Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-17
BYP1OIH[D ONE NIKE
VICTIM OF MAYBRAY GANG SAYS
HE COULD NOT RESIST DE.
MANDs OF CROOKS.
KNEW ALL THE TIME
HE WAS BEING ROBBED.
Passed Officers When Deal Was On
But Could Not Obey His inclination
to Appeal for HeIp-W. H. Bedford,
Wealthy Missouri Man, Recites His
Experiences.
,ecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Council Bluffs, March 17.-Several
Mikes have arrived in the city to ap-
pear before the district court federal
jury in answer to the request of Postal
Inspector j. S. Swensen, and some
OF the tales that are being told by
them overshadow even the experiences
related previously by men claiming to
have been swindled by the so-called
"sawindle- syndicate" headed by JUS
tice C. Maybray. The men coming
to Council Bluffs now are men whose
n,rmes Swensen found in the list
among Maybray's effects, which was
all the information the federal Off
Gals had that the list represented VIC
tins.
Missouri Man Says Was Hypnotized.
The most remarkable story told in
this connection was related today by
W.. H. Bedford, wealthy farmer OF
Andrew county, Missouri, who says
that he was swindled out of $4,000 in
Council Bluffs last fall. Bedford tells
hi, story this way:
Il knew that l was being robbed all
the time, but I was under some hyp-
motto spell orr the influence Of some
drug, and was powerless to resist the
Instructions given me by Maybray and
his gang. While was in the bank in
Council Bluffs drawing out my money,
two of the gang being with me. felt
a desire to ask the cashier Of the bank
not to let me have the money as knew
l was being swindled, but I couldn't
break the spell. Again, as we left the
passed two officers in uniform, again
felt an impulse to cry out and ask to
be arrested or have something, any
thing, done to me to make me give up
the mad DEAL but as before, was un-
able to speak or act in manner that
would result in bringing about what
l really felt was the right move to be
made"
Tho Usual Friend in the Deal.
Mr. Bedford says that he was called
to Council Bluffs to investigate an in
terurban proposition. He has been quite
successful In similar land deals and
the proposition here looked so favorable
that he came at the suggestion OF a
friend to investigate at close range.
He says that he was shown alleged
clippings from the Council Bluffs Nom
pareil telling Of the proposed interur-
ic aid and
he was. shown every attention by the
would -be investors and promoters. He 1
says that a man named Robert Burns.
one of his neighbors. made the first
overtures to him and paved the way
for the final transaction. Burns intro
duced Bedford, he relates, to man
named William Carson; Bedford and
Carson came to Council Bluffs together
and later Bedford made another trip
to this city, at which later time he was
shown some lands which he was told
had been purchased as right of-way
for the interurban. Carson, Bedford
says, never left his side, eating and
sleeping with him.
Introduced to Gordon, Alias Maybray.
On another trip Bedford says he
brought 5000 with him, which he de-
posted in the First National bank con
the morning. of Aug. 81 we met In a
room in the Ogden Hotel" said Mr..
Bedford II was introduced to a man
oy the name Of j. G. Gordon, whom l
recognized as j. c. Maybray later from
The pictures. Other men came into the
-oom and was introduced to them all.
One was George Maxwell, who ] was
IL NJ GorCnn'c The
horse race deal was sprung and was
appealed to by Maxwell as an outsid-
II, to bet his money for him. did not
intend to bet any money on the horse
ace and made no personal bets As we
u sat about a table Gordon or May
pray would make a bet and Mxwell,
Who stood behind me, would whisper,
Take it, and would put the money in
ny hand to bet. AS / see 1T now 1t was
ike moving picture show.
Sin a short time $4,000 had passed
hru my hands. They had the money
,iled up in great heaps in the center
# the table. The account was demand
ID. In the count the pile was found to
oe $1,000 short and Maxwell sug-
,ested to me that put in the money
had to pacify them until after the
ace was run and he would have all
opportunity to get to the bank. So my
money was placed in the grip with the
est and was told that it would be
placed in a vault on the private car
# the millionaire who forced the bet
ing. They told me the car was near
he hotel.'
The balance of Bedford's story does
lot differ materially from the exper-
ences of others who have told how
hey were robbed. Mr.. Bedford is going
before the grand jury with his story.
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