The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-23
pRIGGE IS LOCATED
MISSING WEST SIDE SALOON KEEP
Err HAS BEEN FOUND IN
FLORIDA,
He WILL BE BROUGHT BACK.
DETECTIVE CAMPBELL LEFT LAST
NIGHT TO RETURN WITH
HIM.
OTTO SMITHS SIS PAYMENT
Was the Instrument by Which the
Law Laid It's Hand on
He WILL BE BROUGHT BACK.


William Prigge, the West side saloon
Keeper, who mysteriously disappeared
Sept last, has been located and De-
teCtive Campbell, of the detective de-
partment, left last evening for a point
in Florida with warrant and papers
to bring Prigge back to ST. Paul.
Prigge, as announced exclusively in
the G o b at the time of his disap-
pearance, took with him about $4,000
in cash and left behind him large
number of creditors From the manner
in which Prigge allowed his bills to
fall behind, and the system he played
in standing off those to whom he was
indebted, the conclusion was reached
soon after his departure that he in
tended to give everyone he could the
worst of it.
Prigge for about four years previous
to his leaving st. Paul. conducted a
saloon at 81 South Wabasha street. He
did a good business, paid all his bills
with regularity, and was quoted in the
business mems guide as paying on de-
mand. In August last, he moved from
his old stand to the building at 80 South
p .Wabasha street. After he had left the
city, it was remarked that during the
last two months he was in business he
was somewhat slow in settling ac-
counts. His record, however, had been
$50 good that at the time nothing was
thought Of this departure from. his
usual rule. During C. A r. week
Prigge did an increased business. The
saloon was handsomely decorated for
the occasion, a band of musicians was
hired for the week and the free lunch
that was spread at Prigge's was the
delight of the patrons of the place
and the envy of the neighboring saloon
men. After he went away, it was
learned that his decorations, music and
lunch had cost him nothing for the
reason that he had failed to settle with
any one. The butcher, the baker, the
brewery man, and the dealers from
whom he had purchased liquors and
cigars, were all in the same boat
Prigge had purchased the goods, sold
them, and then left town.
So anxious was he to gather in all
the coin that he could that he sold
half interest in the saloon to his bar
tender, Otto Smith. This however. has
proven to be the one step where he was
not so sharp as he imagined. Smith,
ticlled to death to get a half interest
In the place, paid SIS in cash to Prigge
to bind the bargain and considered that
he had at last struck his gait When
the crash came, which it did about
week after Prigge had gone, Smith
went to the police and afterward to the
county attorney. The result was a
warrant issued for Prigge's arrest on a
charge of obtaining money under false
pretenses. There was no doubt about
the charge as the Hamm's Brewing
company had a mortgage on the
fixtures and all the stock Of liquors in
the place at the time the sale was made
were the property of the firms who had
sold the liquors to Prigge but had re-
ceived only promises for their pay.
Prigge gave it out that he was going
to Forest Lake for a days recreation,
and with his wife, who come on from
Milwaukee, started for this resort on
Sunday, Sept. 6. Instead of going to
the lake Prigge and his wife took a
train for Chicago. After their arrival
in that city all track of them was lost
until a few days ago when the missing
saloonkeeper was located in Florida
This information was given out yester-
day by Al Schweizer, who is connected
with the Hanlm Brewing company,
which firm fell about harder than any
other by Prigge's sudden departure
The party, who is at present occupying
the place of business where Prigge
formerly kept, said there was no doubt
about the runor that Prigge had been
located and that he would be brought
back to st. Paul as soon as the de-
tective could make the trip and return
with the prisoner. The Hamm Brew
ing company. it is understood, lost in
the neighborhood of 81, 200 by Prigge's
failure to settle before he went away
George Benz & Sons had an unpaid
F. balance Of 5000, and Anton Miesen, rep
resenting the Pabst Brewing company,
had trusted Prigge for $110 worth OF