Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-11
FAKES EXPOSED;
DUPES FLEECED
WITNESSES TESTIFY IN MAY
BRAY SWNlDLE CASE
"sTEERERs" GIVE DAMAGING EVIL
DENCE AGAINST PRINCIPALS
Brought Out That Members of mil.
IIonalres' Club" Secured Through
Malls Thousands of Dollars
from Gullible Victims
Associated Psessl

IASSOClhleu IReSSI
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, March 10
Sensational testimony by four GOV
ernment witnesses, the first called in
the case of John G. Maybray and oth-
ers, charged with conspiracy to detraud
by unlawful use of the malls, featured
the days proceedings in thta case. The
testimony was given by Thomas Gay,
indicted with Maybray, VINO turned
government witness; James Coon OF
Owesso, Mich, and Ernest FenDy, a
professional wrestler, of Shepherd,
Mich, both of the latter admitted
"steerers," and by A. e. Nelson, VIC
tim of the swindling operations.
The alleged operations of Maybray
and his associates, members OF what
was knows as the "Millionaires clup
in New Orleans Denver and Council
Bluffs. were related with detail that
indicated that leaders of the club had
an organization never before equaled
In this country. The sporting events
arranged and carried through by these
men, according to the witnesses were
so well planned that there was not the
remotest chance for the Nlctlm 10 es-
CAPE, and his losses ran from S2OOO TO
$4,000, according to his ability ana
willingness to loosen up
Following the arraignment of Ed NC
Coy, Fred Mullen and George X. NOR
rison, the selection of u jury was pc
gun Judge Mcpherson limited the ue-
Tense to ten peremptory challenges and
the government to three. only one Oh
which was exercised. This facilitated
the work of selecting the jury. Five
farmers were accepted and the otner
seven are from various branches OF
business life.
Are in Los Angeles
Thomas Gay, one of the indicted men,
who turned government evidence, was
the first witness called. He said he
first met Maybray in New Orleans,
Maybray being at that time assoclatea
with r. b. Hartman and FRANK
Brown. who are now fighting extIaul
tion in Los Angeles. Gay llVed at
Streator, ILL.,, where ne hau peen
professional wrestler According to ms
testimony, he induced James Ttrney OF
that city to go to New Orleans ana
bet on a sure thing wrestling match IN
January, 1908. He testified that Tlrney
lost $4,000, OF which Gay received
S2500.
ployed TO secure victims and OF now
they were handled from the tune they
were first interviewed" until they were
sent home penniless. He also told OF
being one of the wrestlers In a match
in which a lumberman Of st. PAU
named Shull lost $2500. 81.
Particular stress WAS lttlu Oi iSeN-iS
exchanged between Gay and the de-
PENDANTS. the government wishing to
show that the mails had been illegally
used. The witness was positive sew
eral letters had been received at MS
home by members of the "Millionalres
club" but all correspondence he had
received was destroyed because that
was considered "the safe plan."
Wrestler Is Witness
Ernest Fenby OF Shepherd, Mich,
n professional wrestler who was de-
feated at Detroit few nights ago in
a wrestling match, was star govern
ment witness. He had received letters
from Council Bluffs, the authorship or
which Maybray had admitted to him,
giving him full dope on fixed wrest-
ling matches and horse races" He,
with James Coon, a neighbor, under
took TO steer" some friends and were
successful in landing three, from whom
$4,000 was taken on wrestling matches.
He explained how bladder full OF
blood was burst in his opponents
mouth at critical moment, when the
latter was rolled over and pretended
TO be dying. This was the ruse used
TO break up the match. and everybody
scattered to prevent arrest. He testi-
fled to having worked the trick three
different times.
Coon later went on the stand ana
confirmed Fenbys testimony in every
detail. Coon is employed by beet
sugar company at Owosso. Mich, and
said he was first approached as an ac-
complice while husking corn near
Alma Mich. He proved q good wit
ness and identified Maybray as the
leader of the "Millionaires' club"
oss-examination did not shake his
testimony. He declared that he had
not been promised immunity by the
prosecution.
C. A. Nelson, a farmer living at
Alma, Mich, was a victim to the eX-
tent of $4,000 and told how 1t happened.
He started out for a bit of sport" and
ended up without a cent, a "steerer"
having purchased a 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
twelve men were called into the box
and before challenges had been exer-
cigpd