The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-20
ROBBED THE STATE PRISON
Z. A. HUEWING CHARGED WITH
STEALING ST. 500 CERTIFICATE
Arrested In St. Paul While, AttemDt.
ing to Negotiate the Paper-A
Former Convict Given q Place of
Trust by Warden WoIfcr Tries to
Rob Him-Fhe Certificate Was
Too Large.

Warden Henry Wolfer, Of the state
peniteEtiary, has had his faith in the
refermatory influences Of the institu-
tion. over which he presfdes, rudely
shaken. The shock all but cost the
state $1,000. That 1t did not is due to
Chief Schweitzer and Detective Muir
name, of the local police department,
who, yesterday afternoon, arrested z.
A. HueWlng, recently released con-
Wet, and sent him back to Saltwater,
charged with stealing and attempting
to negotiate $1,000 time certificate of
deposit from the state prison.
Ihe work of the local police in fore
stalling the steal shows q well-organiz-
ed effort to. realize upon the check
Which was almost successful. Huewing,
alleged to have been the principal in
the deal, has served three terms at
Saltwater for forgery, having been sent
up from Minneapolis the last time for
three years and half Implicated
with him in the theft of the certificate,
1t Is alleged, was Frank Hart, a con-
Wet from Minneapolis, who finished
Saltwater term July l.
HuewiEg's term expired last May
Turing his imprisonment Warden VOL
fer, found Huewing an expert account
ant and skillful penman and employed
the convict in his office. Business at
lns's time was up, and partly as an eX-
pedfent and partly to give the convict
chance to earn an honest living, War
den Wolfer kept him as Clerk. For an
ex-convIct Huewing seems to have been
i1,trUsted with matters of considerable
Importance. He opened the business
mail Of the penitentiary and appears
to have had some control of the cor
respondence. Last Wednesday a let
ter was received containing the $1,30)
certificate. 1t was in pawn nj for bind
ing Irvine, sold by the prison to a dealer
q Milan, MINI. The certificate was
made payable in Noveu Der, and was
irdorsed by the drawee, thus making it
negotiable paper.
When Huewing opened the letter con-
tanning the check he considered it a
chance to make a stake and promptly
appropriated it. He left Saltwater that
evening and came to ST. Paul. where
the next day, he at once began nego-
tiations for eashing the certificate.
Whether or not Hart was in on the
game in its conception or not is not
known, but he met Huewing here and
assisted him in negotiating the instru-
ment. The pair visited broker in the
Endicott building and through him, it
is said, had a meeting with two local
paWnbrolSers, who, it is alleged, agreed
to give Huewing and Hart $1,000 for
the certificate. Those agreeing to pur-
chase the certificate, it is said, had no
way Of knowing how Huewing came
by it. They communicated with the
bank on which the check was drawn
at Milan and received word that the
instrunent was genuine and negotiable
paper. The certificate was then de-
posted in the Northern Exchanges
bank for collection.
The confidence which Huewing en-
joyed at the prison seams to have been
indicated by the fact that, it is said,
the theft Of the certificate was net dis
covered until Last Saturday. Huew-
ing's sudden departure excited sus-
ricion, but it was not until the Milan
bark or the sender of the certificate
communica ted with the prison proper
that they coupled Huewing's departure
with it.
Warden Wolfer came to St Paul with
pictures of Huewing and Hart. togeth-
err with their description, which he
placed in the bands of Chief Schweit-
ger, who detailed Detective Murnane on
the case. Huewfng's negotiations with
the moGey lenders were soon learned
and the fact established that he and
Hart were still iii the city.
Yesterday noon Chief Schweitzer and
Detective Murnane left the station to
so to dinner. On Seventh street, under
the Market house sheds. they came
face to face with Euewing, recognizing
him from the description in their pos
session. AS Chief Schweitzer graspad
Huewing by one arm ana Detective
MurEane took him by the other, the
once convict assumed an air of dignity
and declared he was not the man for
whom they were locking. The buff was
Of 70 avail, however, and Huewing was
taken to the station. Where he was
later identified by Warden Wolfer, who
left with him for Saltwater on the S
o'clock train.
The police are still hunting for Hart.
but it is likely that he has left the
city.