Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-02-04
THE WAGES OF SIN.

THE WAGES OF SIN.
A. n. flagg, of Sioux Falls, In Felons
Cell-The Fascinations Of the Gaming
Table bring Him to Disgrace.
Sioux Falls Press I'd.
The fates have finally descended upon
Alfred NJ. Flagg, and he occupies cell
in the county Jail, in default of $1,000
bail for his appearance at the next term
o! court. Yesterday, o. W. Dye, agent
of the Producers Marble works of
Chicago, filed before Justice L. D. Henry
a complaint, charging him with embez
zlemert Of 81 500 cent him to loan to l..
W. Tenney on mortgage, according to
an arrangement previously made.
Flagg was arrested between and 6.
o'clock, and taken before Justice Henry.
where he waived examination, and ex.
pressed no desire to secure the $1,000
bail required, and about9 O'Clock be
was taken to Jail.
The prisoner was arrested in the post
office, while reading book, by Sheriff
Dickson aud Deputy Mcfarland. Each
took wrist before Flagg knew their
purpose, and the sheriff then wanted to
know where his revolver was. He denied
having one, but . search disclosed
weapon in the outside pocket
of his overcoat. The pris-
oner subsequently declared, and the of.
ticers had been warned thereof, that lie
would have committed suicide before he
would be arrested, and their foresight
prevented horrible phase winch the
case would otherwise have taken on. His
knife was also taken from him, in spite
of his assurance to the officers that he
"is not cutting man. Shortly after
the arrest he calmed down, and the
relaxation ensuing upon the terrible
strain which he has been enduring for
months left him passive and quiet. he
exhibited no desire for release from
custody, and said that to give bonds
would not do him bit of good, as there
are innumerable similar cases On which
he would likely be at once rearrested.
The money taken in this instance was
sent to Flagg about January 10th, to pay
to L. W. Tenney upon the execution by
him OF mortgage. Instead of using
1t for that purpose, he took 81, 100 and
paid claim held against him fol
money embezzled, and on which imme.
diate prosecution was threatened, and
then squandered the remainder. By this
policy in several previous cases be had
been able to stave of arrest and i'm
prisonment for probably two years, dur
ing any time Of which he Was momen
tarily in danger of being taken; but the
end finally came, and an hour arrived ir
which he could not get hold of fundt
with which to cover his effort to conceal
some previous embezzlement. If he had
secured $3.50 in cash this time, and given
security for the remainder, he could have
escaped arrest. but he concluded it wa.
useless to struggle longer against the
deluRe which was SO certain to ultimate.
~ engulf him, and go he refused to nc
cept the proposition. The agent of tht
Chicago creditor telegraphed for instruc
tions and was directed to arrest at once
which was done. Flsgg knew that it wa,
inevitable, but he hoped to be in hi.
office when the sheriff should come fol
him, in which event it was his deliberat.
purpose to send bullet through hil
own brain before the warrant could b,
served-and he would have done it. i
would have been useless for him to hav,
attempted to flee the country with any
of the money lately obtained, for som,
OF those he has defrauded are very
wealthy eastern parties, who would hav,
pursued him until overtaken.
i During an interview with the prisoner
he said that the long deferred end hat
finally come. and the many months O
apprehension had settled into dire Ger
tainty. which, in spite of all its dlsgrac,
and everything SO horrible about it, wa,
in most respects preferable to the relent
less strain he has endured. "The begin
ming of it all. !" said he. aand that whicl
kept 1t going. and which has ended i,
this. is gambling. To this vice and th
devilish fascination it has for certail
classes OF minds, is due the wreck whicl
is made OF prosperous business, al
honorable reputation, charming home
an early life of persistent study and con
slant application, and all the brigh
hopes warranted by the former happ,
and propitious circumstances OF hin
J whom the penitentiary now stares IN tn
face"
The time was when scarcely a man ii
Sioux Falls had such chance for a for
tune ~ did A. NJ. Flagg. The firm q
Kershav & Flagg had large share o
the legal patronage 10 this section. FLAG,
was prosecuting attorney, and the LOAF
and collection department Of thei
business made them thousands q
dollars. and all that was required vs
attention and integrity. All this ven
to wreck for gambling. Collections ver
embex1led, loans fraudulently patches
mp. and multitude OF schemes resorte,
to Tor swindling men who sent on thei
!. money or accounts, detestions followed
but BY hook or crook prosecution va
AilNneed and thu opiaon nvosdod ,n<;