Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-10-12
II. AUG. 4 CROOK.
Jimmy Emmons' Old 'Pard" Arrested for
Alleged Counterfeitine,

Jimmy Emmons' Old "Pard" Arrested for
Alleged Counterfeitine,
Can it be that the following telegram
refers to our Maj. w. Aug. Fonda, the most
celebrated all around-yet harmless-liar
that ever struck Bismarck? Fonda left
Bismarck last fall and spent the winter at
Biloxi and other points in Mississippi.
While in Bismarck he always had means
receiving a certain sum monthly from a
sister in the east, conditional, it is said,
upon his remaining away from his old
home. In this city Major Fonda was con-
sidered, to use a vulgar phrase, to be
harmless cuss-a crank. He was we'll
informed man and tireless talker-popu.
lar with the young boys, whom he took
delight in drilling in military tactics. He
represented himself in Bismarck as the
pOssessOr Of distinguished German
ancestry and record of gallantry during
the rebellion, but the war records failed to
confirm the latter claim. He was the
most active member of the Bismarck Gun
club and high muck-a-muck of the Druids.
When he left Bismarck he went to st.
Louis to represent Dakota in the national
gun club tournament. Mr.. Richards of
this city saw him in Mississippi this winter
and other citizens of Bismarck have re-
ceived communications from him this
season. The major also pretended to be
detective and used to amuse the boys with
spiritualistic scenes. 1t is possible that
TIE officers have arrested the wrong man
and that the major is still-not bad man
but harmless crank. The following
dispatch, however, will be read with in
terest by all in this section:
MOBILE, Ala, Sept. 28.-The detectives
here believe that in arresting w. A. Fonda
at Biloxi. Miss, yesterday, they have cap
tured the leader of gang Of fifteen coun-
driven out of Illinois. Fonda, who is a
new conner at Biloxi and appeared there
as lawyer, was quite popular. spent
money freely, raised military COMPANY.
and was himself made adjutant in the
state militia. He claimed to be cousin
secretary, and also to be a relative of DR..
Mckenzie Of Asbury park, who he said
sent him remittances of large amounts.
The alleged DR.. Mckenzie visited Fonda
at Biloxi this summer, but the two did not
get along together and soon parted. A
MOAGA oSO {! ulaA CCtlAlllS lllulS6lL JOln ii.
Davies, but known by his pals as Hardin.
was arrested here for trying to pass
raised $40 note. He had in his possession
business card of Fonda's.
Three days later, September I'd. a man
| was arrested in Biloxi charged with rob-
bling the express Office at that place. He
gave hisname also as John II. Davies. He
was brought here and locked up. Since
then Davies has been talking good deal.
He says that Fonda is the head of the
gang and furnished the counterfeit money
that Hardin tried to pass. He told the de-
tectives that they would find in Fonda's
room in Biloxi the goods stolen from the
express office. Detectives went down yes
terday and found the goods in trunk in
Fonda's room. Davies said that Fonda
had provided the saws to assist Hardin
and Davies in their attempt to escape iail
| here the past week. Other prisoners in
the Jail confirm this statement. Fonda
was arrested, charged with aiding PRISON.
ers to escape.
Monday night three men claiming to be
private detectives from Thiel's agency. ST.
Louis, were run out of town because un-
provided with health certificates. They
are believed to belong to the gang. Oliver
BOnann0n's arrest in New Orleans for
c0unterfeiting is another link, SO far not
placed In the chain. Davies claims tt1at
Of all of these Fonda is the intellectual
head.