The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-06
FRED LUCAS GOES FREE
HIS ATTORNEY SPRINGS A SENSA-
TIoN IN OPEN COURT
Exhibits n Deed TO b Ow the Hunting
ton Man Did Not Obtain Money
FrauduIentIy.

Fred L. Lucas, under indictment in the
Criminal Court on the double charge of
perjury and obtaining money under false
pretenses, was brought into court for trial
at 2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon. An hour
later he left the courthouse a free man. The
discharge Of Lucas came as a rather dra-
matte climax in the case, which has attract
ed considerable attention since the arrest
of the defendant in Arizona two months
ago.
Lucas was arrested and indicted on infor-
nation furnished by the Indiana Mutual
Building and Loan Association, of which
Charles Kahlo, of this city, is secretary.
Lucas is a resident of Huntington, this
State, where until his recent trouble he
stood high in the community. He is about
twenty-five years of age. Last winter he
came to this city and visited the office of
the Indiana Mutual Building and Loan AS
ISOLATION, where he exhibited an abstract
of title to certain property in Huntington.
The abstract showed that on Dec. 10, 1895,
the deed to the property had been recorded
with the proper official in Huntington. On
the strength of this document Lucas pro-
cured a loan of $500. He disappeared and
the secretary of the building and loan as
ISOLATION, after a, correspondence with the
AtNOA0OA VI I1QlLliiSt OIL COalllJy dcNCA cllAGO
that no such deed as represented by Lucas
had been filed on the date named. The Off
GERS OF the association at once concluded
that they had been swindled and began TO
look FOR Lucas. He was located in Ari-
IONA, where he was said to be in the en-
ploy of a telephone company. his friends
claimed for him that his occupation took
him West and that he was not a fugitive
from justice.
The building and loan association sent
Attorney W.. w. Lowry to Arizona after
7 rrnnC aud the rCr,no = q v~nG hcn1Fnhf
back a prisoner. The county grand jury
brought two indictments against him-one
for obtaining money under raise pretenseS
and the other for perjury, Lucas having
made some sort of an affidavit when he got
the money from the building and loan as
ISOLATION. Lucas was unable to give bond
and he remained in Jail until brought out
for trial yesterday. His attorneys were
Pierce Norton, of this city, and j. L. Ken
ner, OF Huntington. "A number 0! oroInl-
nent people of Huntington were in court
when the prisoner was brought in. He was
met at the door of the courtroom by his
young wife. She sat at his side during the
proceedings, with an infant child in her
arms.
The first move of the defense was to
enter a motion to noIle the case. This
was followed by Attorney Kenner coolly
drawing a document from his pocket, which
he passed over to Prosecuting Attorney
Wiltsie. 1t proved to be an apparently
genuine deed to the property which Lucas
had claimed to own. However, it showed
that it had been recorded in 1894 instead of
1879, as SHOWN by the abstract pEeSehleu oy
Lucas when he borrowed the money of the
building and loan association. 1T is with
great reluctance" said Prosecutor Wiltsie
to the court, that l move to nolle these
indictments, but it seems to be the only
thing to do in the case"
Judge McCray then informed the prisoner
that he was free!99His friends gathered
about him to shake his hand. His young
wife grew radiant and Rugged her babe to
her breast. 1t was a happy time for the
Lucas family.
Il wonder if I would be allowed to
scream" remarked the young matron, her
eyes beaming with delight. Attorney Nor
ton advised her to refrain from giving vent
to her joy in the courtroom and she passed
out with her husband and child. The deed
which Lucas's attorney produced had been
executed by Lunetta Holdcraft and hus-
band. Neither can now be found. 1t is
claimed that Lucas is the victim of the
Whereabouts is unknown at this time.
Attorneys McBride1and Denny appeared in
the prosecution of the cases.