Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-02
THE INDIANA BOND FRAUDS.
Eleven Trustees Issue on an Average
over S5O,OO Esch-The Swindlers in
Canada


MITCHELL, IND, Sept. 26.-The bond
swindles of r. B. Pollard and his gang in
volve nearly 100000. This amount in
Indiana township bonds is known TO be
on the market, and how much more may
be involved is only a matter Of guesswOrk,
and the full extent Of the sWindle will
probably never be known. Eleven town
ship trustees are involved, and their
issues of bonds will average over $4,000
each. A local lawyer who is familiar
with the circumstances said to-day.
pollard is no doubt the keenest rascal
that ever operated in Indiana. He was
born somewhere IN Vermont, and became
notorious as a sharper through his deal
ings as a lightnmg-rod agent. He Was
constantly involved in lawsuits, and was
engaged IN somany difficulties that he led
precariOus existence. POllard's first
idea on the bond swindle was eVOly ed
from a Supreme Court decision cited on
page 515, volume 81, Indiana reports, in
which Judge W. a. W oods,oi the Indiana
supreme Court. holds That a-township
trustee has authority 10 buYtschOol furni-
ture for the school tOWnsh D., and to give
the prOmiseory 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
duly made to return the goods.
uSAnOther case bearing on the validity
Of township bonds Pollard cited was that
OF Henry Miller, administrator, agent
White River School township, Gibson
county, not yet published except in the
Il6lG330 Ld1C W0qa@jae, vol. 81 No. !, page
y, in which Judge Hawks holds: That
the two sections OF the statutes 6,G06 and
6,O0l have no application to The ordinary
&
apparatus. and other supplies for schools
Pollard carried this law with Him and
MS dupes believed every word ne preach
ed, and he had no trouble IN convincing
bankers, brokers, capitalists, farmers and
statesmen that his bonds were as good as
gold. Pollard and his son and his
brother-in-law Campbell, Travelled all
over this State and hoodwinked nearly
every person they came in contact with.
FRANK Pollard, the son, was fully AS
shrewd as his father. Frank was a great
fayorite among the ladies, very lavish
with his money wherever he went and
none of the country boys stood a chance.
He spread himself at all the parties and
balls, and threw in dollars at the church
collections where others would throw in
cents. He frequently drove a four-in-
hand, and was generally dude and a
masher. He is 26 years old, and a good
iOOhAnA itilOW. IL Is IeldLeU bndb db one
time Pollard, Jr., was counting a woman
OF much grace and beauty, when his
father learned of it. and slipping IN, mar
ried the woman himself Frank didn't
like the joke his parent had played, but
stood it like a dutiful son, and is now
looking in fresh pastures on Canadian
soil. Eleven trustees thus far have been
disgraced by the Pollard gang. Ten have
decamped to Canada, leaving their school
furniture behind by the car load. Pollard
and his son and brOther-in-laW are keep
ing them company.
sit remains for the Supreme Court to
disentangle the situation. In part respon-
sible for the origin of the swindle by its
decision giving trustees the pretext for
running their townships into debt, that
supreme legal body must now deliberate
on the mOmentOus question as to who
shall pay the bill In these gigantic and
stupendOus frauds-the honest, tOllIng
taxpayer, or the man who has innocently
invested his money In bonds that lame
law allowed a dishonest scOundrel to
issue. More than a million dollars is in
yOlved, and more than a thousand men
will fight for that million dollars. The
scOundrels rest in peace and seclusiOn
within sight Of the American shores, while
their dupes chew the cud in bitterness,
helpless in their woe and delenceless IN
their mlstortunes, with not a line of law
to bring the wretches back.o