Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-14
John B. Alexander Relates Start
ling Story Concerning His Prose-
cutOr, James S. Black.
SENSATION IN INDIANA COUNTY.
lie Says He Was Induced to Forge Two
Notes to Purchase q Lot of Coun-
terleit Paper Money.
STOLE HIS OWN HORSE TO ESCAPE WITH
The Son Of the Famous Devil Dave Accused Of Some
Very Crooked Work.

John B-Alexander is in Central station,
charged with horse stealing, forgery and
larceny. While making a partial admis-
sion of his guilt he duplicates a well-known
resident of Indiana county. whom he says
deceived him and influenced him to commit
the deeds. His story is a startling one, and
will cause the authorities of Indiana county
10 make an investigation of several things.
James s. Black came to Pittsburg yester-
day morning from Indiana with warrants
issued by Squire Row, of that place, for
Alexander's arrest on the charges named
above Detectives Fitzgerald and McTighe
started out on the case and soon located
Alexander as brakeman in the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad yards. They found him and
read the warrants. Alexander asked to be
allowed to go first TO his boarding house at
No. 1905 Penn avenue When they reached
the door he broke away and gave the officers
long chase He was finally recaptured,
having taken refuge in she'd the door of
which the detectives had to batter down to
get at him. At Central station he broke
down and told Detective Fitzgerald the fol-
lowing story:
The Prisoners Story.
I'm September last / was in Indiana, Pa,
peddling patent roasting pans. / travelled
in buggy owned by my brother-in-law,
John Feaster, of Center county. put up
at the house of James S. Black four DAYS
Before l had been there long Black sug-
Cested that we go out hunting. / agreed,
and we started away with guns. But when
we got into the woods Black said he did not
want to hunt, but simply desired to
get me out where we could talk
without being overheard. He said
he mad only been out oc the penitentiary
seven wears, but had managed in that time
to purchase over 200 acres of land. He
said he liked me and desired to show me
how to get rich also. Finally he told me
that if [ would get $500 he could buy me
$4,000 worth OF bills. He produced sew
eral as samples, which L took to an Indiana
bank and found to be good.
Black suggested that as had no money
I should do something desperate to secure
it. Accordingly l forged the name of y.
L. Feaster' to notes for 500 and $3.50, pay
able TO myself Black said he knew it was
forgery. but had no fear of being able
10 mike good use of the notes We then
went before Squire Row and l transferred
them to Black, who gave me $500 for them.
After we left the office Black said the going
before Squire was simply a shrewd game
on his part and asked for the $780, saving
he would 20 10 Altoona. meet the agent and
purchase the $50, 900 worth of bills for me.
lie also got a man named Miller into the
scheme who gave him $500 to buy some
bills with. Then he left for Altoona
Advised Him to Leave Town.
''When he came back he said he had not
been able to make deal with the agent
lie had offered the note to the agent, but
the latter would not take it without more
security. He said the actions of the agent
when he saw the note were suspicious, and
thought had better get out of town for fear
! would be sGed for forgery. He said he
could easily secure me enougn money TO get
out of town with. / agreed and he took me
TO Ralph Walker, neighbor The latter
loaned me $50, taking the horse and
buggy as security. l was going to
leave at once, but Black objected.
lie advised me to 60 that night
and steal the rig from Walkers stable and
Tor his good counsel wanted the S1j0 / had
received. / did as he said and started to
drive across the country to Pittsburg Black
told me the direction to take, saving if any
officers got after me he would throw them
of the scent by telling them had started
for The lumber regions.
q had not driven far when the horse
gave out and ! sold it for a small sum-
With this money made nv way here and
obtained job as brakeman on the Pennsvl-
vanla Railroad, running between Pittsburg
and Altoona. For two weeks past have
been working in the yards here.
Black Got Frightened.
"a few days ago wrote a letter to Mil
ler asking whether he had ever got his $500
back from Black. ! also told him to tell
Black that unless he fixed up the matter
with Walker by paying him the S150 /
would come over there and make it warm
for him. ! presume Miller showed the let
ter to Black, and he, becoming frightened,
determined 10 stop my tongue by having
me arrested"
Alexander is about - wears of age, and |
halls from Milrov, Pa. He has a letter |
from his wife stating that she and the chill |
dren are starving, and begging him to send |
money. He declares he has none. Inquiry |
last night developed the fact that there is !
no such person as ~. Il. Feaster" Alex |
andeT's brother-in-law. whose name he pre- |
tended to forge, is John Feaster. without /
any middle name This NAV prove a vaIu-
able point for him in the suit for forgery.
James ). Black denies Alexarder's story |
connecting him with the case 'Devil |
Dare Black, his father, is widely known
all over Western Pennsylvania. and has |
been imprisoned several times for counter
ieitinC. Alexander saws James served two |
years for the same otfense