Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-28
WIRE TAPPERS AND BLACK.
MAILERs SHOWN TO HAVE
BEEN CONNECTED.
LATEST SWlNDLEs BY
FOLLOWERS OF MABRAY
States Attorney Hoyne, Of Chicago,
Traces Operations Of Former Syndi.
cate Which Came to Grief in Iowa
to Nation Wide Operations of Black.
nnaiIers.

Chicago, Sept. S.-Blackmailers OF
the syndicate" were associated in
swindling operations with the wire
tapping and clairvoyant trust broken
UP when Barney Bertsche, Frank and
Jimmy Ryan were convicted in the
Cook county criminal court.
This announcement by States At
torney Hoyne marked an unexpected
development in the investigation of the
polished criminals who proved on
wealthy men and women and whose
latest victim to be drawn into pub
licity is Edward r. West of Highland
Park
i am now investigating this phase
of the bands activities" said Mr..
Hoyne. Information in my possession
connects ceSain members of the or
ganization with the wire tapping and
ciairvoyant swindlers. may have
some interesting developments along
this line to disclose soon.'
outsrowth Of Mabray Gang.
The blackmail organization is said to
he an outgrowth of the old Mabray
gang of wire tappers and fake wrest-
ling and prize fight promoters, who
made immense sums of money in their
coast to coast swindling campaign a
few years ago and whose directing
chiefs landed in the penitentiary
The wire Taper and clairvoyant
trust is credited with cleaning up half
million dollars in Chicago in the two
years prior to the conviction of Barney
Bertsche and the Ryans last fall
Waco Kid" Powell started the game
in this city when he opened the I'm
perial pay-off joint. A little later
Barney Bertsche opened a rival con-
Germ under the alluring sign Of kan
sas Farm Lands" These two houses
employed fifty steerers. Rertsche
squared the police by regular protec-
ton payments.
Rialto Battle Recalled.
The revolver duel between Bertsche
and Detectives Big Bill" Egan and
Bull Monaghan in Randolph street
was one exciting incident attending the
exposure Of the ring. Chief Of Detec-
tives J. J. Halpin and Detective Wal
ter O'Brien were sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary for protecting the gang. while
Bertsche and the Ryan brothers turned
states evidence and were granted I'm
munity.
Waco Kid" Is now In Chicago
awaiting trial He was brought back
from Denver by States Attorney
Hoyne's men a month or so ago. The
kid" transferred $4,000 from a Dem
yer bank to a Chicago bank to tide him
over for time. which might suggest
that wire tapping is not Improbable.
1t was Waco Kid" who was with Mrs.
Helen Evers in a Cottage Grove ave-
nue. cafe when the comeliest OF the
blackmail gangs lures" was picked up
by the orders Of Mr.. Hoyne.
Plot Matched in Excelsior Springs.
Excelsior Springs. No. the old
stamping grounds Of the Mabray gang
was where the plot for the robbery OF
Mr.. West was laid. This was one OF
the days interesting developments
Roy Jones of south side levee fame Is
said to HAYES pent several weeks at
the watering place with Buda Goldman
Mr.. West it is said. first met. Miss
Goldman while stopping here. He aft
erwards paid $4,000 a the price of his
friendship for her. For this swindle
George Irwin. Jimmy Christian, Doc"
Brady, and Homer T French are un-
der arrest.
Roy Jones was arrested by States
Attorney Hoyne in connection with
wire tapping in Chicago and held for
three days at the La Sale Hotel,
where he was given rigorous third
degree in the hope Of getting infor-
nation from him regarding his accom-
plices and their extensive operations.