The San Francisco call., 1909-10-01
Three Lieutenants OF Notorious
SwindIer Tracked to Lair by
Federal Officers
Dramatic Features Mark Arrest
in San Jose of Long
Hunted Men
Gordon of Deputies Surround
House and Advance With
RevOlyers Drawn
Athlete Recently Expelled From
Olympic Club Found in
Company With Two

A FTER a pursuit of year the
n federal authorities yesterday
delivered another crushing
blow to the notorious Mabray swim
ding gang, the largest and most per
feet organization of swindlers the
country has known. when they made
dramatic and sensational arrest at
San Jose of R. B. Herman. F. c.
Brown and Z c. Moore, three of
Mabray's chief lieutenants. The three
were among IS members of this or
ganization, indicted for fraud a year
ago in Council Bluffs, la.
The arrests were made BY lanes
O'Connell, connected with the San
Francisco postofhce department. and
Charles S. Ranger and William F. AL
mon of the ST. Louis division, as
sisted by Sheriff Langford of San
Jose and his deputies. It means the
inal disruption of this organization of
fake" racing and prize fighting swim
dlers. J.C. Mabray. the leader, is in
prison in Iowa, other members are
behind the bars elsewhere. and the
three who were caught yesterday were
the backbone OF the scattered remnant.
Their capture was as dramatic as their
criminal careers.
For a year these three Ieutenants
had been trailed from city to city
throughout the country. AS long as
they remained at large the federal au-
thorities knew that the organization
would be rebuilt
Pursued 10 Coast
The pursuit started in St. Iouis
From there il went through the cities
of the middle west. Finally the three
headed for the coast. After them were
the federal authorities. They came to
San Francisco. lived IuxuriousIy at the
ST. Francis hotel under assumed names
and finally left for San Jose. James
OConneH scented their movements and
then, finding their trail. followed II
with all rapidity.
The three swindlers were living in
the height of luxury. They had fitted
up large residence in an expensive
style and had prepared to settle down
in San Jose until the chase wore Off
The arresting party. heavily armed.
surrounded the retreat. O'Connor and
Allmon proceeded to the front door
with drawn revolvers. The rear OF the
house was guarded by Ranger and
Sheriff Langford. while deputies sprsad
themselves in Gordon around the
grounds.
The front door was opened by Herri-
man. As he did 50 he found himself
gazing into the muzzIes Of two revolv-
ers- Needless OF the consequences. the
swindler turned like a flash darted
through the hall and made for the rear.
He swung the back door open-and
came TO a sudden halt. Another two
revolvers checked him. He cast one
glance at the Gordon Of officers around
the ground and. Struggling his shouI-
ders. allowed himself to be arrested.
Swindlers Are Arrested
The officers rushed into the house. In
tho living room they found the other
Knox. a professional athlete of shady
reputation. and 2 stylishly dressed
woman. Brown ana Moore were smok-
ing meerschaum pipes. Knox sprawIed
luxuriously on sofa. The men made
no resistance. They accepted their fate
with the utmost nonchalance. The
woman refused to say anything con-
cerning herself. To all questions she
replied. 4 don't know"
The Murphy gang was composed of
s91 persons. each having particular
duty in various swinding processes
The common plan was to promote
fake" races. prizefghts or wrestling
matches Agents OF the gang would
locate the dupe and arrange the pre-
Iiminary matters. The proposition was
the simple one OF telling the individual
that 4 fake fight or race was to be
pulled of and that an opportunity was
thus presented Of making wager in
which there was not the veriest chance
% loss. The dupe. believing the story
and anxious TO win the money. would
make the wager. In the midst of the
fight or at the height Of the race one
of the lighters or Jockeys would sud-
denly fall i'll and proceed to die on the
spot. The utmost confusion would pre-
vail. Some one present would start
whisper of police investigation. There