The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-11
FESSLER,
JOURNEY OF THE DEFAULTER
HOMEWARDS.
His General Appearance and What lie Says-InCl'
dents Of His Flight and SOjOurn Abroad.
Especial to the Cleveland Heraldl

Especial to the Cleveland Herald
Canton, o., July With eyes bent on the floor
Of the car in which he sat- and with deeply sol.
emn, penltental look upon his face, George Fess-
Ter, the defaulting Treasurer Of Stark countyrode
this forenoon from Cleveland to Alliance, and
from the latter point by way Of the Fort Wayne
Railway to Canton. His daughter Ada, aged nine
teen, sat beside him, and, in the language of Mr.
William A. Lynch who had been managing the
csselfor the County Commissioners, "Was his Gus
todian." City Marshal John Webb, OF Canton,
however, occupied seat not far from that Of
Fessler, and detective John T. Norris, of Spring
field, the officer who figured so prominently In
the Auglaize and Clermont county robbery cases.
also formed one Of the party after leaving ALI
ance. There have likewise arrived from Canada
Charles Dougherty, Fessers son-in'law, Lewis
Dumont and L, ], Midday who are on the Treas
urer's bond, and last but not least, Mr., Lynch
The latter had on his person 26 52O rs, in the
form of paper of a satisfactory nature calling for
that amount, obtained Of the banks in London.
The account Of Fesslers doings In the Queens
dominions published almost exclusively in the
Herald, were pronounced correct In nearly every
particular, and the letter from London that ap'
peared in the issue Of July 4th received special
commendation, The only material error in all the
Herdld's reports was as to the route the detauler
took from Canton. Inssead of leaving the train
at Lima for Toledo and Ontario as some Of the
Bhrewdest detectives had supposed, Fessler went
on to Chicago, where on the Sunday following
the evening of his de parture from Canton he had
his face shaved clean, and procuring valise de-
posted his money therein from the uncomforla-
BILE belt that he wore. He also purchased linen
duIter and clean underclothing and later anoth'
er Valise, ETC. He proceeded from chicago TO De-
troit on Sunday night and on Monday trOd the
pavements of Windsor with guilty conscience,
but his mind free from fear of capture. Fessler,
however, lost no time IN getting further into Can
ada, and soon registered at the Tecumseh House
in London as Thomas Davis, of Baltimore, Nd
He was attired' when seen at London exactly as
reported by the correspondent who visited that
city. The kilograms that the newspaper men OBJ
served waiting for him at London were OF minor
Importance.
Detective Webb of Canton proceeded to Detroit
by way of Cleveland, on Wednesday of last week
and found Fesser at London on Friday night
Webb and Detective Murphy, OF London, should
have credit for their skill in managing the search
and the manner in which Fessler was kept from
giyingihis money into the hands Of the represen.
tauyes of persons, scarcely to be termed lawyers
who are on the watch for such men as the Stark
county defaulter. Mr.. Lynch left Canton fol
London on Friday, being accompanied by Mr.. R
8, Shields, one of the bondsmen and Prosecuting
Attorney of Stark. These gentlemen caused
FeSser to be induced to go to Hamilton, where he
was out of the way of the agents OF any parties
who might have endeav0red to prevent him from
returning home Being man readily influenced
the criminals arrest, the difficulty regarding the
injunction placed on the money,and other causes
resulted In Fessers acknowledgment Of his
crime and his return. When the pressure was
being brought to bear on him. Dougherty and the
daughter had not yet reached Canada.
One of the travelling party said to me on the
train this morning: "Ihere are a good many
dacts in FeSsler's case that when understood will
GnduCe people to believe that he is not so bad al
would be inferred from his taking the money"
Ofcourse Fessler's penitential mood will excite
sympathy among some Of his former friends, bu
that he has been defaulter almost from the mo
ment that he entered on the management Of thC
treasury is believed by all cognizant with the i'm
pOrtant facts of the case brought to light, anC
there should be no hesitancy in bringing about {
severe punishment for his crimes III others are
guilty, they too should be forced speedily to jus
tice.
Fessler was visited by a few of his friends thi'
afternoon, We are informed that he looks yer!
sad, and contemplates with sorrow his suddel
downfall, which he attributes to previous ADVICE
Esquire Geib, of Hartville, Lake township, ha
consented to act as Treasurer pro tenn, but thu
Commissioners have decided not TO take any ac
ton on his appoin ment until tomorrow. MI
Geib has procured his bond, SlS5,O0O, which ha
been signed by thirty-t good men Of this coun
ty. have Just been informed that contrary Il
expectation the Commissioners will not max
their report to the Probate Judge until tomorrow