Willard Powell

Denver County, CO

Willard Powell

Mar 28, 1908

(Federal Case tried in Council Bluffs, IA) Willard Powell was convicted of participating in a massive swindling scheme that had operated in 14 cities and had taken in millions of dollars. The organizers of this scheme ran a "Millionaires' Club" for the purpose of operating fake horse races, wrestling matches, foot races, and boxing matches. They then had a "steerer," to induce a "mike," to join with the club's secretary in betting against the club, the "mike" believing that the race or match was to be "thrown" in his favor. After the stakes were put up, with the club's secretary as stakeholder, the event was instead thrown to the club and the "mike" got a dose of his own medicine. The scheme was cleverly worked out, inducing persons to surrender their money, yet leaving them in such a compromising position that they were not anxious to report the affair to the authorities.

Powell was indicted because of testimony that he knew and associated with some of those clearly involved in the scheme. However, there was no evidence that he conspired with anyone. He and his attorney expected a directed verdict of acquittal. However, at the last minute in the Mar. 1910 trial, a “mike” was recalled as a witness and identified Powell as a participant in the group who fleeced him in a fake horse race near Denver, CO. This “mike” could not fix the date when he was fleeced, beyond saying it was between March 20 and April 10, 1908. The only other witness who had testified about this swindle had already been dismissed and had left town.

The date was important, because Powell had alibis in different locations during this time period and did not have time to collect alibi evidence covering the entire period. Powell had two witnesses testify that they returned from Cuba with him around the first of April. Another witness testified that he was in Denver when Powell arrived about the middle of April. However, the jury disregarded this evidence and convicted Powell.

Following Powell's conviction, his attorneys established that the horse race occurred on Mar. 28, 1908, and that Powell was clearly in Tampa, Florida on this date, having returned from Cuba two days before. U.S. President Taft granted Powell a full pardon in July 1910. (CTI) [11/07]