The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-05-16
ON A SERIOUS CHARGE
WALTER MARSHEL COWELL IN
THE TOLLS OF LAW.
CHARGED WITH COON" GAME
Col. I. Slough, of Chicago, Brings Docu-
ments to Prove Gross Fraud
in Land Deal in
Texas.
CHARGED WITH COON" GAME

Walter Marshel CoWell was arrested
Tuesday evening between 5 and q
o'clock on a most serious charge. Wild
rumors had been floating about all day
Tuesday to the effect that a big sensa-
ton was to be sprung and that a prom
inent attorney was to be the victim of
the police when the proper time came.
The whole matter was announced here
Monday evening and the News was in
possession Of most Of the facts, but re-
Trained from publishing the matter oW-
ing to the fact that no very decisive
steps were taken during the day Tues
day. Chicago reporters had seen De-
tective Sam Elliott, Attorney Elliott,
his brother, and Jackson Taylor board
the train together. A hint had been
dropped some Way that they were
coming to Kenosha to unearth a big
land sWindle. kilograms were for
Warded here at once to watch these
folks and see what the trouble was to
be. And they were watched. They
proceeded to bring Njessrs. CoWell and
jackson Taylor together Taylor had
been acting as an agent for Mr.. Cowell
in Chicago and was under arrest for
his part in this certain real estate deal.
OF course there was a stormy scene
when these gentlemen came together,
in which CoTell laid all the blame for
any shady transactions on Taylor and
Taylor came back in the same manner
on Cowell. This was proving nothing,
so next morning Detective Elliott APP
peared before Justice Slater and asked
for warrant for Mr.. Cowell's arrest.
He sent for Col. |. Slough, of
Chicago, to swear to this warrant.
Col. Slough is the man who
claims to have been the victim
of the deal. Col. Slough came up OH
the afternoon train and sWore to the
warrant. This document charges Wal
ter Marshel Cowell with making a frau
dulent land deal and says he is guilty
under the law of working a confidence
game. Mr.. Cowell was arrested under
the warrant very shortly after it had
been sworn to by Col. Slough.
After the arrest had been made the
scene of interest did not change any
from where it had been hitherto. AS
soon as he was arrested Cowell was
taken before Justice Slater and his
bail bond fixed at $1,000 TO be condi-
toned for his appearance at the prelim-
mary examination to be held at 9 o'clock
this morning. Then came the rustic.
Agents we're sent in various directions
to look TO: bondsmen. But none came
to his rescue. He kept the court open
until nearly l o'clock this morning
trying to find bondsmen, but he had to
go to Jail, and there he was locked up
for the night
The preliminary hearing had been
set for o'clock this morning. AS
everyone knows that means in a justice
court just one hour later than the ac-
tual hour named. Mr.. Cowell was
brought down very close to the proper
hour, and at once began consultation
with his attorneys, Messrs. NJ. A. Baker
and Peter Fisher,
At first it was given out by his at
torneys that Mr.. CoWell would go at
once to Chicago and stand trial. The
counsels of his senior attorney prevail
ed, however, and he later made up his
mind to fight the matter. The warrant
charges the offense to have been COM
mitted under the laws of Illinois, SO
Mr.. Cowell will have to go there for
trial at any rate, in case he is required
so to do by Gov. Altgeld, of Illinois,
and the requisition is honored by Gov.
Upham.
Immediately upon the matters COM
ing before Justice Slater a change OF
venue was taken to Justice Matthews
court.
About 1890 o'clock the matter came
up in the new court. After hearing
arguments by thelawyers on both sides,
the Justice fixed the date for the pre-
liminary hearing at May % and the
bail at $4,000. This bail Mr.. Cowell
has so far been unable to obtain.
Mature of the ofense.
The offense with which Water Mar
shell Cowell is charged is very grave
and serious one. Col. I. Slough, the
principal witness in the case, is a real
estate dealer in Chicago. He gave his
side of the story to this paper this
morning. He says that Mr.. Cowell.
through his agent Jackson Taylor,
made trade with him on some real
estate in Preside county, Texas, which
Mr.. Cowell was supposed to control as
attorney for one Thomas M. Bell, al
legged to live in Arapahoe county, Col
orado. There were three sections OF
this land described as sections 20, 81
and 33, block pa. This property was
represented to be something over 1900
acres in extent and to be worth fully
So per acre. For this Col. Slough
decided over two lots in Chicago valued
at between $4,000 and $4,000, and one
| piece of property in Downers Grove
DuPage county, H.. valued at $1,000.
An abstract had been furnished Col
Slough of this property. 1t looked
perfectly clear, there having been only
four transfers of this particular piece
This abstract was signed, sealed and
sworn to By the " Lone Star Abstract
Company.
| After the transfer had been made
- NJ Il II 4