The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-30
FEDERAL OFFICERS ENpEAvoR TO TAKE HIM AWAY FROM
 CRIMINAL COURT.
Bondsr1en Surrender Ryan to Sheriff tsho Locks Him Up, After Which Federal Officers
 Take Departure.

George Ryan, wanted at Des Moines cit CT as a witness or to answer in die ments in connection with the fed eral prosecution of the old Mabray gang of footracers in this section, was yesterday the subject of a neat Dit of technical legal finesse in which Judge c. Floyd Huff, representing Ryan and his bondsmen, won signal victory over the government depu ties sent here to take Ryan away.
 Ryan is under indictment in the criminal court of this district for sm assault 10 kill, with Robert Cardwell as the prosecuting witness. Follow ing the indictment Ryan had been al liberty under a proper bond signed byl ocal citizens. He has been engag ed in the saloon business
 Yesterday Deputy United States Marshal Bickers and others arrived in the city to effect the possession of Ryan and take him to Des Moines, where there have been several indict ments against old members of the foot race gang. The government has been active in this work and Ryan 1t was believed, was wanted for a wit ness, as he has had no communication with the gang for several years
 With the arrival of the Unitel States official to take Ryan away. ap peared also his lpcal bondsmen. wno have signed as surety that he will an swer the charge in the criminal court here. They opposed the forceful re. movsl oI Ryan from the state while they were surety for his appearance here. and therefore hinged an arsu. ment.
 Judge c. Floyd Huff. as counsel for Ryan, and also as friendly 10 the bCndsmen for his client, offered terms upon which the disagreement could be arranged. namely the delivering of Ryan to the shegiff. which would re lease the bondsmen from liability.
 Ryan was accordingly turned over to the sheriff and locked up in the county jail, but the federal officers were then unable to make a move because Sheriff Houpt had no author ity to turn Ryan over to any one, and would have been responsible 10 his own bondsmen for the release of any prisoner without taking a bond there for.
 Of course the federal officers were unable { oproceed further and loft the city in the afternoon in no easy frame of mind. They had found themselves outwitted in the matter Of obtaining possession of a witness they desired, and declared they would use moro strenuous terms in the next move.
 Judge Floyd c. Huff, counsel for Ryan, smiled comfortably in answer to the threats of the federal officers, inviting them to proceed as they deemed best, but to keep within their rights. and to refrain from endeavor to injury Ryan or his bondsmen that might cause financial loss.
 The case of the prosecution of the old foot race gang has attracted un ilsnal attention in the I1nited States courts. Following the arrest of ]. c. Mabray and a crowd at Little Rock. the federal authorities went about the prosecution of the cases. and begun way back in some old Des Moines. Council Bluffs and Denver charges that had been made. Several years ago Ryan had been member of the party, but has recently been in this city in business.
 It Is believed that Ryan Is wanted as a witness in the cases Ryan is deticent about the case, merely re. marking that he prefers to remain here and give attention to his busi- ness. and that he is unwilling to be taken anywhere in connection with the old cases so long as he can de- fend himself against going through exercising his proper rights.