Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-12
IS $4,000 DUPE,
STATES FARMER
I0WAN ACCUSES ALLEGED
PONY CONSIDERATIONS
TELLS OF LOSING ROLL ON FIXED
hnCES
Government Puts on Many Witnesses
In Trial of John C. Maybray
and Others Said to
Be Associates
tAssoclated Pressl

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, March IL.
The government continued today to
fortify itself with strong evidence
against John C. Maybray and his
eighteen alleged associates on trial
here for alleged conspiracy to defraud
by means of illegal use of the mails,
j. H. Secrest, retired farmer living
at Iowa City, furnished an interesting
account of the alleged operations OF
the defendants. He said he first con-
tributed $4,000 to the "millionaires clup
treasury, and still satisfied with thelr
explanation of the game, returned from
New Orleans to his home and secured
$4,000 more, and placed both sums into
the pools of fixed horse races.
II was first approached in a hotel
in st. Paul." said Mr.. Secrest, whose
appearance is that of q dignified man
of wealth, probably So years of age.
"A man giving the name of j. G. era
mer greeted me in a casual way, and
we discussed the possibilities of max
ing some money out of Canada and
Texas land. A few days later, after l
had returned home, he called me up
from Davenport. Iowa, by tele-
phone. and said he was coming
and laid before me an elaborate plan
to make some easy money in New
Orleans. I refused point blank to have
anything to do with this scheme, but
told him l was going to New Orleans
in a day or two, and then to Texas,
and he declared he would accompany
me.
Jockey Had Fit
Ill he
me the city and entertained
me in style for a few days. Then |
was introduced to a man named Mar
tin, whose real name l later learned
was r. B. Hartman. The two con-
tinued to urge that I take little OF
the sure thing bet. | still refused,
but finally agreed to loan Cramer $4,000
to go into it. The race was pulled off,
and Hartman lost the money, because
our jockey had a fit and fell from his
horse.
"The millionaire said it was not fair
to take our money, and stated that If
we would put up $500 forfeit they
would give US another chance in a
week. / Wanted my $4,000 back, and
went home and raised $4,000, and Mar
tin made up the balance and we put
up that amount. Another race was ar
ranged and I kept the betting sheet.
Nearly $4,000 was bet on that race,
and my $4,000 got into the pool in some
way.
"Our jockey had another accident.
and when we picked him up he looked
like he was dead, and I thought he
was. Martin told me we would all be
arrested and advised me to return
home, which l did"
Secrest pointed out Maybray as one
h. 1fr., ID To ,1r
duced several letters which he testified
were received from Maybrays asso-
ciates.
Many Lost Money
Secrest's testimony was only one Of
several similar stories told during the
day. Samuel Sutor of Cass Lake,
Mimi, explained his loss of $4,000, and
Alex. Delane of Green Bay, Wis, told
IF losing $500. Zachariah Pierpont of
Okla. lost $4,000 on a fixed
match.
Secrest's testimony closed the after
noon session. Cross-examination by
Tysley for the defense de-
yeloped nothing. In fact, Mr.. Tysley's
,ross-eXamination of all witnesses has
been along the same line, being con-
fined to an attempt to show that let
-ers which passed through the mails
lid not have the direct result of losing
money for the victims.
Colonel Temple, the prosecuting at
-orney. introduced documentary evil
lence in the shape of letters exchanged
the defendants and their al
eyed victims, but in each instance he
up this evidence by securing a
recital from witnesses of all the events
eading up to the loss of large sums
If money on fixed" sporting events
The defense made strenuous efforts
% keep out of the record a number of
etters taken from Maybray's effects
when he was arrested in Little Rock,
md partially succeeded. Presiding
Judge Mcpherson decided to wait until
omorrow before making a final ruling.
t is said there are more than 1000 of
hese letters, giving a complete record
# the transactions of the million
lires' club" including the names and
'esidences of victims and the amounts
hey lost