The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-26
FORMER CONVICT
 ASKS PROTECTION
 FROM UNDERWORLD
By JACK CARBERRY International News Service Special
 COrreSpOndent

cussion before Casey, the chief. y.Theress Tn e1scoo' no need of continuing the narrative of the dialogue which fol- lowed-it's an old, old story" says John c. Mabray-and Mabray should know.
 For Mabray, once the head of the most notorious band of "con-men" in the history of crime, is beating back
 "And the bulls nevr forget" Ma bray claims.
 "Once you're an ex-con you are all ways that" he says.
 Underworld Against Him
 But, worse still, for the man at world itself,'' Mabray explains.
 Johnny Mabray, who, with "the Waco Kid" Civilian PowelD and Eddie K. Morris, took the farmers of the Middle West to S5,000,000 trim ming during the years of 1907-0S, is now engaged in mastering influence to go before President Harding to ask Q complete pardon from portion of jail sentence still pending and the remittting of a $10.000 fine. imposed in 1910.
 Since 1912 Mabray has been living in Kansas City.
 And I'm afraid that if President Harding does not act quick the un- derworld will get me, because I won't go crooked again." Mabray says.
 Asks Help of Law
 Last week Mabray visited Colonel M. L. Temple, now living in Osceola, Ia, who was United States District Attorney when Mabray's gang was broken up.
 After I was released from the Leavenworth Penitentiary the police branded me an 'ex-con'-fair game for arrest. Every time anybody lost 8 thin dime to a con-man the chief would give orders to pick up Ma bray!' That's the penalty the ex- convict The hI111 get, Mabray told Colonel Temple
 But now I am meeting a more sinister foTce-the underworld it. self," Mabray said. ing out helping hand to young men who are in danger of crossing the borderland of the underworld and into crime.
 Crime Record Known
 "The underworld knows this knows that with the crime record I possess, which I have since directed along the lines of good, can do them more more harm than all the police of the
 And so they have vowed to get me-to send me back behind prison bars, in order that they may be free to recruit the youth necessary to sue cessful crime.'
 Mabray claims he is hated in the haunts of the underworld, where once he ruled as king.
 nlan can go straight and re- tain friendship of the underworld, g Mabray says. 'I have tried it and failed There is no honor among thleves-or among 'con-men'-they don't believe in letting a. fellow go
 Has Dramatic History
 The yellow-back of detective fiction the widest dream of the dime novel writer-never even approach ed the dramatic history of Mabray and his gang
 How many composed the layout of the Mabray gang none but Johnny Ma6ray himself ever knew.
 There was Powell 'the Waco klnd'-termed by police of the en- tire country the smoothest package ot green goods stuff which ever made small town.''
 And look at Powel1,'' Mabray they got him.
 Powell was shot down in the main dlnlng room of the fashionable Ponce de Leon hotel. at St. Augustine. Fla He had "squeaIed'' on his pals.
 Played 'Green Goods'' Game
 The band operated all the green goods" and "con" games known to the underworld.
 events, however - foot and horse races and prize fights.
 In addition. they operated wire tapping schemes, false stock ex- NA4%NA- CSo, anu even sunk the "SO9n racket" and the "goId-brick' schemes. They sold buiidings-in- cluding the Masonic Temple in Chi cago, the F'latiron building in New Francisco.
 In their two years of operation they made $5,OOO,O0O.
 We never stole a dime" Mabray boasts. We just relieved monkeys of their money"
 'ECleaDcd the Corn ReIt,,
 The band, working with Council Bluffs, la, as Headquarters. ''clean- ed" the Corn Belt" for s1,OOO,OOs in one month, according to sworn ad- missions made by Mabray on the witness stand during the trial of Ben Marks, acquitted in connection with what was then known as the "big store' swindle.
 The Mabrays used the "sport A "capper" would "catch on, to a farmer-a man form the M fiddle West-with from S1O,OOO to s5O.OOC The "capper" would also pose as a l farmer-or sman-town banker H, would tip off his new-found friend tc prize fight, or a foot race, to be was a grudge fight, or grudge race between the two and to be rnu il Farmers Taken In''
 
 scene of the fight. The "capper" would announce ht was going to bet. If the farmer showed a willingness. to put up a little money, too, the l "cappper" protested.
 "I don't want any of my friend. to lose-ten you what I'll do," h, would say. Then he would make | proposition of loaning the farmer | $100 or s2O0 to bet. | 'If you win pay me back-if no I'll be the loser" he would say. Tn farmer always fell-and falling, won
 This would lead to more betting Then would come the "clean up.'
 Victims Are Tipped Of''
 The farmer would be tipped of | that a fake" fight was coming of It was all set for a certain man t win.
 He was advised to get down all h | owned on the affair.
 Having won previously on the ad vice of his friend. the farmer plung ed. The rest of the story is as ol as the story of crime itself-the far mer was trimmed
 1 Having barticipated in what h