The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-06
BENNETT IN BAD BUSINESS.
A We'll Known Davenport Young Man
In the Tolls ON the Charge OF
Forgery.

udu utcu, tcn years pIioi " MS uo"hiai,
ook-keeper for the wholesale dry goods
house of w C. Wadsworth s. Co.. IN Dav-
export. and had the perfect confidence of
his employers. His father was success
full travelling agent for the house for years
before his son became its book-keeper,
and for years afterward. Young Bennett
was as competent an accountant, proba-
bly,, as the state contained. In the month
of June, "a, Mr. Wadsworth, discovered
that his book. keeper had been robbing
the firm. One morning he received a
letter from Chicago bank which con-
tanned draft drawn by him a couple of
days before, the letter stating that the
name of the payee of the draft was an al.
teration which was so bunglingly eSecu,
ted as to expose itself, in the writer's
opinion. Mr.. W. saw Immediately that
the draft he had himself signed had been
altered-the name of the party in whose
favor it was drawn having been erased
and the name of another house substitu
ted. This led to immediate telegraphing
to New York and other places concerning
other drafts-and the book>keeper's guilt
was exposed Bennett suspected that
his forgeries had become known to his
chief employer ard confessed to him that
he had "been using some of the firms
money!" appeared to be very contrite,
and offered to make every PREPARATION in
his power But investigation concerning
the forgeries was kept up-and it was
found that the amounts thus used by
Bennett aggregated between $1,000 and
$4,000.
| Besides this, it wss found that he had
been appropriating collections received
by mail, and doctoring the books accord
ingly-had charged employees Of the
house with money they never drew to
hide deficiencies caused by his own ap-
preparations One of the best experts in
bookkeeping in New York city was en-
ployed TO investigate the books, and he
declared that it was the most skillful
work in false book keeping that had ever
come under his notice. Bennett fled to
the common abode of all Americas de-
faultcrs. forgers, etc..-Canada-snd of
his arrest there, Mr. Morrill,, the detective
who effected his capture, furnishes the
particulars. The detective says he was
notified by brother of Mr.. W. c.
Wadsworth, a lawyer in Buffalo, n. Y. ,
in January last to 60 to Saratoga Springs
in search Of Bennett, who was described
to him. He went, but without finding
any trace of his man. From there he
extended his search to Niagara Falls.
hearing that an uncle OF Bennett lived
there. This was a Mr.. Lord, who. with
his partner Mr.. Kingsley, was agent of
the Oneida community. Lord be found
lived just across the suspension bridge
and on the Canada side. Kingsley was
well acquainted with Bennett, who had not
sought to change his appearance or name
Morrill, had Kingsley deputized as deputy
by the sheriff of the county and though
he was reluctant to do his duty, after
ward carried it out fully and completely.
Bennett had been'livins with his uncle,
doing nothing but specializing in grain.
He ventured over to the United States
side of the river very seldom and was
prepared to meet enemies too, as his
capture shows.
As soon as he had placed his man Mr.
Morrill, sent for the necessary requisition
papers and was delayed in receiving them.
When he did receive them he made
closer examination and set his trap last
Saturday. At 8 O'Clock he ventured this
side of the line and was met by MIR.
Kingsley who had been on the lookout.
He showed his authority and told Bennett
he was his prisoner. Bennett comprehend
ed in an instant and was off on run for
the bridge, but short distance away, in
an instant Kingsley would not let his
first official arrest end thus and made after
Bennett, catching him very soon and
bringing him back. He telegraphed for
Morrill, who had started for Buffalo Just
before ana that gentleman soon arrived
with the sheriff of the county. They took
charge OF the prisoner and detective
Morrill, started with his prisoner on his
way TO Davenport. He heard that
habeus corpus proceedings would be
started in Chicago and much trouble and
possible escape follow, so he stopped
at Engelwood with his prisoner, and
waited for the train TO 60 down to Chicago
and back, giving the lawyers of Chicago
the slip very neatly and arriving in
Iowa. where the prisoner was taken
charge of by Sheriff Leonard
Bennett is about 80 years of age, hardly
the average size, but gentlemanly, bright
aud genial. II is an awful overthrow OF
talent and bright prospects. His wife
who was Miss Stella Ferguson at the
time society belle of Davenport, and
a gifted vocalist, is with her parents in
Nebraska, and his mother is living il
Ohio. Poker, gambling and fast horses
was the cause of his downfall.