The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-09-29
WHERE'S THE wHEATi
seventy Thousand Bushels or Grain
stolen from Elevators In Min
neapoIis and sold.

More than seventy thousand bushels or
wheat has been stolen from Minneapolis cle-
yators. Two arrests have been made, but
the persons are charged with purloining only
1900 bushels. Detectives are still at work
on the other eases and more arrests are ex-
pected.
w. j. Harley, a well-known commission
dealer and a member OF the firm OF Peterson
& Harley was arrested about midnight Fri
day, on a warrant charging him with steal
ing about $1,000 bushels Of wheat from the
Minneapolis Union elevator In southeast
Minneapolis The wheat has been taken
from the company's large warehouse on
Twenty-fourth avenue east. IL was but r.
ccntly-and then by mere accident-that the
officers Of the company learned Of the crimes.
Attorneys were employed, and investigation
satisfied the company that Harley was one OF
the principal men IN the steal. Some OF the
others suspected OF completely are we'll
known wheat men, and the announcement OF
their names would cause a profound scnsa-
ton. The company Is not entirely satisfied
Of the guilt OF these men, however, and their
names were therefore not included in the
warrant served. Nothing rash will bc done,
and no man will be arrested until the com
pany Is satisfied that IL has a ease.
During the morning Charles VI. Mason, an
employee OF the elevator company, was ar
rested lie Is about y years old and was
dressed in the garb Of an ordinary working
man.
The stcalings extended from last September
70 month or SO ago. IL seems that a trusted
cmployc OF the company, high salaricd and
expert elevator man, was the medium through
whom these heavy purloinings were made.
4 4 a.
leaving the elevators were tc have contained
five hundred bushels each. 10 Is now posi-
lively know that they were overloaded 10 the
extent Of 30, 100, and sometimes $50 bushels
The man who Is suspected ~ selling the wheat
% several whoat-buying firms has for some
time been employed in another branch OF bus
incss I'M Minneapolis.
IIarley's partner, Mr.. Peterson, Is known
not 70 have had anything 10 do with the case
Harley has been -. e. Moak a. Co.'s cashier
and bookkecpcr.
rather singular coincidence in connection
with this affair Is the unexpected suspension
Of -. G. Moak & Co., grain-dealcrs, with of
iiccs in the chamber Of commerce. The firm
made an assignment Thursday, when large
amount (said to be $4,000 ~ the firms paper
went 70 protest. Mr.. Moak has been In Chi
cago and Milwaukee lately, and returned in
time 10 be present NJ acoufcrence. It seems
that thc failure of Moak & Go. was prccpita-
ted by the punishment Of the firms balance
in bank.
Another phase IN the trouble came ont in
an action III the district court this morning
by the Minneapolis Union Elevator company
against w. ID. Harley 10 recover $1,000, the
value Of five thousand bushels Of wheat al
legged 90 have been fraHdulcntly taken from
the elevators Of the plaintiff. The National
Bank OF Commerce + rarnishee In the suit.
The detectives claim Ia have a sure ease and
that both Harley and Mason have virtually
admitted their connection with The transac-
lions.