Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-19
In LIMBO AT LAST,
A Fine Worker of Local Notoriety
Sent to the Pen.
Trial and Convection of Robert Irwin
Skiles at StiiiwaIer, MINI
Rock Islanders In
terested

a large ortion OF the public will recall
the transactions of one Robert Irwin
Skies in Rock Island about four wears
ago. Skies and his wife, 1t will be re-
menbered. came here utter strangers
and put up at the Harper. They were
high flying couple from the start. They
engaged tha best suite of rooms in the
house. but there was nothing in town
good enough in the way of furnishings.
A local firm was ordered to have 5000
suite of blue plush of special design
made. local jeweler received an order
for $500 mantel clock, another Rock
Island merchant put in $500 upright
| piano. Tailors and dressmakers were
kept busy. Livery rigs were in great de-
mand by this couple, for whom the best
was none too good. While here Skies
claimed 10 be the owner of a valuable
patent on IN evener which be disposed of
to Messrs. E II. Bowman, and
NJ. Wyrick, but they had no
sooner taken possession then they became
convinced that they had been defrauded
Skiles in the meantime had left the city,
leaving all the fnery, which was sub
sequently seized by the unwsry creditors.
| Messrs. Bowman and Wyrick traced
Skies to Cedar Rrpids where they lost
track of him. but Mr.. Bowman has never
since given up the search for him. Ee
heard of him recently at Larendo, Texas,
and turned him up to the authorities at
saltwater, Minn., where he was wanted
for fraud. Last week Mr.. Bowman at
| tended the trial at Saltwater and was in
strumentsl rs witness in bringing about
his CONVICTION. and he now goes to the
penitentiary on five years sentence.
His wife, VINO may be said to be his part
ner in his sharp practices. stood by him
faithfully u the last, though she is
greatly changed woman in appear
suce from what shs was when
the couple were sailing so high in
Rock Island before anybody here knew
them.
A dispatch from Saltwater to the ST.
Paul Globe ellis of the trial and convic
ton as follows:
The celebrated case of the state VS. Rob
ert Irwin Skiles in which he was charged
with procuring the signature of E w.
Rutherford % a note by fraudulent pre-
lenses, came to a close this morning, the
! jury returning a verdict of guilty as
! charged in the Indictment after being out
all night. When the Jury retired three
were in favor OF acquittal, and number
of ballots failed to change the result, but
finally an agreement was reached.
Robert Irwin Skiles who is one of The
shrewdest criminals that ever operated in
the United States. came to this city in
January. 1890, and inserted q small adj
vertisement in local paper, stating that
he desired partner to engage in profit
able manufacturing business. The ''ad''
was answered in person by John Alfred
Rooney and f. W. Rutherford. He repre-
sented to them that he was the inventor
of an evener which he had secured a
patent and was selling the right to manu-
facture The inducements offered were
great, and ALr. Roney purchased tine Min
| DeSOId IlSul huu MI pun
chased thu Wisconsin right, giving their
notes for $500 in payment. Skies took
the notes and sold them to G. NJ. Nc
Cluer, of this city, at q discount, and left
for parts unknown. 1t subsequently
leaked out that Messrs. Wyrick Il
Bowman, of Rock Island, were the
owners OF the patent, and that
Skiles had no right whatever to sell it.
He was apprehended in Larendo, Tex,
about three months ago, and was brought
back here for trial. The Jury in the first
case could not agree upon verdict,
standing 10 10 Q for conviction, and he
was Immediately tried upon the second
charge, resulting in his conviction. The
only defense made was that Messrs. Wy
rick & Bowman had secured their light
to the paten, by coercion and force. but
the evidence produced was not sufficient
to warrant this state of facts. Judge vii :
l.liston will probably sentence Skies this
afternoon. It is understood that there
are numerous indictments against him in
other states and that his operations ex-
tend from Boston, Mass to Portland.
Ore.
Mr.. Bowman says that Skies is badly
wanted at indianapolis and also at 20