The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-10-04
A SOCIAL SENSATION,
INVOLVING TWO PEOPLE WELL
KNOWN IN THE NORTHWEST.
Capt. John G. OIberg Is the Alleged
Victim OF "a Man Who Is His Double
Mrs. OIberg Is Implicated With
the Double and Disappears.

\
Victim OF "a Man Who Is His Double
Mrs. OIberg Ii Implicated with
the Double and Disappears.
Washington, Oct. IA social sensa
tion In which former prominent Min
nesotan, his handsome wife, and a
Missouri Colonel are the central
! figures, has developed in this city, and
1t promises to rival and eclipse the
Breckinridge-Pollard scandal.
Capt. John G. Olberg, well known
in st. Paul and other Minnesota cities,
has been for several years connected
with the Indian department here,
holding an important position in the
record division. The captain Is one of
the handsOmest men in government
circles. He stands fully six feet has
q magnificent physique, and in bear
ing is an impressive Chesterfield.
He is very little over forty, and
all here who knew him, have always
had the highest respect and kindliest
feelings toward him, for he is a man
who makes and keeps many warm
friends. FF
BY reason of a Dromio-like resem-
blance between Capt. John @. Olberg
and Col. Alexander A. Russell of
Missouri, a speciel examiner In the
pension department, the former is a
ruined man to-day, his property gone
and his home broken up. Olberg and
Russell bear so close resemblance
that friends OF each have often mis-
taken one for the other. in fact, the
similarity is so striking that Col. Rus
sell is under arrest for having not
only personated Capt. Olberg, but for
forgery, fraud and duplicity in beat
ing Olberg out of nearly all of his
worldly possessions, including the
handsome residence near Anacostia,
valued at a low estimate at $4,000.
On Friendly Terms.
Employed III the pension bureau,
and occupying IA desk near to that of
Russell, Mrs. John G. Olberg has for
the past year or more been on terms of
the most devoted friendship with Col.
Russell. 1t is stated that time and
again Col. Russell and Mrs Olberg
have been seen together at lunch or
at places of amusement, and the Col.
band to the lady. Capt. Olberg Is
sometimes sent out by the department.
on business connected with indian af-
fairs in the West, and was In st. Paul
about six weeks ago. Soon after his
return he was Mortified to learn that
his property, which he had paid for
and improved, was under heavy
trust deed, or what should be termed
Ill Minnesota q mortgage, In the sum
or $4,000, Mr.. Olberg could hardly
Delleve that he was In his right mind
when confronted with the conveyance
purporting to be signed by himself
ana wife. He had noticed for some
time past the friendly relations of
Col. Russell and Mrs. Olberg. but re.
fused to believe that anything was
wrong, he stood firm In the belief
that bis wife had been made tho vic
tiln OF somebody, and was 10th to take
any steps that would bring her name
into the matter.
But something had to be done. OIL
berg secured tho services of two of
the best detectives in Washington,
ana, as a result of their Investigations.
Col. Russell was arrested. charged
with having forged trust deed in
the sum of $4,000 to secure loan of
$4,000 from ]. A. Maedler, of the
Washington Six Per Cent Laan and
Building association,
Identified Russell an the Man.
10 this instrument is also attached
the name OF Mrs. Olberg. The con-
yeyance was acknowledge by notary
d. Schmit, who Identifies picture Of
Coi' !tussell as being the man who
signed as John A, Olberg. Several
otnef loans were also negotiated on
the Oiberg property at Bennings, one
deed being for 81 500 to +. ]. Calhoun
and John II. Benton, trustees. An
other is for $1,000, under date CT Feb.
=, 1893, showing that the defaleations
have been under way for some tire.
On the date when the first deed pnr.
ports to have been signed. Cant Ol-
berg has proven that he was in tho
State OF Minnesota, and therefore the
signature could not be bis. Russell
was arrested on hts return from a
trip In Pennsylvania, where he had
been detailed a week ago. He was
much disturbed and surprised. and
protested that he had not signed The
deeds. g 'Nr" '-Ae
Capt Olberg IL almost heart-broken
ana begged, that for his children,s
SAKE, his wife's name should not he
mentioned, but the Washington ma.
pers devote columns to the story
Whlch mas sensational features enough
to furnish plot for Emile Zola. If is
SAID that Mrs. Olberg has made full
confession to her husband. and that
he has forgiven her.
Nussell has secured eminent counsel
ana has been released from custody
on $4,000 bail >e>>'
oioergs property has already been
Ioreclosed, but the courts will be in
voKed to set aside the sale. He has n
S2,Qq0 position, and Mrs. Olberg draws
Sl,ooO year. Where the money has
gone that was raised on the nronerty
Is a mystery.
Russell is a married man, but hos
been separated from his wife for some
time. Ne alleges that he is the victim
OF scheme to ruin him, and declares
MS wife is at the bottom of II. Mrs
olberg is fair and comely woman
rather stout and has always borne n
good reputation here. The Olberes
haye three children. Mrs, Olberg has
mysteriously disappeared, and her
whereabouts are unknown.
nnRm Thox Nanx