Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-01-13
A Remarkable Career.

Andrew Rankin, of Karthaus station,
Clearfeld Co., was arrested in Tioga Co
a few days ago, and is now boarding in the
j all of Clearield county.
His career is a remarkable one. Living
in strong Democratic township, he was
regularly elected as Republican justice OF
the peace and enjoyed the esteem of all the
people in his end Of the county. When
Harrison was inaugurated Rankin was
made postmaster, but turned the office
over to Democratic friend. who conduct
ed it ~ his deputy and Rankin dealt out
law and justice at the old stand.
When Democrat wanted u county Of
ice Rankin was the man to see in his dis
trict and he helped many of them to the
goa. When any of his neighbors died
intestate Rankin was appointed admins
traitor and all the fntherless children of the
lower end of the county had him as their
guardian.
He represented all the veterans as pom
sion attorney, and. being widower, had
what rs popularity known as a cinch on the
Sans bounty bureau He also collected
the taxes. acted rs treasurer for half the
neighhorhood. and in fact was q modern
Pooh BAH"
Things ran along smoothly in Rankin's
many departments until some one of his
Beighbors, who had entrusted the paying
off judgement on the Common Pleas rec
ords To hin, found that, instead of the
docket being satisfied, an amicable scire
fdcias bad entered aud the judgement re-
vived. He looked into the records and
found his signature in Rankin's handwrit
ing He, OF course, objected, and then ali
who had business in Rankin's hands com
menced to investigate.
One man who had sold 5000 worth of
sheep. and Rankin had the money Sew
eral notes were in the bank which Rankin
mad told the drawers thereof were paid,
and these notes were signed by Rankin.
One old citizen who had put his signature
to several papers at Rankin's instance, dis
covered that they were notes, aud, instead
uf being prosperous farmer, he is now 2
broken down old man, iDsOlvent and de-
pending upon the bounty of his friends
One might go on for week enumerating
similar instances Of Rankin's methods, bur
iL would only serve to make some of his
victims feel badly.
When all had come to light, Rankin's
sndden disappearance aud his whereaboutE
were mystery. As soon as the law
would permit bis creditors levied on his
personal property and sold it Then the
real estate was condemned and disposed
If When his family left the old home
stead, il was found that Rankin bad beer
ia hiding III his house for several months.
he had fixed up little room IN the at ic.
aud, by the aid of Il friend, had fuiied the
many searchers who had been after him.
In this room were stove, deck, hooks, pa
pers. etc aud here Rankin passed the
weary days and nights while his pursurers
were searching tue country for him.
After the family left Rankin was tracked
to several places, but always vanished
Just when the officer was about to catch
him. Last week he was located at a little
hamlet in Tloga county and there arrested,
He is charged with forgery, elnbezze lment,
larceny aud fraud. LII all his victims pre-
f-rred separate charges Rankin would be
good for about 700 years in the penitentiary