Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-18
QUEER CHARACTER.
A Sort Of Proaigal SON WHIT has been
Working Rock Island and Daven-
mort 80. som et hing About HI I'm.

A Sort Of ProaigaI SON WHIT has been
Working Rock Island and Daven-
port-..something About HIM.
A few weeks ago there appeared In
Rock Island q man OF rather pleasS
ant address and handsome appearance.
who went about from house to house
selling q patent shade for gas burners.
Afterwzrd he worked Davenport in the
same way. and in that city he rave it out
that his name was j. N. Whelpley. and
stated that he was the conductor on the
train which bore the martyrei Garfield
on his last journey from Washington to
the sea. II seems now that prior TO his
coming to this locality he deserted his
wife and children and eloped with PEG
ria woman. Consequently considerable
excitement has been created il the latter
city on account of his escs oade. and
number of creditors have not been
little concerned about him. Ee came to
Peoria the other night. and the Trans
cript has this account OF his arrival:
Once more the CAV ]. N. Whelpley is
in Peoria. His hoof is in bis native
the numerous threats which have been
engaged in slandering his fair name dur
ing his absence. During the last couple
Of days his absence from Peoria has
created a great deal of excitement, and
his creditors evinced an especial uneas.
mess about him.
At 7.05 o'clock last night he came in on
the T., P. & W. train, and when he
reached his residence at No. 10 6 n. JEFF
ferson avenue. his son informed him of
the excitement concerning him. 1t will
be remembered that the newspapers in
dulged 10 no little comment at his depsr
ture, and some went so far as to say that
he had eloped with one Johanna
Goldbeck. with whom he had been
keeping company in Peoria. A Tran
script reporter interviewed the / zero of all
this romance last night, and found him
| quite warm under the collar on account
of the wild rumors. He wished it stated
that "any man who says l left Peoria in
company with a woman Is a liar, and he
dare not face me and say So"
The reporter then asked: "How long
have you been away?"
"Since last Saturday"
Where have you been during your
sbsence?"
We'll, 1 have been in several places
Davenport, Moline. Rock Island and Chi
cago:"
You were in Kansas City, also. were
Ycu not3"
Yes. passed through there hut did
not stop"
Have you anything else you desire to
say in this connecticut" asked the re-
porter at the end of the interview.
well. only this: My debts in Peors
are about $3.50 and l have about 81, 00C
due me from parties here. If l could
collect what is coming TO me l could
easily pay what / owe. l find Peorisns
very hard people to collect from and
that's what leaves me where / an. / have
always cared for my five children and in
tend to do so now; never left hem FOL
anyone else to take care OF and don't in
tend to do it now. / intend u 90 and
come when l please in Peoria and IL:
nobody's business. intend to look af-
ter my own affairs and take care of my
children as / have in the past But
have too much to say just now. so I'll let
it drop"
There is no doubt but that the fcrego-
ing interview will cause much rejoicing
among the readers of the Transcript
Many OF them hold bills against the pat
ent gas expert. and his signiied willing.
ness or intention to liquidate will startle
but at the same time please them. HI
asserts that be has come back % settle
up and down and stay here.
In the meantime Johanna Goldbeck
the charmer In the case. has taken up her
residence in Kansas City and Is living
peaceably.