St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-05
Sharpers Obtain a Big Roll
on a DeluSive
Draft.
Epileptic Fits Play an I'M
portant Part in q Prison
VG11s
Satisfaction for Settlers Who
Suffered From the I'm
ruly Sioux.
Summary Of a Days Doings
Detailed by Diligent Re-
porteps.

Among the cases set for trial before
Judge Nelson in the circuit court at the
present term, is that of the CONNER
ciaI National Bank of Omaha, Neb.,
against A. F. Powell and HI. T. Harti-
gan, to recover $1,000, of which the
bank was defrauded by the defendants.
President A. P. Hopkins, of the bank,
and DR.. G. n. Dinsmoor. of Omaha,
have come to st. Paul to attend the
trial, and their story of the transaction
is as follows:
Two years ago Asbury F. Powell, who
was quite a sharp young fellow, went to
Omaha with his wife. They remained
in the city few days, apparently on
visit. Powell represented himself to be
the cashier of the Citizens National
bank at Tracy, Mimi. In a professional
way he and his wife met Dr.. DlnSmo0r.
Finally Powell became short financially,
and went to the Commercial National
bank with a S5,000-draft drawn on
the Hanover National Bank of New
York by the Citizens National Bank OF
Tracy, MINI. Powell was not known i'll
the Omaha bank. but was identifed by
DR.. Dinsmoore as cashier of the Mime
sofa financial institution. The draft
was then cashed by the Commercial
National. DR.. DinSmO0r in short time
suspected that Powell was confidence
man and Immediately wired the Han
over bank at New York. Information
came that it had no such correspondent
as the Citizens National Bank of Tracy,
MINI. Powell had decamped in the
meantime, but by investigation it was
learned that he had partner in his
FRAUDULENT BANKING SCHEME
whose name was III. T. Hartigan, said
to be shrewd saloonkeeper at Tracy.
He is worth $1,000, and the Omaha
bank is now trying to get his wealth to
repay the institution for caShing Pow
ellis draft. Detectives were put to
work on the case and Powell was caught
in Kansas. He was brought to Omaha
and incarcerated in the county jail.
Hartigau was arrested in Minnesota,
and the governor of Nebraska made a
requisition on Gov. McGill for him.
With able counsel Hartigan ap-
peared before the Minnesota
executive, and the requisition
was denied. He was afterwards rear
denied. During these actions Powell
was held in prison at Omaha and be-
came subject to attacks of epileptic fits.
His condition physically became very
much impaired, and the parties whom
he had victimized agreed to cease the
prosecution on condition that he would
make deposition of the financial rela-
lions between himself and Hartigan.
This was done, but in the meantime the
bank had commenced civil action against
Powell and Hartigan in the United
States circuit court of Minnesota to re-
cover the. $1,000 from the latter. Ac-
cording to the agreement Powell testi-
fled before notary in the county Jail
that the Citizens National Bank OF
Tracy was never started, but that the
blanks and stationery had been ordered
from a. st. Louis printing house. The
information pending against him was
nolled, as agreed upon, and he was
given his liberty. Where he is now no
one knows, but the bank expects to re-
cover the money from Hartigan.