The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-09-04

sharp SWindle-N1lseaken Identity.
A case Of swindling. with some rather curl.
Gus features about it, oame up for examination
before Justices Graham and Leavsns on Thurs.
day, OF which the following are substantially the
facts:
On the 18th Of August last, between 9 and II
O'Clock in the morning, man came to the office
attached to the warehouse of Mr.. J. c. Hattie.
way, in this city, saying hs had some 1900 bush.
els Of corn, and wished IN advance of 500 on
the strength of Il. Mr.. Fl. told the man he was a
stranger to him, but il he would get some good,
responsible man 70 vouoh for him, he would, on
his signing contract TO deliver him certain
quantity Of corn, make him the desired advance
The man proisssed 10 live in the neighborhood
Of Buck Greek, and mentioned several names of
farmers in that vicinity, smong others those of
Mr.. Brewer and Mr.. Beach. Mr.. Hatheway
said q letter from either would do The man
went away, and abeut o'clock in the afternoon
returned with letter from Mr.. A. E. Beach, say.
ing that the bearer. Mr.. ]. H. Ellis, is good
man, has considerable corn, and telling sir. II.
to let him have the 500. Thsrsupon Mr. Hath.
ewsy drew up contract for the delivery of 500
bushels Of corn BY the let Of September in the
usual form, the man signed il, received the ad-
vance of 500 and left.
Meantime Mr.. Hathaway, and his street buyer,
Mr.. Butler, who was present, had noticed sort
Of nervous, uneasy expression about the man,
and gradually growing more suspicious that all
was not right, began to make inquiries about
their customer They soon learned that no
such man as J. II. Ellis had a farm on Buck
Creek; alss that the letter purporting to have
been written and signed by Mr.. A. E, Beach was
forgery. Now satisfied that he had been swim
died, Mr.. H. began to look around for the swim.
dler. He was told that young man named
Thomas was working for Mr.. Geo. II. Beckwith,
in that neighborhood, who seemed to answer the
description.
Hathaway aud Butler went to see him and
were sure they had found their man. He no.
only looked like him, but had been to town on
that very day. Mr.. ii. swore out warrant and
had him arrested; he was brought to Ottawa on
Saturday evening, and provided with quarters in
the Jail until Monday. Monday he was brought
before the Justices sbove named for examination.
He asked for a continuance until afternoon, that
he might telegraph 70 his father at Lacon. The
continuance was granted, the father arrived on
the afternoon train, and then got further con.
tinuance until Thursday, meantime giving Sc.
curity for the young mans appearance to answer
Thursday all parties appeared at the trial
Mr.. Hasheway and Mr.. Butler swore very posi-
lively to the identity OF the man-net possible
they could be mistaken. On the other side. Mr.
Thomas produced the boy with whom he rode
from Buck Creek into town on the 1lth, who
swore that he had left Thomas about 12 o'clock
at the depot; W. P. Henery, who knew Thomas
very veil, further svors that Thomas had got on
the cara with him at o'clock on the same day,
and rode with him to Sparland, opposite Lscou,
where he left him at 4:30 p. N. Another man,
Mr. James Mccormick, OF LAcon, who was we'll
acquainted with Thomas, also swore that he met
him on the cars at La Sale at o'clock on Aug.
11th, and rode with him to Lacon and half q
dozen of witnesses fIom Lacon, oil of the high
est respectability, swore that they had seen
Thomas arrive At Lacon by the 4:3O train on the
11th Aug, and had seen him there the balance
of that day and the next. The alJi was clear.
ly made out, that the States Attorney, Mr.
Blanchard, abandoned the case, and Mr.. Thomas
was set at liberty.
Meantime MI. Hathevsy is minus 800, and
profoundly puzzled TO know who the adroit
scoundrel vas that svindled him