The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-02
GARDNER AGAIN ARRESTED.
lie Is Charged with Issuing Bogus In
surancc Policies.

]. w. Gardner, alias Luce, alias Vos-
burg, was caught in the police drag net
last night. Gardners operations have
been quite extensive. covering a period
of nearly a year and for boldness are
quite unequalled in this region. They
began last Spring when he secured from
d. C. Thomas the sub-agency for the
Iron Mutual Insurance company OF
Pittsburg and began his work by a
series of misdeeds which eliminated in
his arrest on May II. While in the GUS
tody of Patrolman Sartor, going along
Alder street to the station house, he
shot himself in the temple with sui
cidal intent. He was taken to the
Lackawanna hospital, where he lin
gered for time between life and death.
Finally he recovered and one night
made his escape from the hospital.
He disappeared for a month or so, but
after the matter had died out to a GER
tain extent he took up his residence in
this city, occupying rooms at board
ing house on MifIlin avenue. BY some
means known as yet only by himselt,
he secured a quantity of blank policies
belonging to insurance companies rep
resented by c. G.. Boland and repre-
senting himself as an agent in Mr..
Bolands employ went about in isolated
districts doing insurance business at
very low rates.
The outskirts of Dunmore and the
district lying between Dunmore and
Olyphant was his principal stamping
ground. but he even went so far as to
do business in this city, as complaints
received by Chief Simpson would indi-
cate He not only secured the first
payment of S. or $6, which he invariably
insisted on, but when he could arrange
e,
collect them, as happened in several
instances already heard of.
Police After Him Aga
The first complaint against Gardner
was lodged by one of his victims in
this city. Chief Simpson had a war.
rant sworn out and almost every night
for the last month Lieutenant Davies
mas had the officer on the Mifflin ave-
nue. beat keep a lookout for Gardner.
All this time. however, he was working
in the upper part of the valley ana
living in Dunmore. Last evening ne
returned to his Mifflin avenue house,
and by a singular coincidence an Oly-
phant constable came here yesterday
afternoon seeking Chief Simpsons as
sistance in locating him. several
holders of his bogus policies In that
town inquired into the genuineness of
the policies, with the result that they
were clearly convinced that c. G.. Bo-
Ian, had no such man on the road, and
that the fellow was a representative OF
no company or agency whatever. They
then began a hunt for their dollars and
revenge and as a first step dispatched
the Olyphant officer to this city to look
up the victimizer.
Patrolman Neuls accompanied the
constable to Gardner's house, and to
their pleasant surprise and his deep
chagrin found him at home. He was
arrested on the Olyphant warrant and
will be turned over to his victims In that
locality. The warrant which Chief
Simpson holds will be kept in allegiance.
The publishing of his arrest will,
no doubt, bring to light the full extent
of Gardner's operations.
Another Plan lie Worked.
1t has also come to light that he has
been working i'm Taylor and Old Forge
as the representative of the Cosmo-
poltan Building and Loan Association
of Syracuse.
Gardner Is about so years of age and
of a somewhat attractive and dignified
bearing. He Is said also, to possess ex-
ceptional shrewdness and cunning.