Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16
Madison, January Is.

please ask the sheriff not to let
anyone in to see me tomorrow and I'll
plead guilty Monday" said c. w. Hill
to Chief of Police Heyl SATURDAY.
as cell door of the county Jail was
closing on him. If he does there
will be a continual stream of mem
bers of the woman's relief corps and
G. A. R. all day and | don't want to
face them,' he continued as the chief
turned to go. He was told that his
wishes would be explained to the
sheriff. Hill is wanted for defrauding
a number of Madison people. He ar
ranged to give war drama entitled
Atlanta at the opera house early in
November under the auspices of the
woman's relief corps, No 81, but
skipped out after disposing of over
500 worth of tickets and defrauding
number of people out of consider
able property of different kinds. A
dispatch was received from GAINESVILLE
Saturday noon stating that he had
been arrested there. Chief Heyl and
Capt. c. w. Welton went to GAINESVILLE
and found that the prisoner was the
man wanted He owned up and told
them that he would plead guilty as
soon as arraigned. He said that the
reason he skipped out was that he
was unable to get his partner to come
to Madison to direct the production of
the war drama and he did not have
sufficient money to repay all who had
purchased tickets. When arrested he
did not have one scrap of paper on his
person which would lead to his iden-
tity. He was going by the name of
Taylor and had only arrived in James
vile Thursday. He was about to go
to work as cutter in the boot and
shoe factory there.
Iill did up" all with whom he had
anything to Go. Soon after he came
he got in with prominent u. A. r.
people and went with them hither and
thi,her, so thai business men might
behold him. He visited business
places, setting forth his scheme to
present at the opera house on the 14th
and 18th of November a war drama,
entitled Atlanta. He showed up the
advantages in advertising in his pro-
grams. A great scheme he had and
so eager were many to have their bus
mess appear in his scheme that they
paid in advance, just to help along
cause all for charity's sake. A COM
mittee of the Woman's Relief corps
went about the city and found ready
sale for tickets. 1t is said that 400 or
500 were sold.
He engaged a number of the mem
bers Of the Governors Guard to 3p-
pear in his play and selected many
pretty young ladies to participate. The
day he was to apepar to assign the
different roles wore away, but
he failed to present him
self. The disappointment of the la
dies turned into chagrin when they
| learned he had flown.
One day Mr.. Hill appeared at the
| clothing store of G. B. Welton & Co,
| and while conversing with w. ii.
| Wilt, a member of the firm, said, in
| looking over some nice suits, I'D
| like to take a couple of these suits to
| my rooms at the hotel and try them
| Mr.. Wilt replied that there was pri-
| vate room in the rear of the store for
| that purpose. Mr.. Hill dropped the
| matter at once Soon after he went to
| the jewelry store of Smith & Gamm,
| on West Main street, and looking at
| display of watches remarked: You
have some very fine timekeepers, in
deed. | am in The city endeavoring to
| get up an entertainment for the bene-
| fit of the Woman's Relief corps, and
| l presume you have seen me with
| some of the leading old soldiers" Mr..
| Smith said he had. There's watch"
said Mr.. HILL pointing to a gold
| cased timer, that | think would suit
| very nicely-to be presented to the
| best-drilled man in the Governors
| guard, when the play is presented. It's
| popular scheme, you know. | would
| like to take the watch just up here to
show it to Col. Welton, Major Joachim
and Captain Quentmeyer, and see
what they think about it. [ will re-
| turn it in moment" Mr.. Smith had
seen the stranger with the military
| men named, and had no suspicion.
But that watch was not returned. Mr..
Hill also forgot to pay his bill at the
Hotel Ogden. He is about so years old
and seems to be very shrewd fellow.
EIDE, JN cTOITCIITON