The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-03-11
TELLS HISTORY
OF SWINDLES
Maybray AccompIfces Who Turned
States Evidence Give Some
Entertaining Testimony
on Stand.
How SYSTEM WORKED
Plans Were so Carefully Laid that
there Was Absolutely no
Chance for the
Victims.

COUNCIL. BLIJFFS, March IL
Sensational testimony by four gov
eminent witnesses, the first called in
the case OF John c. Mabray and 9th
ers, charged with conspiracy to de-
fraud by unlawful use of the United
States mails, featured the proceedings
in that case. The testimony was Civ
Ell by Thomas Gay, indicted with Ma.
bray, but who turned government wit
ness; James Coon of Owosso, Mich,
and Ernest Fenby, a professional wres-
tier, whose home is in Shepherd,
Mich, both of the latter admitted
.steerers" and A. Nelson, a victim
OF the swindling operations.
The alleged operations OF Maybray
and Ills associates, known as the mil
lionaire's club in New Orleans, Den
yer and Council Bluffs. was told with
a regard to detail which indicated the
leaders of the club" to have an or
ganization never before equalled in
this country.
Following the arraignment of three
additional defendants, Ed. Mccoy,
Fred Null and George e. Morrison,
4 the selection of jury was begun.
Judge Mcpherson limited the de-
tense to ten peremptory challenges
and the government to three, only one
of which was exercised. and this facili-
tated the work of selecting twelve
men to lear the evidence. Five farm
ers were accepted and the other seven
are from various branches OF bust
u ness life.S
Thomas Gay, one of the indicted
men who turned states evidence, was
the first witness called He stated
that he first met Maybray in New Or
leans, Maybary being at. that time as.
ISOLATED with R. B. Harrison and Frank
w. Brown, who are now fighting extra.
dition in Los Angeles. Gay lived at
Streator. Ill., where he had been a
professional wrestler, and, according
to his testimony he induced James
Tierney of that city to go to New Or
leans and bet on sure thing wrest
ling match in January, 1908 He testi
fed that Tierney lost $4,000, of which
he (Gay) received $4,000. He told ir
detail of the system employed to Sc
cure victims. and ~ how they were
handled from the time they We're frs
''interyiewed'' until sent to theil
homes penniless. He also told OF be
ing one of the wrestlers in match IL
which lumberman of st. Paul, named
Shull, lost $500.
Ernest Fenby of Shepherd, Mich
another professional wrestler, VIII
was defeated at Detroit, few night
ago, by Zbyszko, the Pole, was a sta
government witness. He received lei
tiers from Council Bluffs, the author
ship of which he testified Mabray late
admitted to him, giving him "fu
dope on fixed wrestling matches an
horse races" He, with James Coo
a neighbor undertook to steer" som
friends. and were successful in lant
ing three. from whom $4,000 was tai
en- on wrestling matches Coon late
went on the stand and confirmed Fel
by's testimony in every detail. Coo
is employed BY beet sugar compan
at Owosso. Mich, and is said he wa
first approached while husking cor
near Alma, Mich.
A. Nelson. farmer living at Aim
Mich. was victim to the extent
$4,000 and he told how it happene
He started out for "a bit Of sport an
ended up without cent "steerel
having purchased ticket for him ar
sent him home.
Col. M. L. Temple, United State
district attorney, has 127 governmel
witnesses here to place on the stan
in the case against Maybray and h
gang of swindlers. Judge McPherso
announces that the session Of cou
will last until p. m. each day ar
night sessions will be held if ne
essary. Efforts are being made to S
cure the presence of r. B. Harriso
Frank w. Brown and Ed. Moore, a
rested at Los Angeles. Harrison
supposed to have been secretary
the millionaire Club" of which Ma
bray was the head and to have han
led all of the money. The attorney f
the defence will give out no info
nation in regard to the line of actio
Gle. M,rapoo Err x5.OfO