The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-18
Jolly Good Fellow Turns Out to be Forger
Thief and aAulfnror


The Gazette of yesterday morning has
long account of slick rascal over there
from which we clip as follows:
No young man in Davenport had more
extensive acquaintance that Geo. w Mitch
ell At the sight of the name, hundreds
of our readers will recall his appearance
tall, shapely form, pleasant face, mild blue
eyes, irst-rate clothes of fashionable cut
and becoming colors, diamond breast pin,
heavy gold vest chain with unique, jeweled
charms pendant from fastner, heavy gold
ring with large amethyst setting showing
monogram of his initials in minute dia-
monds of sparkling brilliancy-Past Grand
in Odd Fellowship, Grand Recorder in the
Ancient Order of United w orkmen, Knight
of Carthage, Master Mason, Time Keeper
for the c.. R. |. & p. Railroad, Jolly good
fellow with "the boy" Immensely popu-
lar was George Mitchell.
George came to Davenport as an officer on
the staff of General Sully some time to-
ward the close of the war, remained here
some months with the General, and went
with him on an Indian campaign, at the
conclusion of which he was mustered out
when he returned to Davenport to live. \
Then last winter he was elected
Grand Recorder of the Grand Lodge
of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen for the State of Iowa
When brother of this Order dies hi
wife or legal heirs receive $4,000 from the
Order-every member of the Order in the
United States subscribing to this funt
when notified. George would receive no
tice of such death from the Supreme Crane
Recorder of the Supreme Grand Lodge Q
the nation, at Indianapolis, and forthwith
would announce the fact to the subordi
nate lodges in Iowa; the Treasurers O
these lodges would collect the assessments
forward them to George, and it was his du
ty to send the amounts to the official afore
said at indianapolis. He didn't do i
though! /. V. McCagg, of this city, i
the Grand Master Workman of the Ordel
in Iowa. One day couple of weeks ago
he had his supicions aroused concernin.
George, and he telegraphed to Indianapo
lis asking how much money had been re
lceived from Iowa on insurance assessment
I-since such date, The answer cam
promptly: "None-behind on six assess
ments. Guilty of forgery, embezzlement
etc., he was arrested, his bondsmen. mem
bers, of the Order. were interested-takel
before JuStlce ' lele lot examination, ant
there he produced $500 which he paiC
! over, giving note with good endorsement
{ for the balance, He had resigned hi
position as time keeper, As soon as pos
sible he left the city and debts al severa
+ stores to the amount Of several hundreds
to say nothing of hundreds NOR
of borrowed money. Now tn
railroad company wants him. He had col
j lected 5000 for traia employees 2
for two hard working coal beavers, which
they authorised him to do, 800 belongin
to the land department, held $50 en- gar
nishee against the company, and no on
yet knows how much more, for they ar
examining his books and accounts back t
the time of his appointment, to find out
There's over 81 900 so far, any way. 1t
believed he carried away goodly sum i
s his pockets. The company want to &c
D hold of him.
S 1t turns out, also, that, although he wa
t a married man, he kept mistress
= ence Patterson by name and there is lii
0 tie doubt that he had it all fixed to ru
$ away on the night of Saturday, the ct
d inst, meet her in Chicago, and go to part
unknown with her He is probably wit
:, her now, somewhere.