Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-08
BELLAIRE.

Niidl VI w "a l<ittiN anu
Caroline Sweitzer, at Columbus, for fraud
ulently obtaining pension, has created a
great deal Of interest here for the last two
or three days. In order to fully under
stand the case the writer must take the
reader back 10 the date OF the first proceed
ings in the matter.
About two years since Mrs. Caroline
Hanke, an old widow lady and a well
known resident of Bellaire, applied for "A
pension. Under the law she was entitled
TO one and papers properly made out and
signed were furnished the department at
Washington, but before the order for the
money arrived the lady died. Death just
at this time came like calamity TO the
two children OF deceased, viz: Mrs. Caro-
line Sweitzer and Chas Hanke, and when
the papers came for the pension they were
in dilemma.
1t was at this period that slick hand or
two from the outside entered the circle and
prepared a programme that looked like
smooth sailing into pension OF s., 100. The
pension was for Caroline Hanke, the moth
Ell, which was the name of Caroline SWEET
ger before the marriage of the latter.
Caroline Sweitzer, accompanied by w.
a. Little, repaired to the Office of Mayor
Brown, and the former signed the name Of
Caroline Hanke to the papers which called
for the amount stated above. Mr.. Little
gave his signature as witness and Mayor
Brown signed the document
The First National Bank cashed the order
when IL was presented, and this would
probably have ended the affair had not the
usual trouble regarding the division OF the
spoils ensued.
According TO the report Mrs. Sweitzer
gave Mr.. Little 800, but did not show a
sisterly disposition toward her brother,
II 10 F.lt laf Ia 1al
TO half of the Doodle. Finding that the
woman was going to keep her possessions
he asked one JOS. Doepler to take hold Of
the case. Mr. ID. is an excellent hand on
an occasion like this. He wrote the de-
partment for information, and an investiga-
ton ensued which resulted in the arrest Of
Mrs. Sweitzer and Little. Both gave
bond for their appearance before the
United States Court at Columbus.
AT the trial it was developed that the
Mayor had not sworn the prisoners TO the
papers they had signed, and by hook and
crook the accused were discharged, as the
indictment under which they arrested
would not hold them
But the Government did not intend to
let the case drop. Both were re-arrested
and held in bond. The second trial came
up on Wednesday. and on Saturday true
bill was found against Mrs. SweitZer The
/ State heard part of the testimony in refer
/ ence to Mr. Little's case on Saturday
morning. An adjournment Of Court took
/ place at noon, and the case went over I'M
/ i'll to-day
Andrew ROeder, j. p, who was at Col
! umbuS as witness returned home yester-
! day with the information that 1t was the
/ general opinion that Mr.. Little would also
! be convicted.
Charles Hanke, mentioned above, an i'm
poltant witness, left Bellaire some months
| ago and has not turned up since.
Sincere regret is felt here for the par
ties. Mrs. Sweitzer is perhaps A. years of
age. Mr.. Little was police officer at the
time of his arrest. He is an old soldier and
was badly crippled in the late war. The
government gives him pension OF about
$40 month.
The steamer Phillips had Il big day yes
terday carrying passengers to and from
this city. On one trip the boat had nearly
fifty people down from Wheeling.
Fred Warde and his company will arrive
here from Philadelphia at noon today He
| Just finished a two weeks engagement in
that city.
Perry, the Globe Hotel porter, did not
get the pony for which he contested, but
he got part of the money he collected as
present.
The grocers have decided to push such
staples as are of local production TO encour-
age home industry.
Mrs. McBurney will give an entertain
ment in the Christian Church Friday even
ing.
Two plain drunks registered with the
Mayor Saturday night.