Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-16
UNITED STATES MARSHAL F. B.
CLARK ARRESTS GEORGE f.
sTEvER, ]. 3. sTEVER AND
MARRY ]. BALL.
LOUISVILLE MAN
is COMPLAINANT
cATTLEMEN ARE ACCUSED OF
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD AND
USING THE MAILS TO DEFRAUD
IN TWO INDICTMENTS.

Fairfield, Aug. 15-(SpeciaD Geo
F.. Stever, J. B. Stever and Harry l.
Ball were arrested this morning by
United States Marshal F. B. Clark Of
Ottumwa on warrants issued by the
federal court at Louisville, KY, which
charge the stockmen Of conspiracy to
defraud and using the mails to de-
fraud. The arrest caused sensation
here, owing to the prominence of the
Stevers and Ball. The three men
were taken to Creston this afternoon
on Burlington No. 9 and will be ar
raigned before Commissioner Robert
Hanna.
]. X. Fowler, wealthy commission
man of Louisville, KY, is the com.
planning witness, and the deal by which
he suffered, and which forms basis
of the indictments against the Fairfield
stockmen, took place in 1908. j. w.
Welborn, postoff1ce inspector of OF
tumwa, who secured the evidence in
the suits against the stockmen, ac-
companied Marshal Clark to this city.
Fower's Loss Was Heavy.
The indictments against the Ste
yer brothers and sIr. Ball were drawn
up by the United States attorney at
Louisville, whose office had much to
do with the wording of the indict-
ments in the recent j. G .Maybray case
at Council Bluffs The indictments
aver that Fowler answered an ad-
vertisement in the Pittsburg Live
Stock Journal in 1908, in which was
set forth a statement that certain
number of head of cattle was avail
rnS S,.f1 f11H nd fn ,ir.ot a
with Box No. 1875 in this city. Mr..
Fowler answered the advertisement,
and in return received a letter from
the cattlemen describing the stock as
being splendid type of the various
breeds. A trip to Fairfield by Mr..
Fowler resulted, and he was shown
the cattle described. A deal was made
for ten car loads and Fowler the fol-
lowing morning checked the cattle in
to the cars Upon the arrival Of the
stock in Louisville, however, the in
dictment declares that the cattle were
not as represented by the letter and
instead of fine breed stock, was mix
ture of short horns, pink eyes, etc.
WeIborn Secured Evidence.
The letter from the Fairfield cattle
men to Fowler describing the stock
forms the principal part of the indict-
ment on the charge of using the mails
to defraud. This letter, with other
evidence was secured by Postoffice In
spector J. w. Welborn OF Ottumwa,
who has been working on the case for
some time. The arrest today Of the
Fairfield men recalls the fact that the
United States court grand jury at Keo-
kuk some time ago Investigated the
complaint of northern Missouri
farmer who bought some cattle, and
later found that they were not as
represented. The second charge
against the Stever brothers and Mr..
Ball is based on the claim that pros
pective buyers are shown herds of the
choicest stock, and after completing
the sale, the good cattle is replaced
with stock of inferior value The
authorities state that live stock jour
nails in the east have refused advertise
ments forwarded to them by the three
Fairfield cattlemen because of alleged
irregularities.