The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-11-01
SMOOTH
Chattel Mortgaged Property Dis
posed of to Innocent
Parties.
He Reads a Special and Concludes
Not to Return to this
County.

of R. E. Devereaux, whose disappear
ance was chronicled in these columns
several days ago-a disappearance
which was then stated to have been
brought about by reason of financial
entanglements from which Devereaux
had no hopes of ever extricating him
self, and probably less desire are
rapidly coming to the surface, and are
furnishing an endless amount of ma
terial for discussion.
Devereaux was last seen at Wheat
on, this State, by one James Mullen,
thresher, whom Devereaux alleged
was owing him several hundred dol
lars, which he hoped to secure by
meeting him on the thresher's field.
Mullen has since returned from that
vicinity, and states that as soon as
Devereaux saw the special in the Min
neapolis Journal he made a bluff at
boarding passenger train and COM
ing home to dispel the story that he
had departed, but on sober second
thought, he recanted his steps, and
gently queried to one of his acquaiut-
ances who was with him: "Oh, what's
the use; I am ahead of those fellows
down there, anyway, and guess that
had better remain away from Red
wood county"
1t is also reported that Devereaux,
when he left, took with him the some
what noted woman, Ida May Smith
Thurber, the ex-wife of the ex-pugilist,
who has since taken unto himself an
other wife-the daughter of a New
Avon farmer, and who are now sup
posed to be living in Wisconsin. If
reports are true Devereaux has since
married the woman, and it is even re-
ported that his mother has produced
letter from the Thurber woman an
nouncing their marriage, and giving
all of her worldly possessions in Red
wood county to her mother.
But to the point. 1t was in the
spring of 1898 that the stock firm of
Quackenbush & Cronin, of LeSueur,
came into this county with a large
number of mules, which they were
prepared to dispose of on time or for
cash. Sixteen of these were secured
by Mr.. Devereaux, on what is known
as speculative contract, for $1,000,
Devereaux to turn in whatever money
and collateral he secured from the
sale of any or of all the animals. To
make the bargain more binding he
gave the firm chattel mortgage on
the property, and additional security
that he would do the fair thing on
some horses in his possession.
Immediately upon receipt of the
property Devereaux commenced to
dispose of the same wherever he could,
and if reports from certain business
men are true, appropriated the money
derived from the sales for settling
debts and maintaining his dignity in
the ring. He sold a span of three
mules to Will Tibbetts, who afterwards
traded them off for a span of horses.
As soon as Quackenbush & Cronin
heard of Devereaux's departure they
came to this county, and holding lib
belts responsible for disposlng of
property on which they held chattel
mortgages through Devereaux, made
him disgorge to the extent of the value
of the mules. Theo. Keller also pur-
chased team, and last week he was
obliged to return the same to the Le-
Sueur firm. His brother, Chris. Kel-
Ter, is alleged to have been caught to
the tune of nearly $500 by Devereaux
through his alleged crooked transac-
tons with this firm.
While Devereaux was spending last
winter in the pineries near Milaca he
sold team to resident of that place,
and an agent of Quackenbush & Cron-
in left for that place last week to look
up the team and compel its surrender
or the value of the same. Albert Gibbs,
of Belview, purchased horse of Dew
ereaux, on which the firm held chat
tel mortgage, and he too has been
obliged to surrender the animal.
Devereaux traded Jesse Pierce, re-
siding near Belview, several mules
and afterwards made trade whereby
he got the mules back, giving Pierce
span of horses on which he claimed
there was no mortgage, but Pierce has
- Ill A.