Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-11-14
Vol. XXXVII.
Both Under Arrest.
ROLLA M'NAMA AND S. B. ELLIOTT
WERE BROUGHT TO MEXICO
LAST WEEK.
They Defrauded Many Farmers and
Stock Raisers in Audrain Coun-
ty-Their Methods of Bus
mess Disclosed.

Constable Johnson left on October
9Th for Humansville, Polk county,
Mo-, where he went to obtain possess
ion of S. b. Elliott, who was being held
for him by the authorities at that place.
Elliott is the man who, in partnership
with Rolla McNama, so completely
swindled q large number of prominent
farmers in Audrain and surrounding
counties about 4 year ago. This ar
rest, together with the arrest of Nc
Mama in Columbia, recalls the facts
in this swindle, which was carried on
more extensively than any other ever
worked in this vicinity. Rolla Nc
Mama, whose home was near Lad
donia, and s. B. Elliott, who lived
near Shamrock, in Galloway county,
had always been stock buyers and
traders, and about three years ago
they formed a partnership and COM
menced trading and buying on a very
large scale. They went through the
country and bought up stock, produce
and wood, which they resold, usually
at a good profit. For these goods
they would give notes signed by them,
and as they were both well-known,
having lived in this vicinity for years,
the validity of their notes was not
questioned. The way in which they
carried on their business was in some
cases remarkable. For instance, they
would go to a sale, buy up a lot of
stock and give n note for the full
amount TO the man who sold them.
They would then sell the stock to par
ties for cash, and in a few days would
offer to buy the same back again at an
advance. This time they would also
give a note in payment and then they
would resell the stock for cash, thus
selling twice for good money some
thing that they had never paid a cent
for, or never intended to pay a cent
for. This kind of %swindling was kept
up until the people began to open
their eyes, and the report was noised
around that these two men had enter
ed into an agreement to defraud the
public. In December, 1894, the firm
of McNama & Elliott failed for about
| $40, ZOO. Immediately after the fail
I ure McNama left for Colorado, where
he resided for some time. Elliott re-
manned at his home for awhile, but
the feeling against him became 81
strong that he decided the climate in
| Southern Missouri would suit his
health better. Accordingly, he left
for Humansville, where he has since
lived.
Last week McNama came to Column
bia to appear as a witness in some
cases which had grown out of his al
legged transactions. He was placed
under arrest by Constable Price John
son in Columbia October 5 on a war
rant sworn out by j. A. Wells, of Lad
donia, on a charge of defrauding Wells
out of some corn. McNama's attor-
neys Immediately secured a writ of
habeas corpus and McNama was set
at liberty.
Elliott was located at Humansville
on Wednesday and a telegram was
Immediately sent asking for his arrest
on a warrant sworn out by VIM.
Pritchard, of near Martinsburg, who
charges him with obtaining money
under false pretenses.
A large number of prominent farm
ers and stock-raisers in Andrain coun-
ty suffered from these mems s'trans-
actions" all of whom wish to see
them punished to the full extent of
the law for their misdealings. To add
insult to injury, McNama, from time
to time, has written letters back to
people he swindled, tantalizing them.
In one case he wrote to a farmer
from whom he had "purchased' a lot
of hams, (and, of course, never paid
for them) saying that the hams in
Colorado were not as good as his, and
that he also noticed another differ
ence, /. e., that he could not get them
there without paying for them. Thus
he acknowledged that he never in
tended to pay for these goods.
Edmonston & Cullen are attorneys for
both Elliott and McNama and state
that both Of them are ready to stand
trial, and that it vas useless to issue
warrants for them, as they could have
been secured without them.
BOTH PLACED UNDER BOND.
Rolla McNama was brought to this
city last Thursday night by Sheriff