Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-18
|BAL[[N Tells STORY
PROSECUTING WITNESS IN DOB.
BINS CASE RELATES HOW HE
WAS FLEEcEp.
PRINCETON BANKER LOST
$4,000 ON FAKE HORSE RACE
Fell Victim to Members Of Mabray
Gang Thru Personal Acquaintance
With Dobbins, Whom He Had Known
Since Royhood-Attorney General
eyers Propounds Questions.

6yerS Propounds Questions
Council Bluffs, Nov. 1S.-Taking the
witness stand in the district court T.
w. Ballew, prosecuting witness in the
case of the state against John r. Dob
bins, began the story of his dealings
with j. C. Mabray and the latter's as
sociates, and how he was separated
from 100000 in cold cash in connection
with fake horse race near this city
on Oct. 10, 1908, a year and a month
ago.
The story was told to the judge and
jury. but an audience which filled
every seat in the court room, also
listened. Interest in the recital was
intense. At several points in the story,
a murmur Of amusement swept thru
the room.
Ballew told his story in response to
questions by Attorney General III. w.
Byers.
6alIew's Story.
Slightly abbreviated, the story Of
Ballew was as follows:
u reside in Princeton, Mo. have
lived in Missouri all my life, except five
years in Muscatine and two in Chi
cago. am 81 years old am a man Of
mercantile business and banking. / am
at present engaged in the lumber bus
mess, mercatile business and banking.
was first in the lumber business for
thirty three years. began business
year started yard in Princeton, where
now live. I continued the lumber
business exclusively until about thir-
teen years ago. AT that time had
fifteen lumber yards, two of which were
IN Iowa. Princeton was my headquai.t-
ers. j always kept the general man.
agement of all my business myself.
Thirteen years ago / started de-
partment store in Princeton and oper-
ated 1t in connection with my lumber
business and about ten years ago /
started a bank in the store. Princeton
is the county seat of Commercial county
and has about 1000 population.
Il ann acquainted with John, R. Dob
bins-have known him all his life. He
was born at Princeton / knew his
father and mother before they married
and saw them a few days after their
wedding. They We're in a hotel at
Princeton.
Martin Arrives on Scene.
In October, 1908, a gentleman came
to my department store and first asked
the clerk for me. The clerk called me
This gentleman represented himself as
Mr.. Walter III. Martin. He handed me
/ a letter from John r. Dobbins intro
ducing Martin to me.
Il read the letter, and asked him what
the nature of this business was. Do
you want me to read the letter? Well
he said it was horse race 1 said ]
never had had anything to do with a
horse race, and never had bet a cent
in my life. He asked me to come ito
Kansas City and see Dobbins He said
Dobbins could explain it, and I would
have more confidence in what Dobbins
would say that if he explained it. He
says, You don't need to furnish any
money, but just represent me and Mr.
Dobbins.'
Il don't want to have anything tic
do with horse race" says; but told
him had an office in Kansas City and
would be there in a few days. q don't
think he said anything about who the
other parties were at that time. On the
evening of Oct. I Went to Kansas
CITY. Martin and Dobbins came up tc
| al H.
my room. They began to explain the
horse race, and wanted me to repre-
sent them in it. They told me that there
were three Pittsburg millionaires trav-
cling thru the country, and that theil
present headquarters were in Council
Bluffs. These millionaires, they said
stopped in Omaha, Council Bluffs, Des
[Moines, and other places, and Travelled
in a special car. They are all bushes.
men, Martin says, and wouldn't tall
to you if they thought you were e
gambling man. But they carry a race
horse to have a little quiet fun, hui
they don't want anybody to know the,
bet anything They just have little
private fun once in while Martin
said the horse had been world beater
fornia and got horse and had triet
him on long and short races with the
rnilfonaires horse and had timed him
and they knew he could beat the mil.
lionaires horse.
Ignorant of Gambling.
II told them didn't know anything
about gambling. We talked quite
while, an hour or two. They told me
wouldn't have to furnish any money
just get on the train and go up tt
Council Bluffs and represent them
Dobbins wanted me to go into it. Thi
was In the forenoon. / said j didn'
want to have anything to do with /.
horse race, and they went away. Dob
bins came along in the afternoon AM
wanted me to help Martin out. He sait
iMardtin had promised that if he woul,
furnish man of means to represen
them he would give Dobbins shar
Of the money. Dobbins said he wante,
cS1ETla, m. Be.