Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-25
WHOGOTTHE MONEY!
What Mr.. 0ldberg Charges Against
Major A. A. Russell.
MONEY OBTAINED ON HIS PROPERTY
A CuriousIy Tangled and Compli.
Gated Condition of Things.
THE CASE GOES OVER

The arrest at the pension Office yesterday
Of Maj. Alexander A. Russell. a pension
examiner, as printed in yesterdays Star.
was a surprise to the many friends Of the
major, who could not believe him guilty of
wrong doing. AS stated yesterday, he was
arrested on complaint of John G. Oldberg,
clerk in the Indian office, who lives at
800 H street northwest. The case is a COM
plicated one and involves the sum Of 81, 800,
but just who got the money the prosecuting
officer does not know. There is a striking
similarity between Oldberg and Russell. and
| a person not intimately acquainted with the
men might easily mistake one for the other.
The Oldbergs were more fortunate than
| many other persons in the matter of draw
Ing money from Uncle Sam. for while the
husband was getting his monthly allowance
in the Indian office his wife was drawing
salary in the pension office. 1t happened
that Maj. Russell and Mrs. Oldberg had
desks near each other in the same division,
ana clerks in the office had often comment
cd on the fact Of his SO closely resembling
MRS. Oldbergs husband.
Oldbers's First Warning.
Maj. Russell and Mrs. Oldberg soon be-
came friends, and. 1t is stated, they were
often seen engaged In an apparent conf
Dental conversation. Mr.. Oldberg suspected
nothing wrong until few months ago,
when he received information that his prop
erty in the country had been SO heavily in
numbered with deeds of trust that 1t would
be sold under the hammer unless the debts
were paid. But Oldberg was unable to pay
the amounts OF the several deeds and the
sale OF the property made him penniless
The services OF Private Detective James
A. McDevitt were engaged by Mr.. Oldberg.
When the real facts We're made known the
ruined man hesitated before bringing action
against Maj. Russell. because ne did not
want his wife's name mentioned in connec-
ton with the affair. But his property was
gone, and he finally determined to ascer-
tain' II possible. where his money had gone.
An Interesting Chapter.
During the investigation by the private
detective 1t became necessary to have a
picture Of Maj Russell to exhibit to the
notaries public who had acknowledged the
signatures to the deeds OF trust. and this
was obtained from Mrs. Russell, against
whom a bill for divorce had been filed. And
| in this connection comes an interesting
chapter In the history of Russells career.
Russell belonged in Missouri, and when
he came here several years ago he had
wife living at his western home. Here
ne met Mrs. Harvey. who was ex-
pecting to obtain a divorce. and their
friendship afterward ripened into love.
Mrs. Russell died, and then Mrs. Harvey, 1t
Is dleSeu was assisted IN ner EFFORTS TO OBJ
tain divorce by Maj Russell. She was
then his housekeeper. and one week after
the divorce was granted the divorced wo-
man and the major were married. In
August Of last year the major was ordered
to field duty in Pennsylvania, and he left
his wife here when he went away. From
then until after the Christmas holidays he
wrote to her, COUGHING his letters in en-
dearing terms and referring to her as
barring and Pet" and signing them
Lovingly"
Russell Applied for Divorce.
About the first of this year the letters
ceased coming. end when he returned his
wife was surprised to learn that he had ap-
piled for a divorce on the grounds Of drunk
enness and cruelty. alleging that she. q
woman who weighs less than one hundred
pounds, had stiffened his neck with q blow
with her fist. He also alleged that she had
stabbed him. In this cause Judge Pettis of
Pennsylvania appeared as his counsel. while
Lawyer Fugitt represented the wife. She
denied all his allegations and last month
the court ordered the payment of alimony.
Mrs. Russell still loves her husband, as
does Mr.. Oldberg his wife, and although
Russell has instituted proceedings for d.
vorce his wife is willing to forget this and
return to the object Of her love and affec-
ton.
Although she furnished the picture, she
claims 1t was not done to injure him, and
she does not now want to see him punished.
But her husband, the major. is not of the
same forgiving frame of mind. He denies
that he Is guilty OF the charge, and thinks
his wife is in conspiracy to ruin him.
The Largest Of the Transactions.
The largest Of the alleged fraudulent
operations was q deed Of trust recorded in
November. 1892. This represents 5000 to
secure a loan Of $780, made by ]. A.
Maedel Of the Washington Six Per Cent
Building Association. In this and other
transactions, aggregating $500. 1t is al
legged that Russell impersonated Oldberg,
and the picture Of the former played an
important part in the Identification.
Who got the money!" is the question
Mr.. Oldberg is asking. His wife, it is said,
course. says he knows nothing Of Ii, and
Russell makes a similar claim.
Some time ago the matter was investi-
gated or inquired into by the pension office
officials and letters written by Mrs. Old
berg may play an interesting part in the
case later on.
What RusselPs Counsel Claims.
Soon after the arrest yesterday, Mai. Rus
sell sent for Lawyer Campbell Carrington
and employed him as counsel Although
the amount involved was so large, counsel
succeeded in having bail fixed at $1,000
which was given and the defendant was re-
leased.
Today in the Police Court Lawyer Car
rington declared that his client was inno-
cent of the charge and said he was the VIC
tim of conspiracy to injure him. Counsel
asked for an immediate hearing in the case
but Mr.. Mullowney said he could not have
the case tried today because the notaries
In the case were not In the city.
The case went over until Thursday.
Russell Will Not BE Dismissed.
The commissioner Of pensions will not
pension office unless the charges made
against him by John Oldberg are sustained
Investigation discloses that the Oldberg
property was in the wife's name, and under
the District law she would have the author
ity to dispose of the land without the con-
sent of her husband. 1t is said that for
this reason Oldberg cannot claim the prop
erty. though he can prosecute Russell for
forging his name.
Sailors Sick With Malarial Fever,
The u. 8. 8. Columbia which has been