The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-30

Pollard is no doubt the slickst rascal that
ever operated in Indiana. He was born
somewhere in Vermont, and became motor
ious as sharper through his dealings as a
Ightning-roi agent He was constantly en-
gagged in lawsuits, and was engaged in so
many difficulties that he led a preearious
existence. He drifted out into the west, and
about four or five years ago turned up in
Mitchell, where he pursued the lightning
rod business, but tried to organize an insur-
anee company. In this he failed. His eff
forts to enlist the people of Mitchell in the
enterprise were not successful, as his scheme
was too vapory and would not stick. Fin
ally Pollard organized a tellurian company,
composed of some of the leading citizens of
Mitchell. A tellurian is globuean appar-
atus or machine for showing in what man
ner the causes operate which produce the
succession of day and night, and the chan
ges of the seasons. Banker Moore, of Mitch
ell, was treasurer of the company, and d.
L. Kimberlin president, while Pollard was
general manager, and Pollard's brother-in
law, G. w. Campbell, secretary. The IN
struments sold at about thirty dollars each,
and although the company-made money it
was too ''slow COACH for Pollard and his
brother in-law, and they abandoned the
business ard commenced selling school fur
niture and school supplies.
Pollard's first idea on the bond swindle
was evolved from supreme court decision
cited on page SIS, vol. 81, Indiana Reports,
in which Judge w. A. Woods of the In
diana supreme court holds that a town.
ship trustee has authority to buy school
| furniture for the school township and to
give the promissory note of the corporation
therefor, and payment cannot be resisted on
the ground that the goods were not needed
| and the price too high, unless fraud Is
shown, not then without an offer duly made
| to return the goods
The title of the case is johnson School
| Township VS.. Citizens Bank of Greenfield,
appeal from Clinton circuit court Another
case bearing on the validity of township
bonds Pollard cited was that of Henry Mil
Ter, administrator, VS.. White River town
ship, Gibson county, not yet published ex-
cept in the Indiana Law Magazine, vol. 5,
Nc. /, page 81, in which Judge Howks holds
''that the two sections of the statute 6,O0s
| and 6, cor have no application to the or
binary debts incurre1 by trustees for furni
ture. apparatus and other supplies foI
schools"
Pollard carried this law with him and
compelled his dupes to believe every wore
he preached, and he had no trouble in con
vincing bankers, brokers, capitalits, far
mers and statesmen that his bonds were a:
good as gold and as marketable as dia
| monds He and his son and brother-In- law
Campbell. started out and travelled all owe
the state. They made their business boom
lined their pockets with greenbacks, carry
ing on the meanwhile wholesale bribing
and conspiracy business and defrauding
people at every crook and turn.
Pollard met Brown, the trustee, at Wash
ington, and after al few friedly games a
the poker table ropsd the trustee in and
soon had him so deeply involved that Brown
turned rascal and bond Spectator too
They would miss no opportunity to make I
, trade. and bonds flew thick and fast fol
diamonds, gold watches, property of variou
J descriptions, etc, ad infinitum. During hi
, trading and scheming Pollard hired w. Q
Chiffon. an estimable young man of Mitch
ell. to work for him. He offered Chiffon
big commission for his services and ChiIto
went into the business hot and heavy
thinking the whole scheme perfectly legit
mate and honest. Chiffon worked for sew
eral months, in fact, over year, for Pc
( lard, negotiated many 7tes for him, an
even endorsed some of them himself. Pc
: lard even paid Chiffon in bonds for service
and Chiffon thought he was growing rlcl
and when the crash came about thirty day
ago Chiffon was stuck all in heap wit
amazement, and is the most befuddled cit
cen in Southern Indiana
He holds So, 900 or $4,000 of the bonds Pc
lard gave him for his work, but they al
considered valueless. Pollard, howeye
tried to teat Chiffon out of them Chiltt
is left without a dollar with family on
hands and the winter gradually coming on
pace. Chiffon would no doubt put so
: head on Pollard if he should meet him. Il
! sympathies of the people are with Chilto
as all who knew him feel that he has be-
? STRAIGHTFORWARD in all his dealings but b
:, been dupe and victim of a sharper al
= public plunderer, who swindled him as
i did hundreds of others
VIM. Boland, proprietor of the Solace
loon, Mitchell, has known Pollard and
gang for a long time. Mr.. Boland said p
3 lard always seemed extremely busy, full
N life. and running over with money. Hew
" an expert gambler and never got left unle
# drunk While intoxicated he lost heavil
= Boland said he never suspected anythi
rs wrong with Pollard and thought he was
uncommonly shrewd citizen up to his eyes
business. Pollard was just such man
deceive them all, and he succeeded mo
wonderfully.