Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-24
Council Bluffs Federal
Grand Jury Springs
Sensation.
COVERS MANY STATES
Small Portion of Those ImpIi-
Gated Under ArreSt-Sup-
press Names.

Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sept "a
James {. Maybray and 81 alleged as
sociates were indicted yesterday by
the United States grand jury for the
southern district of Iowa, charged with
conspiring to defraud by illegal use of
the United States mails. II is asserted
that the defendants participated in fake
foot race schemes and induced many
personsS to make wagers on horss
races With The exception of Maybray
and. tl2gee or four others, none of those
indicted are in custody, and for that
reason the names of the defendants
were not made public. II was stated.
however. that the list includes many
persons known in criminal annals i'm
all parts of the country, and that near
ly every name is followed by from one
to four aliases. Each of these alleged
confederates had Lumber which is
given as one Of the aliases accredited
to the defendant
Amount Half a Million.
Although specific amounts are not
mentioned in the Indictment. it is au-
thOritatively stated that the amounts
lost by the alleged victims of Maybray
and others named will exceed half a
million dollars. The sums lost vary
from $500 to $4,000. the latter
amount having been placed on a fake
horse race, according to the evidence
at hand, by a Missouri banker
The list of names of victims given in
the indictment includes men of prom
inence in all parts OF tbe-cOuntry. and
IL in, h.
charges several letters of an incrim-
mating character which gives a touch
of sensationalism TO the document
Many Prominent Victims.
Victims in IS states, the Territory
OF Alaska and the Dominion of Can
ada are named. indicating the wide
range of territory over which Maybray
and his associates are alleged 10 have
piled their vocation. As a basis of op-
eratiCn they used, according to the in
dictment. the cities of Council Bluffs.
D1" npoTt and Burlington, Iowa: St
Louis. Little Rock, Seattle. Denver and
Sow orleans. to which places it is al
i.Er5 victims were taken by the nu-
m'lous "steerers."
In setting out the specific instances
in which violation of the postal laws IL
charged. the indictment includes cop
les of many sensational letters alleged
to have been exchanged between May
bray and his associates which refer to
alleged deals" and name various
sums of money as having changed
hands as a result of the operations of
those mentioned in the Indictment
One of these letters is dated from a
New York hotel and invites Friend
John" who. it is alleged, is Maybray
himself, to 20 to New York City. de-
airing: Il have a town right across
the river from New York in Jersey: a
swell track and absolute protection.
The sheriff and prosecutor and police,
they will be absolutely right on the
job during working hours"
Ncnr Heart of City.
In a letter written n few days later
the same man informs the person who
received mail from postofice box No.
1, which was Maybray's box. that the
location referred to is only 20 minutes
ride from the heart of New York City.
and that as to the fixing" il can be
done for SO q week, (which will cover
everything; that is. the sheriff, the
chief and prosecuting attorney" The
writer also says he has a friend in
good standing, handling sales of large
good appearance and
excellent standing
Another letter cited is from Polk
City Iowa, and signed f. r. Marts, in
closing $1,000 "to apply as forfeit mon
ey on our deal pending"
a letter from Samuel Sutor Of Cass
Lake. Mimi. says, Il have made my
check on the bank up there for s.. .000."
and declares he has arranged TO have