Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-27
special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Council Bluffs, Feb. 27.-One million
dollars Is the sum estimated to have
been obtained from dupes located in all
parts of the country but mostly IN
Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado, by the
gang of swindlers which so long OPP
Grated in this city, this estimate being
made by a federal official who mas
been working on the case for six
months.
Revealing a system of operation in
dicating the work of a master mind
as the story of manipulation is un-
folded it becomes succession of sem
sations No small fry-nothing less
than s5,0o0-was worthy the slightest
attention of the gang. Only fragments
of the story are yet available for pub
lie use, yet enough to indicate the
magnitude Of the work.
Postoffice Inspector Swenson Returns
Postoffice Inspector Swenson, OF
Council Bluffs, who has been working
on the case for more than a year, made
hurried trip home from Little ROCK
today, leaving on the same mission fol
Denver a few hours later. In his pos
session Is a mass Of evidence and to
the small army of newspaper men VINO
beseiged him at his office In the fed
eral building, he was compelled to say
mo- to many requests. Reporters are
here from many outside cities, St
Louis and Chicago papers having sent
men here to work on the story Where
| it was possible Swenson aided ths
newspaper men, He was accompanied
by c. d. Rangor, an inspector from ST
Louis, who is working with 'SWenson
Swenson Sure Of His Case.
Swenson says that he has a sure
case against Maybray and expects ta
be able ito make a case against the
others. "Maybray knows it," said
Swenson, "and he cried like a baby aud
begged with all the force that he coulo
command to be let off"
The following letter was one OF the
strongest clues which lSwenson OBJ
tanned at the start and is a. character
istic piece Of literature of the lot which
the officers have:s
"New Orleans, La, March l, 1908
Friend 39-Owing to change in ad-
ministration here, we have moved 10
Council Bluffs, Iowa, where conditions
are perfect. Drop us a line and keep us
posted as to your whereabouts.
with best wishes, i5o.
"P. s. Will be ready for business
about March IS. Address mail to Box
4, and all kilograms to A. G. Crals'
Council Bluffs, Iowa"
Letter Went Astray.
In an envelope addressed to II. Q.
Smith at 1909 Golden Gate avenue.
San Francisco, but delivered by mis-
take to E.. c. Smith at 1909 Golden
Gate avenue in that city, and subse-
quently returned to Council Bluffs, the
foregoing letter really started the IN
vestigation. A second letter was one
addressed to "P. o. box No. A. Council
Bluffs" 1t also fell into Swensons
hands. This letter read:
Seattle, Wash, March 81, l9oS.-
44-Dear Sir: Enclosed find more
news. Guess / am in a bad section. as
the newspapers keep digging it Up.
Have been at it two months now
care you in position to handle
horse race? Let me hear from you al
once.
yours. "a.
Enclosed in the letter was clipping
from Seattle paper stating tha-
George Harris had been arrested thef@
on the charge of obtaining money un-
der false pretenses, and that Harris
had hAatan J. G. Cawanaa,gh- a prom