The morning call., 1894-04-07
A CorrusSIoNER ARRESTED.
He Will Be Tried for Felony
ENLIGHTENMENT.
MISS ROSA sPoRN's COMPLAINT.
She Has an Aged CoHcesslonaire I'm
prisoned on a Charge of Grand
Larceny.

Two of the most exciting events at the
Midwinter Fair yesterday transpired un
seen by the throng of visitors. Benno
Obermayer, known as the Swiss Commits
sioner, was arrested on complaint OF
James Taussig for felony enlightenment
and II. G. Miller, who has been proprietor
of the unchstand under the electric
tower, was arrested on complaint of Mis-:
Rosa Sporn, who charges him with grand
larceny.
The commissioner ana the concession
aire were taken to the old City Prison, the
former by Policeman Jerry Oman, the
latter by Detectives Anthony and Gibson
Obermayer was released upon giving bal
in the sum of $1,000, but Miller. who is an
old man and veteran of the late Civil
War. spent the night in the prison. He
was at first lodged in one of the felon's
cells. but the sergeant in charge took pity
on him and gave him more comfortable
quarters in the hospital.
TauSsig, who had the commissioner ar
rested for EN- bezZlemnt, says that he met
Obermayer in Chicago at the Columbian
Fair and was told that he was the repre-
sentative of the Swiss Government. He
heard that OSermayer was selling cOnceS-
siOns for the managers OF the Mdwinter
Fair and paid him $500 for the privilege
of selling perfumery in the Swiss section.
He was unable to come TO the fair Until
Two weeks ago, and then he says that
Obermayer could not or would not give
him the privilege he paid for in Chicago
and would not return his money.
The commissioner told the officer who
arrested him that he sold Taussig space
for the sale of cologne. but Taussig be-
came dissatisfied and demanded the return
of his money. Taussig intlmates that he
will unfold an interesting tale about the
transaction in the Police Court.
Miller, who was incarcerated on COM
plant of Miss Sporn. declares that he will
prove his limo without difficulty.
Detective Anthony says that the MD
veteran obtained concessions TO sell coffee
and wsffles at various stands. one of which
is under the Bonet tower He sold the
tower concession to Miss Rose SpOrn, who
came here with the Vienna Prater people,
for $3.50. She gave him $500 in cash and
her promissOry notes for the remainder
and demanded bill of sale. which Miller
refused o give Oh the ground that the con-
cession was in his wife's name.
Miller tells very different story. 81
met CurDelv in Chicago" he said, "and
paid him $1,000 for the tower concession. |
came here and found that some one else
had the concession. A mistake had been
made, the directors informed me, but they
would see that l did not suffer. | subse-
Quently obtained the concession to Sell
lunches under the tower and opened on ST.
Patrick's day. Well, l did not make much
money, and when a young man offered to
obtain a customer for the stand l decided
to let it go.
"He introduced Miss Sporn, and /
agreed tn sell the concession for which |
paid S1O5O for $500, and TO take $50 for
the stand. She II aid me $3.50 In cash, and
wanted me to accept three notes to run 80.
so and go days respectively, the notes to be
secured by a mortgage Cd the stand and
concession. l declined to take the note for
go days as the fair would close at the time
Of its expiration.
They that is. she md the young man
who acted as her agent-altered the ninety
day note until it read eighty DAYS. l
gave her possession, but held the conces-
sion as security. They demanded it, but |
would not give it up. as it was my only Sc
curity for the money owed me. l think
they wanted TO sell If. That is all that
is in the charge made against me-"