Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-21
BUYS A TICKET TO MADISON.
Mrs. Augusta Fertig Elopes With
Sheriff Fairbanks.

Charles City, Ia, Jan. 19.-W. A.
Fairbanks, VINO for the last three
years has been sheriff of'Fioyd county,
has disappeared, leaving a wife anG
two sons, and with him has also gone
Mrs. Augusta Fertig, wife of George
Fertig, and, as the latter alleges, ST.
300 in money which was in the bank
il his wife's name has likewise dis
appeared. The elcpement took place
last w5ek. Mrs. Fertig lett on Thurs
day afternoon, purchasing a ticket TO
Madison, Wis, where she claimed she
was going to visit friends. Later on
the same day Sheriff Fairbanks had
his mustache shaved off, ana dcnnlng
a heavy set of false whiskers, LEFT on
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
train for Dubuque. On Saturday W.
H. Fairbanks, son of lh- departed OF
fioer, received letter from his father
which was mailed on the rain. L.
closed in the letter was a power Of at
tOrney made out to his son, Wi b The
request that he attend to all unset I'D
business
the sheriff kept his official documents
and records was also inclosed, but
there was no intimation of the des in
alton of the sheriff or any suggeS-
ton of the date of his probable return.
The receipt of this letter convinced
the son something was wrong and the
safe was opened at once. All the
hnnlyC and ba ~,
good condition, and among the papers
was found Fairbanks resignation Of
the Office of sheriff.
AS soon as Mr.. Fertig found that
Fairbanks had disappeared and tina,
his wife had drawn the money from
the bank before leaving, he started in
pursuit. Reaching Dubuque he
found his wife had come to that ci Y
on Friday afternoon and stopped at
hotel. At 3 a. m. on Saturday Far
banks, disguised with heavy false
whiskers arrived. He went to the no.
tel and asked for Mrs Fertig. She
was awaiting him, and soon AFTER
wards the two took a hack for East
Dubuque, where they, short time
later, took passage on a train for the
east. From that time to the presan1
nothing has been heard of the fleeing
couple. MIR. Fertig returned 10
Charles City and has offered a reward
of $500 for the recovery of his run
away spouse. In the meantime FlO"d
county is without a sheriff. w. II.
Fairbanks is settling up his ia her 5
business and the board Of supervisor )
will put new man in the sheriff's Of
| fee.
w. A. Fairbanks is about 81 years
! of age. He left behind him a wife
and two sons, one a married man anu
| the other boy of 10. They all stand
we'll in the community. George Fer
tig was known by reputation pretty
much all over northern Iowa on &C
! count of the vigorous fight he made
against the prohibitoTy law. He fire.
| quently appeared as a defendant III
suits brought for violation CT the
liquor laws, and last year he served a
| Jail sentence for that cause.
The sheriff at that time had Occa-
sion to pay frequent visits to the Fer
tig residence, and it is surmised that
he then became infatuated with Mrs
Fertig. Since his departure with h
it is recalled that at other times h
has made trips when she was away
from town and it IS gufrnised he may
have been in her company before. &c
that as it may he clearly made ready
for permanent departure at Thu
time, and people here have little hope
of his return. Mrs. Fertig leaves 8
! husband, two sons, and q married
! daughter.