Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-08
MEMBERS OF MABRAY GANG TO
TURN STATES EVIDENCE IN
BOSS TRIAL.
COON AND BILL SCOTT
TO TELL ALL THEY KNOW
Federal Authorities Have Been Keep
ing Information Quiet But It Leaks
out-Preparations Being Made For
Pushing of Cases in Federal Court
at Council Bluffs.

Special to imes-Republican.
Council Bluffs, Feb. S.-While it is
expected that one or more Of the Ma
bray suits pending in district court will
be tried this month, chief interest,
since the acquittal of Frank Scott on
Saturday, centers in the trial of J. c..
Mabray, alleged arch conspirator of the
gang of fake race horse swindlers,
which is scheduled for trial in United
states district court in this city
March 10.
w. G. Macarthur, of Des Moines, clerk
Of the United States district court for
he southern district Of Iowa, and
'aptain Q. H. Lucas, of Council Bluffs,
ury commissioner for this division of
he federal court, will, on Monday,
s'eb. IA, at 2 o'clock p. M, draw the
Try which is to hear the Mabray case.
IN Tuesday, Feb. Is, Judge Smith Nc
aherson will be in Council Bluffs to
hear the bleached flour cases, the jury
in which is to be the original Mabray
jury.
Two Turn States Evidence.
What has been known for some
months to few, that two Of the in
dictated Mabray men have agreed to
turn states evidence, is gradually be-
coming generally known and before
tMabray is arraigned in court will be a
matter of common knowledge. 1t was
the desire Of the prosecution to keep
this fact from the knowledge of the
public and from the defense, for vari-
Gus reasons, and 1t is not known where
the leak came. Whether these two have
been promised immunity is not known.
1t is said that the number who are to
aid the government in its case, will
be found to be greater than the two
now in view. They are said to be we'll
qualified to clear up all doubts in the
case and are expected to be among the
most important witnesses for the gov
eminent at this trial. Several of Ma
brays alleged associates in the swind-
ling games will also be on trial, hav-
ing been arrested on the blanket indict-
ment returned two months ago.
Coon Turns States Evidence.
1T is revealed, thru the filing Of de-
positions in the district court in Coun-
Gil Bluffs in the civil action brought
by George #. Castle, of Britt, Iowa.
against Benjamin Marks, once reputed
gambler king of this city; the First
NattonaT Bank and others, that ]. E.
Coon, Of Sheppard. Mich, alleged
steerer for the Mabray- gang, has
turned states evidence and that up to
date no effort has been made by the
federal or state authorities to appre-
bend him. Coon, it is understood, was
included in the indictments returned by
the federal grand juries in Council
Bluffs and Omaha and is also under
Indictment in the district court Of
Council Bluffs.
Remains at Homo UnmoIested.
Coon was indicted by the district
grand jury Of Pottawattamie county
during its session last September, for
alleged completely in the swindling of
c. "a Nelson Of Alma, Mich, who
dropped $5, 900 on one Of the fake horse
races now so we'll known to history.
UP to date the local authorities have
made no effort to take Coon into Gus
tody, altho they were fully aware, it
is said, that Coon was living at Shop
hard, Mich. One Of the two dispositions
filed in the Castle case, is that Of Coon.
The other is that of Nelson, the Alma,
Mich. farmer whom Coon is charged
with having steered agai inst the Coun-
ell Bluffs gang.
Coon Makes Many Admissions.
In his disposition Coon makes many
admissions, swearing to the charge
that he steered Nelson against the
game and that he, on one occasion
acted the role of millionaire gentry
quite familiar thru their connection
with the various Mabray swindles
Coon is 80 years old and is at present
engaged in the occupation of horse
buyer. According to the records Of the
gang found in Mabray's trunk at Little
Rock, Coon was known as "No. 75O.'
It has been stated by parties interested
in the Mabray cases. that it was their
understanding that Coon had consented
to tell all he knows about the opera
tons Of the swindlers and that it Is
for this reason that he has never been
put under arrest. In all other cases
federal officials have been hot foot
after the men indicted, even having
chased several into Canada, where they
are now under the espionage of Off
GERS of the United States government
Want Men Brought Here.
Attorney N. A. Crawford, who, with
George s. Wright, for the defense, tool
the dispositions Of Coon and Nelson, is
not satisfied with the result of his eff
forts, Coon declining to answer some
questions put to him, and he is de-
sirious Of having the men brought here
to testify in the civil suits brought by
the victims to recover the money out
of which they claim to have been de-
frauded.
In the examination Of Coon at Shep-
500 REWARD, 500.