, 1935-05-01
RACKET'S END
movaI to Chicago. Oscar
HartzeIl, brother of Cam
field, also named in an
indictment, IL now serv-
ing q sentence in the
Leveanworth penitentiary
on a similar charge.
CONTINUED from Page Onel

has cost the Lower Rio Grande
Valley an estimated quarter million
dollars since its promoters invaded
this section five years ago, was APP
parently nearing the end OF is
golden trail Wednesday following
the indictment OF four Valley men,
along with 80 others. by a Chicago
federal grand jury on charges OF
using the mails to defraud in al
legged Drake Estate operations.
The racket, which has continued
right on up TO this week in spite OF
the arrest and conviction of Hart
zell and the subsequent arrest OF
Ohmart and others. appeared head
ed for the end as the various
agents scattered in the Valley be-
gan to turn loose after the indict-
ment OF four Valley men.
The four are:
DR.. L. M. Davis. Harrington phys
ician.
Guy o. Walk, La Feria farmer.
j. Lucas Fox. Pharr dairy farmer
j. d. Gogh Of Harlingen.
43 Are Named
The indictments we're returned
by a federal grand jury in Chicago
late Tuesday. which indicted 43
persons in connection with the
racket. including Oscar M. Hartzen
now in the federal ~penitentiary on
conviction Of using the mails TO de-
fraud in this racket; Lester Ohmart.
formerly in charge Of collections in
the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and
some of the other big shots who
have worked the game for years.
In spite Of arrest and conviction
Of Hartzell, the subsequent arrest
Of Ohmart and several others with
seizure Of almost $4,000 in cash,
the racket has continued TO flour
ish in the Lower Rio Grande VAL
ley, largely due to the apparent
responsibility OF those generally
believed to head the operations in
this section.
II is estimated the Valley has
contributed a quarter million dol
lars to Hartzell, Ohmart a. co.
Were Strong Supporters
Subscribers" are still to be
found, and when one leader drops
out or is taken out of circulation
by the government, there seem 10
be others to take their places.
Three Of the men indicted Tues
day afternoon in Chicago have long
been firm supporters Of the estate
although any question Of financial
connection with II will naturally be
settled by the grand jury.
Walk at La Feria has been a
supporter of the project for years.
since collections we're first made in
the Valley. residents of that sec
ton said. usually becoming vehe-
ment when anyone questioned the
authenticity Of the mythical estate.
d.. Davis at Harrington also has
been a known supporter Of the es-
tate for years. as has j. Lucas Fox
Of Pharr. Little Is known about
Gogh at Harrington.
Dead In Brownsville
While he was in the Valley
Ohmart at San Benito was the VAL
ley contact man and collector for
the racket. The money was turned
in TO the local chiefs who turned
IL over to him and he In turn sent
IL to Hartzell. What the percentage
or "cut" was has never been made
known definitely.
The racket had its heyday In the
Valley from 1923 to 1892. but il has
continued since that time. Meet
ings were held In Brownsville reg
ularly for a time, but the racket
died out to a great extent in this
city following regular reports in
The Herald On the meetings.
II has flourished most at San
Renito, Harlingen. Santa Rosa and
Pharr and San Juan.
Charges Of using the mail TO de-
fraud we're filed before the late
u. s. Commissioner X. X. Goodrich
here by Assistant u. S. Attorney
Carlos Watson against Ohmart and
f.Tle other, but they were not press
ed in view Of prosecution in the
north, nearer the center Of opera
tons.
Hall Held Hearings
The Drake Estate racket In the
Valley was first brought into the
limelight In a series OF courts OF in
quriy conducted by Marvin Hail
when he was county attorney. The
fabulous yarns which the Drake Es-
tate boys had told the faithful were
outlined in court, and when they
broke into print, others. lured by
the wild promise Of $4,000 for each
81 when the thing pops" rushed In
TO shower money on the boys.
All went fine until the federal
government stepped In and took
HartzHll out OF the picture. Since