The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-10
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS
The Daily Chronicle of Happenings of
ALI Kinds in the Two States.
How Posse of officers We're Buldozed by q
Woman and Hired Man-Abusing Eugene
Fields Good Name-State Gleanin~
INDIANA.
| Assisted by His Wife and a Hired Man, a
Dangerous Bank Swindler Evades Arrest.

| Assisted by His Wife and n Hired Man, a
Dangerous Bank Swindler Evades Arrest.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CLAYTON, May 1.-TWO months ago man by
the name of James D. Sprague, hailing from In
dianapois, dropped into Belleville q small town
two miles east of here, and purchased farm
near there for which he paid 81, 600. he moved
his family to the farm; but he was absent from
home the greater portion of his time. as he
claimed to be drummer for a wholesale grocery
In St Louis, and said that he received a salary
Of $3.50 per month: but it comes to light
that Mr.. Sprague is not a drummer, but one of
the most successful bank swlndlers that this
country has as yet produced.
On April rs a bank swindler named Manther
was captured in st. Paul, Mimi, while IN the act
of drawing money from bank in that city on
forged bills of exchange. His pal, James d.
Sprague, barely escaped arrest When placed in
Jail Manther wrote letter to his wife and adj
dressed it "Beeville, Ind" The jailer handed
a copy of the letter to the authorities in ST. Paul,
and Detective Welbasky, of the Pinkerton force,
Immediately started in pursuit of Sprague,
whom he closely followed to Belleville in this
county, arriving there only twelve hours behind
him. On the night of May the detective and
Park Ayers, sheriff of Hendricks county, lead
ing small posse of Bellevile citizens, went to
the Sprague farm and surrounded the house,
with the intention of bagging their game; but it
seems that they met with an exceedingly warm
reception. Mrs Matte Sprague, wife of the
criminal, confronted the detective with a revolt
yer and said, eff you advance one step, I'll
Shoot ha II IF ti,oa
the hired man was holding other members of the
posse at bay with his revolver, and
in the meantime Sprague escaped
The house was searched, but the bird had flown
Sprague was traced to the house of his mother
inlaw. the widow Admire, near Bridgeport
Marion county. but there he eluded his pursuers
and further trace of him was lost.
Sprague is wanted in eight different States for
the crime of forgery. His operations simple,
and have been confined exclusively to the banks.
He and his confederate have secured Doodle to
the amount of $780, 00 Here is one instance
that illustrates the workings Of their scheme:
They went to Bedford, Ind. and by some means
procured the letter-heads of one of the banks in
that place, and then forged bill Of exchange on
a bank in Lexington. KY. They wrote letter
to the Lexington bank, which, purporting to
be written by the Bedford banker. said that
James D. Sprague had deposited $1,000 in the
bank at Bedford, and instructed the Lexington
bank to honor the check of Sprague to that
amount, as the latter would probably be in
that vicinity to buy cattle and other
stock. Sprague rode on the same train on
which the letter and the bill of exchange
were sent, and presented his check at the Lex
ington bank few hours after the latter arrived,
drew his money, and then fed. Sometimes
Sprague would not draw out of bank the full
amount of the sum in the bill of exchange, but
only draw half of it. At the time of Manthers
capture they were working rhree banks simulta-
neously, and were making preparations, it is
supposed, to operate three banks in Indianapo-
lis. They have forged papers on banks in Den
ver Col; Galveston Tex; ST. Paul. Mimi. Lex
ngton, KY. Memphis. Tenn; Atlanta, Ga:
Helena, M. T., and bank in Florida
On the night of April Is Sprague and Manther
registered at the Mansion House. Danville Ind.
the latter assuming the name of F. o. ellison.
They said they were going to Mattoon ILL.,, to
buy stock, but in reality they went to Mime
sofa. Sprage is shrewd man. of good address,
a good conversationalist well informed the
news of the day, and, as Pinkerton's men say,
one of the most daring and successful swindlsrs