
1t was impossible for the court to stop
Hermelbrecht and the heated German de-
llivered himself OF his feelings
Il think l bin got some sense yedt. 4
know yer l vas ven bin home, by chim-
miny."
The spectators threatened to tear up the
furniture in their mirth and the bailiff had
to turn his back while he raped for
order.
Il was to help oudt in der races" ex-
ting"
! planned Mermelbrecht. ''unt do der bet
Mr.. Maxwell, the secretary, he told me
dot l should get some drafts der mil
lionares what vas to lose would think 1
had money to go home on il lose-so they
wuldnt feel bad about betting nit me"
Was willing 10 Reap Harvest.
Hermelbrecht reviewed the same old Mike
story of the contract with Hemmingway.
the leader Of the supposed sportve mill
lonares and the shortage which forced the
secretary" in the decetful plot to leave,
always with the money. The honest Ger
, man did not attempt the fencing which
characterized Ballew's efforts TO shield
himself and frankly admitted that he knew
it was fake and expected to reap har-
vest.
You knew you had to bet that stake
money over six times?" asked Tinley In
his most belligerent mood. demanding that
the witness tell how he covered $4,000 in
"milllonaires" bets with his little 5000.
I've bet der money over only tree time"
answered Hermelbrecht mine friends
had 5000. too, dot gift uns $4,000"
you are good on addition" suggested
FINLEY.
"Ya, but only sometimes" replied Her
melbrecht.
Vaudeville or Circus, whichF
Hold on, you're not running this vaude-
vile show" suggested Tinley.
mo circus for me-" came the reply.
The witness declared that he not
= know Dobbins and that he had not seen
hi mbefore his appearance at the trial
The state took up the examination Of
Mikes" Thursday after the argument Of
strenuous and sweeping objections by the
defense which were overruled.
W. II. Bedford the jolly Mike" from
Bockow, No. who by being called to
the stand, preeipitated the technical
+ tangle Of objections and motions, on direct
examination proceeded to relate n good
natured terms how he was fesced for.
s. 000 II was a story strikingly typical Of
, the Mabray operations.
The testimony Of Bedford did not con-
meet Dobbins with the experience OF the
witness, further than that the defendant
was seen much in company with the
l "millionares"
Bcdford's Money Detached.
Bedford firmly avowed that he was in q
! detached state" when the final operations
on his purse were performed.
Il knew It was too late when I went
! after my money back after the race"
he said on cross-eXa animation.
Il knowed all that day that l was up
agin II, but ! couldn't resist after that
dinner az the hotel With Carson (the
stesrer). I was feeling Ike / was asleep
! and wide awake enough TO know IT,"
Then you think that YOU would have re-