The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-11
HUGE FAKE:
IS EXPOSED

Council Biufls. Ia. Mar, 1o.-Scnsa.
tional testimony by four government
Witnesses. the first called In tho case
of John Maybray aud Others charged
with conspiracy TO defraud by unIaw.
ful use OF the United States mails,
featured the days proceedings In that
case. The testimony was given by
Thomas Gray. indicted with Maybray.
but who turned government witness;
James Coon, OF OwessO. Mich. and
Ernest Fenby. professional wrestler
OF Shepherd. Mich. both oil the latter
admitted "steerers" and A. +. Nelson,
victim OF the swindling operations.
Tho alleged operations of Maybray
and his associates, members OF what
was known as the -millionaire's club
In New Orleans, Denver and Council
Bluffs. were related with detail that
indicated the leaders of the CLUB"
had an organized club never before
equalled in this country.
THE sporting events" arranged and
carried through by these men accord
ing to the witnesses were so well
planned chat was not the remotest
NbohIN VI NbE NiNAaiu W 'HNdllt Fll
his losses ran from $4,000 to $37.-
600, according TO his ability and will
ingness TO loosen"
Select The Jury.
Following the aTraiGnment of three
additional defendants. Ed Mccoy. Fred
Null and George r. Morrison, the Sc
lection OF jury was begun. Judge
Mcpherson limited the defense 10 ten
percmptoTy challenges and the gov
ernment to three only one of which
was exercised. This facilitated the
work Of selecting the jury, Five farm
ers were accepted and the other seven
are from various branches OF business
life.
Thomas Gay one Of the indicted
men. who turned government evil
dcnce, was the first witness called.
He said that he first met Maybray
In New Orleans, associated with r. b.
Hartman and Frank w. Brown, who
are now fighting extradition in Los
Angeles.
Gay lived at Streator. Ills, where
he had been u professional wrestler.
According to his testimony. he Undue
ed James Tierney OF that city To go
to New Orleans and bet on a sure
thing" wrestling match In January.
1905. He testified that Tierney lost
$4,000, of which Gay received $500.
Details Of System.
Gay told In detail Of the system em-
ployed to secure victims and how
they were handled from time 10 time
they were first interviewed" until
they were sent home penniless. He
also told Of being ono OF the wrestlers
In a match in which a lumberman OF
St Paul. named Shull lost 81, 500.
Particular stress was laid on letters
exchanged between Gay and the de-
PENDANTS. the government wishing to
show that the mails had been Illegal
ly used
The witness was positive several
letters had been received at his home
by members OF the millionaire club"
but all correspondence he had receiy-
ed was destroyed, because that was
considered the saft plan"
Wrestler Star Witness.
Ernest Fenby of Shepherd. Mich,
another professional wrestler, who
was defeated at Detroit few nights
ago by ZybsZco the Pole was a star
government witness. He received
letters from Council Bluffs. the au-
thorship of which he testified May
bray later admitted to him giving him
full dope on wrestling matches and
horses"
He. with James Coon, n neighbor,
understood to steer some friends and
were successful in landing three, from
whom $4,000 was taken on wrestling
L. LOT hau IIa1Io.-
full Of blood was burstln his oppon-
ents mouth at a critical moment
when the latter would roll over and
pretend TO be dying This was the
ruse used TO break up the match and
everybody scattered TO prevent ar
rest He testified 10 having worked
the trick three different times.
Farmers Tell story.
Conn later went on the stand and
confirmed Fenby's testimony In every
detail Coon is employed by beet
sugar company at Owosso Mich. and
said he was first approached as an
accomplice. while husking corn near
Alma, Mich.
He proved a good witness and iden-
tilted Maybray as the leader of the
"millionaires club J."
Cross examination did not shake
his testimony. He declared that he
had not been promised immunity BY
the prosecution.
G, A. Nelson. a farmer living at
Alma, Mich, was a victim to the eX
tent OF $4,000 and he told how II hap
pened He started out "for n bit of
sport" and ended up without a cent,
a "Steerer7 had purchased i ticket
for him and sent him home.
Both sides waived the usual open
ing statements TO the jury brief out
line having been made when the first
l. men were called into the box and
before challenges had been exercised.