davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15

fraudulenty stated and represented te
Scanlan that the money to be loaned
belonged to one John B. Alexander Of
Wisconsin, and that with the consider.
ations above stated the loan could be
made. The Court finds that the Scan.
lans relying upon these false misrepre-
sentations entered into the mortgage,
| The Scanlans had no knowledge that
Davis was the man to whom they were
to pay the money when they satisfied
the mortgage. Only one years interest
on the mortgage has been paid.
This mortgage was recorded on Jan.
18th, 1894, and on that same day the
$4,000 was paid over to Gleason by
Davis, and Gleason paid the money to
Scanlan for his use and by his authori-
ty to certain mortgage creditors of
Scanlan to the sum of $1,S12.5O. The
Court finds in this connection that
there is not and never was such a per-
son as John B. Alexander, but he is
and was at the time of the execution
and delivery of said note and mortgage
fictitious person and a nonentity.
On Jan. Goth, 1894, Davis caused the
power of attorney to be written and
authorized his son, Bert Davis, to sign
the name Of John B. Alexander there
to, and "the said Frank 1 Gleason. and
one J. A. BEARD, signed their names
thereto as witnesses, and the said Frank
[. Gleason added the certificate of ac-
acknowledgement, with his notarial seal
thereto, but said power of attorney was
never executed, except as above stated,
and the said Frank I. Gleason and Syl-
vester Davis, then we'll knew that said
John B. Alexander was fictitious per-
son.
Judge Weber then makes his find
ings as to the assignments, etc., in con-
nection with the case. He finds that
on Oct. 12, 1894, Davis, pretending to
act under the power of attorney, assign-
ed the note and mortgage securing the
note to Maggie A. Henningsen of New
Ulm, who in good faith paid $1,000 for
the mortgage. This assignment was
recorded Oct. 9, 1894. On Oct %, 1895,
Maggie A. Henningsen assigned the
mortgage to the defendant, John Grim
mer, who, in good faith, bought it for
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15
Judge Webber Annuls the Scanlan Mort
gage Of $4,000 on Account Of the
Alexander Forgery.
Deals an Awful Blow to the Conspirators
Who Have Defrauded Crippled
John Grimmer.
Scanlan Gets $1,000 for Nothing, Except
Possibly Note that is Probably
Worthless.

tain a loan of $4,000 on the land of
Scanlan in Sheridan township. Gleas-
on informed him that he had money
belonging to a rich man in Wisconsin,
which he was loaning at 10 per cent.
and that if he made the loan Scanlan
would have to pay 500 as bonus to
the owner of the money. Gleason re-
fused to give the name of this rich man,
but told Scanlan that he would be at
his farm house on Jan. 18th, when he
would inform Scanlan ofthe owner and
would insert the name in the mort
gage. =:
Before going to Scanlan's house, ac-
cording to the findings. Gleason and
Davis had an interview. it which it was
mutually understood that Davis should
furnish the money and that the loan
should be made to Scanlan under the
fictitious name of "John B. Alexan-
der" On Jan. IL Gleason & Davis
went to Scanlan's house and in the
presence of Davis, Gleason falsely and
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15

In an elaborate decision hled With
Clerk of Court Warner yesterday
Judge Webber gave the Beard -Glea-
son-Davis conspiracy crowd one of the
worst blows ever given that organized
gang since the unearthing by The
GAZETTE of the famous John B. Alex
ander forgeries, in which Beard, Glea-
son and Davis had a hand. In this
decision Judge Webber annuls the
mortgage given by Martin and Mary
Scanlan of Sheridan township to John
B. Alexander, and afterwards assigned
to Maggie B. Henningson and then to
John Grimmer of New Ulm, and in
the annulling he deals out language Of
fraud and dishonesty against Gleason
and Davis that ought to make a dead
man, having any reputation for
honesty, turn over il the grave.
The case was the outerowth of the
expose of the Alexander forger;es by
The GAZETTE over two years ago, and
for which S. L. Pierce, the poser Of
morality and honesty, after being
forced out of the county attorneys
office by The GAZETTE, appeared be-
fore Judge Webber in this case, and
declared that the paper or its editor.
was an intermeddler. menace to law
and order, and every other thing that
came within the privileged class which
shrewd lawyers in the legislature have
made their profession not accountable
for in the eyes of the law.
The case is also a great victory for
A. G. Dolliff of this city and j. A.
Sawyer of Owatonna, the two attor-
neys who have all along contended
that the mortgage was null and void,
and for the first part of the case was
assisted by NJ. NJ. Madigan, whom
Pierce claimed as again at his hellish
work. Messrs. Sawyer and Dolliff
have worked indefatigably on the case,
and the winning of it was as much to
the findings by them of numerous
citations in their favor as it was to the
criminal character of the work of the
men who were attempting to organize
one of the boldest games of conspiracy
ever practiced in this county. From
the language of the Court during the
whole of the long decision the rough
work of the gang is bitterly COM
mented upon, and shows that they
should have been behind the bars at
the time that the forgery was exposed.
Judge Webber's decision covers from
eight to ten pages of typewriter paper
1t goes into the case in detail, and
commences with the time that Martin
Scanlan solicited loan from the tool
of the gang, Gleason, who did the work
at the dictation of the other members \
This was on the Sth day of January,
1894, when Scanlan called at Gleason's IS
office and asked whether he could OBJ
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15
CHURCHES.

pRESBYTERIAN.-R John Sinclair, pas.
l. tor. Services every Sabbath at 1880
O'Clock A. M. and at o'clock P. N. Sabbath
school ut II O'clock NJ,
M METHODIST.-Rev. T. A. Jones, Pastor.
AA Services every Sabbath. at l0:30 O'Clock
A. h.and at M. Sabbath school at I'm.
e GHRlSTIAN-Preachn on every Lords
- Day at 10 80 O'Clock A. M. and at 3 p. NJ
Sunday School at $50 P. NJ, and Endeavor
at p NJ, and prayer meeting on Thursday
evening at O'Clock, ALI are cordially in
vited. Rev. S. P. Fullen. pastor.
F,PIsCOPAL...Churcn of The Holy Com
~ muniOn. Rev. w. H. knowlton, Service
every Sunday, in the morning at 1890 and in
the evening at 8.OOp. m. Sunday school i'm
mediatelv after morning service. Service is
held on Friday evening at 500.
SEvENTH- DAY ADVENT 8. 8. every
~ seventh day at IL A. N. Church service
following, Missionary and teachers meeting
Sun. evening, Prayer meeting Wed. evening.
TATHOLIC.-Divine services on the Sd
~ Sunday Of each month at 10 30 q. m. and
at Z 30 o. m, and Saturday preceding aud
Monday following at 8 q. m. Also the Satur-
day oefore LIST Sunday. Fr. B. Vonderlage.
PsStor.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15
To the PubIlC.

have purchased a gal
lery at Lesueur, Minn.,
and will take possession
the lst Of August, Any
one wishing pictures fin
ished from negatives at
this Gallery will do we'll
to get them now, as |
shall take the negatives
with me. Also, any one
wishing negatives taken
will please call soon, and
| will give you good work
at very reasonable prices
With thanks for the
courtesy and liberal pat
ronage received, Iremain
Yours truly,
G. G. KENNEY.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15

An exhaustive memorandum follows
the findings and decision of the Court.
In the careful manner of Judge Web
Der he reviews the laws of the case. and
cites numberless authorities in support
Of his position. He differs with some
attorneys on the invalidity of the docu-
ment by reason Of usury, but holds that
the putting in of the fictitious name
"John B. Alexander rendered the
mortgage absolutely void. In this lat
ter position he cites nearly 80 cases in
support of his position. On the two
questions, he says: I-..
eff usury had been the only vice af-
fecting the mortgage in question, in my
opinion, it would have been waived by
the mortgagors and the plaintiff would
have been estopped by accepting the
deed containing the assumption clause,
from interposing the defense of usury.
II am of the opinion, however, that
the fact that the name John B. Alex
ander was inserted as mortgage and
the mortgagors executed the mortgage
believing that he was a real person and
intending to make him, and not Syl-
vester Davis, the mortgage, when in
fact Alexander was a fictitious person,
a nonenity, renders the mortgage alb
solutely void for want of necessary par
ties, and that the defendant acquired
no interest in or lien upon the land by
reason of the pretended assignment of
the mortgage to him."
After citing what the defendant re-
lied upon to win the case he states that
the proposition was too broadly stated,
inasmuch as the defense would be al
lowed to show that no such mortgage
ever existed, which was really the de-
fense in this case, as the pretended
mortgage to Alexander was annuled.
The assumption clause, Judge Webber
states, assumes mortgage to John B.
Alexander, when no such mortgage
ever existed. Concluding, Judge Web
ber says:
"I think it is clear that Sylvester
Davis could not have sustained an ac-
ton to foreclose the mortgage and a
bona fide purchaser stands in no better
position.
"In my opinion Sec. 2236. Gen. Stat.
1894, does not apply in this case, as the
not was not negotiated by the maker
and the note is also void. The validity
of the note, however, is not involved in
this case, and it's validity is not deter
mined
II regret extremely that the defend
ant Grimmer, who is an innocent pur-
chaser in good faith for consideration
of $1,000, must be sufferer from the
fraud and dishonesty of Gleason and
Davis, but am unable to arrive at any
other conclusion"
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15

$2,OOO. This assignment was recorded
on Jan. 81, 1896.
In the meantime the Scanlans were
actively at work, according to Judge
Webber's findings. On Jan. 81, :, 1894,
Seaman and his wife assigned the pro-
perty in questionsto their son, James
Francis Scanlan,: who took it subject to
the Alexander Grimmer mortgage. AT
that time Alexander was not known to
them as a nonenity. This was record
ed Feb. l, 1894. Oct. II, 1894, James
Francis Scanlan assigned the land to
his brother, Patrick Scanlan, who took
it subject to the same conditions and in
the same ignorance as to Alexander.
This was recorded Oct. IL, 1894. On
Nov. 8, 1895, Patrick Scanlan assigned
the property to Mary Scanlan, under
the same conditions. This was the
last of the assignments on the part of
the Scanlans.
Judge Webber finds that Gleason act
ed as the.agent of Davis and of no 9TH
er person in making the loan, and that
each and every allegation of the plead
ings, except as above set forth, were
false and untrue. AS findings of law
Judge Webber says:
AS conclusions of law from the fore
going facts the court finds:
First: That the note and mortgage
Exhibits D and E) were and are usuri-
GUS.
Second-That by reason of the as
sumption clauses in the deeds Exhibits
A B and G. the defense of usury was
waived by the mortgagors and the
plaintiff by the acceptance of the deed
containing said assumption clause is
estopped from enterposing the defense
of usury.
Third That the mortgage (Ex-
hibit E) Power of Attorney, Exhibit G.
Assignment of Mortgage Exhibit F
and H are and each of them is, alb
solutely null and void, and each of said
instruments was at the time of it's exc
cution, absolutely null and void.
Fourth-That the Plaintiff, Mary
Scanlan, is the owner in fee,.' ,.'slmple of
the lands described in the complaint,
to witt: The northwest quarter of Sec
ton numbered eight, andthe north half
of the northwest quarter section num-
bered Z, all in township numbered 112,
north of range numbered 81, west Of the
5th Principal Meridian, and containing
229 9l-1OO acres, more or Hess, accord
ing to government survey, in the coun-
ty of Redwood and State of Minnesota.
Fifth-That the defendant, John
Grimmer, has no right, title, estate,
claim, lien or interest in or to said lands
or any part or portion thereof, and the
plaintiff is entitled to have said mort
gage, power of attorney, and assign
ments of mortgage, cancelled Of record,
and to have the defendant, John Grim
mer, forever barred and restrained from
asserting any right, title, estate, claim,
lien or interest in or to said land, or any
part or portion thereof under or by vir-
tue OF said mortgage.
Let judgment be entered accordingly.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15

U. H. Bergen is organizing drum
corps.
Attorney 3. E. Harriott and DIR. Al
B. Hawes left to-day for two weeks
visit in South Dakota.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15

tons Of sugar while the tariff debate has
been dragging along, that an internal
revenue tax of one cent a pound be
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15
TAcKslNG THE SUGAR TRUST.

Mr.. Gage, secretary of the treasury,
proposes, in order to protect the govern
nent from loss by the heavy importa-
Il a
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-15

levied on all sugar imported since work
on the tariff commenced. It is esti-
mated that it would mean $50, ,OOO, 900
for Uncle Sam.-Minneapolis Journal.
The evening times., 1897-06-14
HANNA FEARS PAUL SORG.
Former Congressman FOrmidab BILE
Rival for the Senatorial Race.

Senator Hanna is much concerned over
the probably Senatorial candidacy Of
SOrrner Congressman Paul J SOTg, en- the
Democratic ticket 4 far as the Cand!-
daCy Of John T. Mclean, of Cincinnati,
IN the Democratic ticket is concerned, the
fact is that Senator Hanna has not lost,
and will not lose, any sleep over it, as ae
feels confident that lie can defeat Mclean
with plenty to spare.
But Sorg is different proposition and
with his usual astuteness Senator Hanna
realizes that Sorg's immense popularity
with the wage element and the masses in
general will make the contest a close
one.
For this reason Mr.. Hanna is sincerely
hoping that Sorg will not be sprung rs the
Democratic Senatorial candidate a the Last
moment by the coming convention. If
Mclean should be cast aside and SoTg sub
sttuted the blow would be a severe one to
Hanna. So far the latter is con Fident Of
success. To Times reporter he said to-
day:
MY latest returns show out of thirty
two county conventions held in Ohio so
far every one has adopted ringing reStlu-
tons supporting my candidacy. The coup-
ty tickets have been nominated with eX
plicit instructions that the legislators
support me. SO far the prospects are Ger
tainly bright -
when do you think the tarif bill will
be passed?' was asked
Certainly by August 1. However, it
is hardly wise to conjecture, as something
unexpected might arise to intervene The
Sugar schedule is making "A little hitch
now, and no one can tell how long it will
take t. settle this friction
1T is my opinion that the bill, after it
passes the Senate, will bein conference only
a few days, as the intention is to not daily,
but to give the country the needed stimulus
to prosperity as soon as possible
The evening times., 1897-06-14
GANG To WRECK RAILROADS
Switches on Sea Beach Lines
Tempered With.
B0ULDERS ON THE TRACK
Discovery of Fieudish Work in Yari-
Gus Directions-Escape Lunatics
From FIathush Thought by Some
to Be the Guilty Parties-D Dangers
of Trip to Coney Island.

New York, June 14-The attempt to
wreck d Sea Beach train loaded down
with human beings returning from Coney
Island last night, at the Fifth avenue and
SiXty-eighth street cut, Brooklyn, was
followed by the shocking discovery that
the would be wreckers had been ut work
in other quarters, and that they had ap-
parently planned murder on a wholesale
scale.
The discovery was made by a track
walker on the Culver line, which parallels
the Sea Beach tracks at the point named,
and it was i'll effect that the switches on
his road had been tampered with last
night TIE niscreants had tried to force
open the lock OF the two switches, and If
the attempt had succeeded nothing could
have prevented a wreck ON the Culver line
This discovery, as well as the further
fact that only on Friday last huge
boulder was placed between the rails OF the
Culver road and the happenings of last
night lead to the belief that all wele the
work of an organized gang.
Two lunatics escaped from FlatbIsh
Insane Asylum and are still 1t large.
1t is thGUght by some that the attempt
at train wrecking may have been theT
work. No arrests have so far been made.
The evening times., 1897-06-14

To tie agent tC whom the case of ''Stear
ine'' was Consigned, telling him what
w uld he found III the center of the case,
fell Iuto Iglesias' hands in this way, and
tie seizure OF the case resulted.
The ''cOnspirators" in New York, for
Senor Mora is not alone in the movement
in this city against the Iglesias govern
u,eut, are now become open revolution
ISIS They realize that peaceable means
are not available to them, and they are
determined that next November shall rot
pass without an election, as provided by
the constitution, even II the people are To
be called to arms to bring it about.
Il should not be surprised to hear any
moment now that revolution has broken
out in Costa Rica, said Senior Mora. The
people are infuriated against IgIesias, and
will not tolerate his usurpatiOn OF power
He is afraid TO 20 before the country for re-
electoI lie knows that not even his
bayonets would compel a majority OF the
voters to cast their ballots for him The
easier way is TO abolish the constitutional
provision for an election and hold on t. the
office. This he VIII most likely attempt
10 do, but lie may vet be frustrated.
MY plans" How can | tell them? / de
sire honest government for my country, and
| am bending myself TO the movement
through no personal ambition.
Il NAV SAY however, that the suspicion
which l am informed the Costa Rican gov
ernnlent has OF n possible fiIibustering eX-
pedition from New York, is Unfounded. l
shall couutenanCe nothing that may con
traveGe against the laws, or even the
spirit of the laws, of this hospitable cOun-
try
Senor Mora is about fifty years Of age,
and a fine specimen OF manhood. He is
tall and straight as ali arrow. No other
Costa Rican can show a more distinguished
lineage THAI: he. Don Juan Mora, an uncle.
vas the first president of Costa Rica. He
was elected in 1926, the year after the
first constitution Of that country was
adopted. being then forty-two years old,
and served his full term. He was re
elected. and on the completion of his second
term the state assembly and council or
dered that his portrait be hung in the hall
OF congress. Don Juan was also vice
president of Costa Rica, serving under
Mcrazan in this capacity in 1912. He died
in 1854.
Don Juan Rafael Mora was another uncle
who filled the chief magistracy Of Costa
RiCa. He succeeded Alfaro as vice presi-
dent in 1S47, and two years later was
elected president. Senior CaIvo, the present
Costa Rican minister at Washington, gives
great praise 20 this administration.
Don Francisco ". Oreamuno was Mora's
third uncle who served Costa Rica in high
station, having been vice president, and
q cousin, Jesus JilneneZ, was twice elect
ed president, the first time in 1868, ana
the second in 1868.
The conspirators in New York declare
that the next president of Costa Rica
to come from this family will be Frederco
Mora, the exile, now in New York. They
claim to have received news from Costa
Rica by recently arrived passengers that
leaves no doubt in their minds of the sue
cess of their plans to place him in the ex-
ecutive mansion in San Jose.
The evening times., 1897-06-14
s>EAk THIEVES WERE nIsY.
Ten Thefts Teported TO the Police
in pnnf Fnrtr-.ight Unurs.

Tea robbcric> were reported TO police
headquarters yesterday and TODAY
A Sueak-thief broke into the trunk of
Henry Lacey, in his room at No. 52l New
.ier>a. IvcIuc northwest, aal stole $50 in
money.
4 gold huutiug-c3Se watch. the property
@! Charles Moss. was stolen from d han
room ia tie basement of the Hotel John
son.
Miss Z. A. Wolfe. n guest at the Ere
dplia reported stolen from a bureau
drawer un her room a So0-bilI.
gold filled huutiug-caSe watch was
tak"l hy thjcf from a bureau L.aw weriu
the room oi William Schweuck. at Ne 4O7
ilryal,n Street sputh hCa>t.
Philip Vanderbilt reports stolen from his
room At No. 104 Third street mont invest, d
T"'b"d CAS- cealaiaiEE seleIty-tvo Edison
phoaO-raph plates.
Sevra salts or 10 hing were t5ken in
OBc haul hy thieves dhoIt O'Clock sat
urlay night. from tie store Of Harry ami
FE-llu fn"di3HGcT, corner of Ninth and
4 stress northwest.
The other aY.iclCs stolen were. Lead
color ovorqeat from william Aufz. at
Washington Barracks. hoy's bicycle and
wagon, the pro3erlyDC John W. Harrison.
from ia froat OF No. 923 PENNSYLVANIA ave
MUG Eorthwes., bride and two pairs of
Tcins. from static OF samuel +. Trott. in
rear OF No 1885 Eighth street northwest: A:
kcarchlight bicycle lamp. from Victor +
Watkins. OF No. 1920 Sixteenth street
HothwrS.
The evening times., 1897-06-14
WOMEN ENCOUNTER A BURGLAR.
VIII Make Him Character in a
Magazine story.

HaCkeGsaCk, y. ], June 14.-Mrs. Aimee
HerCht Neil a writer for the leading mag
a7ines, and her sister, Mss Pauline Ora ysou,
had an exciting experience with a burglar
at their home at BogOta, near this place
Mrs Neil says she will put the burglar in
a story, aud her sister talks OF painting his
portrait from memory.
The sisters were awakened after mid
night TO find the burglar in their room. In
their talk they pretended to take him for
their brother. who slept in an adjoining
room. The robber went out to search an
other room, and then the sisters aroused
their brother. While he was hunting for his
revolver the two pluCky young women en-
Countered the burglar in the hallway.
He threatened to shoot them but they
caught mold of him. II broke ava ayand ran
out Of the house, pursued by young Gray
son, who fired four shots.
The robbeT returned the fire, but no one
was hurt on either side.
The evening times., 1897-06-14
THE SATCHEL THIEF CAUGHT
john Price Stole 1852 From
the metropolitan Line.
ARRESTED In NEW YORK CITY
After Months of Searching the De-
tectives AppreheBded Hin - He
Unsuccessfully Sought to ConprC-
mise the Case Officers VIII Prob
ably Bring Him Here Tomorrow.

John Price, an expert professional bank
sneak, who IS wanted here for stealing a
sotchel containing 81 ,6S2 76 from Arthur
o. Babcndrier, superintendent of the Met
ropolitan Electric Railway, in the Vat0ldi
cafe last March, was arrested in New York
today, and hello for the Washington au-
tnorities
The news was received at police head
quarters this afternoon in a Telegram
to Inspector Hollinberger from Chief of
Detectives 'Brien, of the metropolis.
Ever since the uaIing robbery was com
mtted, Inspector Holm berger has been
using every effort to capture the Fellow.
Soon after the theft, suspicion pointed 10
Price as the thief, and an indictment
against him was secured from the grand
jury.
Photographs Of thcfclIow were procured
from the tinkerton' ,andPrice was prompt
ly identified by several persons as tine
rogue who committed the big robbery.
Copies of the photograph were distributed
far and wide, with request To the various
police authorities to promptly arrest Price.
After Price learned that the Washington
authorities wanted him for this Robbery
he sought through a private detective to
compromise the case.
The detective, it is said, called upon the
officials OF the Metropolitan Railroad Com
pauy and offered to refund 81 900 Of the
stolen money If he was granted immunity
fro IN arrest.
President HaTries and Inspector Holm
berger declined to entertain the PROPOSE
ton, and the efforts TO run down the bank
sneak continued until his arrest today.
He Will probably be brought here tOmoT
rnW