Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-23
CHARGESANOTH
James Hefner Lays Blame on
George OhIweiler.
SAYS HE INDUCED HIM TO STEAL.

And Afterwsrd Robbed and Deserted
Him-rhe Uufaithfui Express Messen-
ger ArrIves-HIs Accomplish Denies the
Charge-Hefner Bound Over.
Accompanied by Route Agent
Renken, James Hefner, the abscond-
ing Adams express messenger. ar
rived in the city this morning from
St. Louis, where he had virtually
surrendered to the authorities. Hef-
ner left Miss uri without re1ui-
sition papers, having consent
ed to suffer the consequence Of
his wrong-doing. in which he
duplicates George Ohlweiler as
the principal actor. Upon his arrival
Hefner was closeted with States At
torpey Searle and engineered through
sweat. He was afterwar', taken
before Police Magistrate Schroeder
and bound over to the circuit court
under $4,000 bonds. George OIL
weller, accuse, of implication in the
theft, was placed under arrest last
evening by Constable Eckhart. and
this morning his preliminary hear
l
Monday by Justice Weld. OIL
weller holds Hefner's accusations
as false and claims that he was kept
in total ignorance that the money
was stolen until after he reached
home. Hefner stating that he got the
Doodle from his parents, whom he
representa- as wealthy.
| a,,,s.. nh;uos,a,
| The young absconder appeared
contented when visited at the Jail by
an ARGUS representative ami ex-
pressed himself as prepared to suffer
whatever the courts might impose.
1--we got 2 thing to deny" Hefner
answered The ARGUS man pleasantly,
as he seated himself on the prison
bench willing to relate his story.
But l never would be here today
hadn't | met George oLlweiler. He
encouraged me into this, and what
more, never woul. have stolen the
money had been in my
right senses, which were dazed
by drug.ed liquor which he gave me
the night previous to our going
away. was employed by the c.,
Il. 4 .. three years and never had
any trouble. A month prior to this
crime I was advanced to express
messenger between here and Savan-
ma by the Adams pee pie, with whom
l was always on the best of terms.
Last winter I met Ohlweilcr, and
commenced running around with
him occasionally. 4 few days before
we skipped l started to thinking
rather hard. Dhlweiler got into
trouble with some woman and told
re he had TO get away. Satur ay-
he day before we went - he
propcs ed that I steal some money
and jump the country. 1 asked him
what he was thinking about and repri-
manded him for making such a prop
osition. lie said nothing and we
parted. That evening he came down
to my car and handed me Il bottle OF
whisky which I iii mt touch until
Sunday morning IN my return
trip. took big drink. an
| gradually felt my senses leaving
me. laid down in the car AMI was
just able to arise at the stations.
When we reached Twentieth street
Ohlweiler boarded the car and in
duired as to how much money | was
carrying. There were two package:
each containing 1000 and l told
him so. He urged me to take them,
and too dazed to realize what wa:
about to do, stuck the packages il
my pocket and we both alighted al
Seventeenth street.
Divided the doodle.
I'VE strolled up Seventeenth I'M
concernedly ami stopped at jam.
sens saloon and when in a back
room Ohlweiler took one Of the pack.
ages. He asked me to drink, but
was too sick. We boarded stree,
car for Moline. from whence we lef
the same evening over the c., b. &
q. for kingiisher, Okla. If I wa.
anxious to av i'll detection and has
my senses, surely bull have never
rode on the o." where l am known
by everybody. Conductor R"ger.
had charge of the train. From King
fisher we drifted down to Louisville
Ky, where Chlweiler said ne haG
relatives. l was sober and has
awakened to what l had done wher
we reached there. We hal spen
about 5000, and one night at hote
asked Ghlweiler to give III,
what he had and / would return
But he wouldn't listen to me
l was tagged out and worried
and went to bed early. placin;
the money beneath my pillow
When l awoke the roll, exceptin:
$500. had disappeared. likewise Oil
weller. Then l drifted into the In
dian territory. changing nv name
l went to Chicago Denver and fin
. ally landed in Kansas town withou
sou. / communicated with m,
brother at Farley, Iowa, and askel
him to send me $40 to St. Louis s,
that could come to Rock Island an,
surrender. Learning of my moth
er's illness from worry over nv dis
grace broke me all up. and I bega,
footing it to St. Louis. walking near
ly one hundred miles. Inquired o