Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-10-04
A SOCIAL SENSATION,
INVOLVING TWO PEOPLE WE'LL
KNOWN IN THE NORTHWEST.
Capt. John O.. OIberg Il the AiieSed
Victim Of n Man Who fs His Doubie
Mrs. OIberg In Implicated with
the Double and Disappears.

-
Washington, Oct. "a social sensa-
ton in which a former prominent MIL
| 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
Breckenridge Pollard scandal.
Capt. John G.. Olberg, well Know
I'm 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
a magnificent physique, and in bear
ing Is an impressive Chesterfield.
He is a very little over forty, and
all here who knew him, have always
had the highest respect and kindllest
feelings toward him, for he is a man
who makes and keeps many warm
friends.
By reason of a Dromio-like resem-
blance between Capt. John G. Olberg
and Col. Alexander A. Russell OF
Missouri, a speciel examiner In the
pension department, the former Is a
ruined nan to-day, his property gone
and his home broken up. Olberg and
Russell bear so close a 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 or his
worldly possessions, including the
handsome residence near Anacostla,
valued at a low estimate at $1,000.
On Friendly Terms.
Employed in the pension bureau,
and occupying a desk near to that or
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 seer tO0"ther at lunch or
at places OF amuSeLAGnt, II the Col.
has passed easily enough as the hus-
band TO the lady. Capt. Olberg is
sometimes sent out by the department
on business connected with Indian af-
ans III Lax "Notg III was III ~" Il alht
about six weeks ago. Soon after his
return he vas mortified to learn that
his property, which he had paid for
and improved, was under a heavy
trust deed, or what should be termed
in Minnesota a mortgage, In the sum
Of $4,000. Mr.. Oiberg could hardly
believe that he was in his right mind
when confronted with the conveyance
~purporting to be signed by himself
and 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 his wife had been made the vic
tim of somebody, and was 10th to take
any steps that would bring her name
into the matter.
But something had to be done. o.
berg secured the services of two of
the best detectives in Washington.
and, as a result of their Investigations.
Col. Russell was arrested, charged
with having forged a trust deed in
the sum of $1,000 to secure a loan of
$4,000 from j. A. Maedler, of the
Washington Six Per Cent Loan and
Building association.
Identified Russell as the Man.
To this instrument Is also attached
the name OF Mrs. Olberg. The con-
veyance was acknowledge by a notary,
Il. Schmit, who identifies a picture of
Col. Russell as being the man who
signed as John A. Olberg. Several
other loans were also negotiated ON
the Olberg property at B~ennings. one
deed being for $500 to +. j. Calhoun
and John L. Benton, trustees. An
other is for $500. under date of Feb
2, 1893, showing that the d%efalcations
have been under way for some time.
On the date when the first deed mr..
ports to have been signed, Capt. o.
berg "a proven that he was in the
State or Minnesota, and therefore the
signature could not be his. Russell
was arrested on his return from a
trip in Pennsylvania, where he had
peen detailed a week ago. He was
much disturbed and surprised, and
protested that he had not signed the
deeds.
Capt. Olbers is almost heart.broken.
and begged, that for his chiIdren,s
sake, his wife's name should NOT ba
mentioned. but the Washington pa-
pers deyot columns to the story
which has sensational features enough
TO furnish a plot for Emile lola. II is
said that Mrs. Clberg has made a fuIl
confession to ! + husband, and that
he has forgiven her.
Russell has secured eminent counsel
n has been released from custody
on $500 bail.
olberg's property has already been
foreclosed, but the courts will he in
yoked to set aside the sale. He has a
SZ,OOO position, and Mrs. Olberg draws
$1,000 a year. Where the money has
gone that was raised on the propertv
Is a mystery.
Russell is a married man. b1t b,s
been separated from his wife for some
Tune. he alleges that he is the victim
OF a scheme to ruin him, and declares
hls WIFE Is at the bottom of II. Mrs
oiDers is a fair and coInely IN
rather stout, and has always borne .
good reputation here. The Olbayps
have three children. Mrs. Olberp bas
mysterlously disappeared, and her
whereabouts are unknown.
Ar.Eu