The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-18

| a new claDber ID one "a Tue DOtueSi
swindles ever perpetrated in this county
was opened yesterday. The hero OF it
slept last night behind the bars of the Jail
al st. Louis. He is L T. Ward, form
| erly horseman in this city.
| About four years ago this man Ward ap.
| Deared at Greenwich. He had woman
with him who was somewhat noted here
| for her demoralized morals. Both of them
| put up at hotel and registered as James
| II arrisou and wife of Iowa
Mr.. Ward gave it out that he was the
same james Harrison who owned several
good farms near Derby. He walked
| leisurely about the limited streets Of tie
little city for few days. with the ease,
dignity and sociabilitY OF thrifty, we'll
heeed farmer. At first he was out here
simply to look after his inter
ests," but in few days he
spoke about the fine climate, the
| advanced civilization of the sunhower
state, the fine school and church facilities,
and above all the great advantages of liv-
ing in community where ones boys
could grow up TO manhood ald wander
leisurely on Co old age without encounter
| ing the temptations of tue demOraliZing
| gin mill.
The people were delighted to think that
StiCu StSIiluP people d. -uI. huu MIS-. mar
rlson were thinking or locating with them.
The idea came within an ace of precipitat-
lug boom. Ii such people would locate
there on account of such inducements it
would only be short time TIL Greenwich
would be d commercial center and the fes-
tive real estate dealers threw away their
pipes and began to smoke cigars under the
lnfiueuce OF such prospects. They were
undeceived, however, when Mr. Ward ap-
nounced that 1t was the decision Of his
wife to live on one of the farms
A Mr. Phillips lived at Greenwich. Mr.
Phillips combined two or three branches
OF business among which was a local
money loaning agency for the Knight In
vestment company Of this city. Mr.. Ward
dropped into the Office of Mr. Phillips and
the other money loaners We're green with
envy. Mr. Ward told Mr.. Phillips that he
had concluded to do little business with
him, and Mr.. Phillips rubbed his palms
with delight. Il am going to live on one
of my farms" said the shrewd sauve
swindler. 'aud | want TO borrow a little
money on it to fix up my house aud put
things In shape for comfortable resi-
dence." Mr. Phillips was delighted again.
"If your terms are reasonable" quote Mr.
Ward, Il would like to have $1,000" Mr..
Phillips informed the Knight Investment
company; the books of the county were
examined; James Harrison was found TO
have the land mentioned: it was splendid
security for the amount asked. Ward
signed the mortgage James Harrison.
the adventures who was with nim signed
ii as Mrs. Harrison his wife, the money
was paid over, the mortgage was recorded
and Ward and his alleged wife skipped
out.
In few days the swindle was detected
and the matter was laid before Rufe Cone,
who was then sheriff.
Mr.. Cone began investigating. He found
first that Ward had purchased dozen
fine leghOrn chickens and sent them to
Wichita by express under the name of c.
&. SherringtOn. He had IA description of
the swindler and he suspected Ward. He
accordingly went To Wards house in this
city, talked to the real Mrs. Ward, who
was an excellent lady ana fouud the
chickens there. He found also positive
proof, in addition, that Ward was the
swindler.
He wanted to find Ward now, and after
harI work located him in New Orleans.
He went after him, but in the meantime
somebody sent tip TO Ward and he lett
New Orleans. For three years the search
continued and finally he located Ward
again in Il little town in Illinois, where he
had been elected constable. An accident
prevented him from capturing him then,
and Ward. through some mysterious
source, got another tip to leave. He finally
heard that Ward was monkeying around
race horses again and located him
with a certain race horse. Through
the EAGLE he found that the horse
in question would race at St. Louis yester-
day and at O'clock lie telegraped TO Chief
OF Police Harrigan. At o'clock he got a
reply that Ward had been arrested.
This morning Mr.. Cone will go to Jefer-
son City, procure a requisition, then pro-
coed to ST. Louis anu bring Mr.. Ward
back for trial.
Ward served a term in the penitentiary
some time ago. having been sent up for
some crookedness IN Sumner county.