Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-24
MATTERS IN FEDERAL COURT.
Another Batch of Prisoners Receives
Sentences from Judge WOOlsOn.

Another Batch of Prisoners Receives
Sentences from Judge WOOlsOn.
Yesterday was sentence day in he federal
court and Judge Woolson spent large por-
tion of the day fixing the punishment de-
manded by the facts in the various cases.
The petit jury. which was called to try these
cases, has been cheated out of its regular
work by all Of the accused men pleading
guilty to the charges against them, and the
jurymen were finally discharged yesterday.
A rather peculiar case was presentd by
the facts elected in the hearing Of the
charge against H. G. Wellman, an old man
who was brought here from the central part
Of the state and indicted for impersonating
a federal officer. Wellman is 60 years old
and is a we'll preserved and aristocratic old
man. He had entered a plea OF guilty and
frankly told the court all OF the incidents
connected with his deception. He has been
travelling over the country for some time
representing himself to be a government
boiler inspector, inspecting boilers and in
PRODUCING a new compound to prevent scale
formation. His method was to inspect the
boiler free and sell his recipe for IS. He
told the Judge that he had been connected
+ for a number OF years with Washburn Moen
& Co. OF Chicago, and produced letters show
ing that he had responsible connections with
other firms. He also showed that he was
competent boiler inspector. and in his tours
over the country he had inspected and con-
demned boilers that were dangerous. Judge
Woolson had been investigating the case
and announced his conviction that the old
mans intentions were not bad as he had
| learned that his compound was really good
| thing and he was In the way OF doing
| good deal OF real good to his fellow man
| and would have been commended II he had
not practiced the deception concerning his
official position in the government Judge
WoOlson gave him a number OF envelopes
addressed tn the rOurt with instructions that
| on the first day Of each month until Sep
tember he should write a latter telling what
he was doing and where he was. Passing
| sentence was deferred until the September
| term, and the old man was informed that
| II he observed the instructions about writ
ing and was able to show that he was worthy
| Of the leniency shown him he need not ap-
pear at the September term
| Sentence was also suspended in the case
of John p Nestlebush OF Omaha. indicted
for using the mails improperly in connection
| with the purchase end shipment of eggs.
Nestlebush had entered the plea of guilty
but District Attorney Miles announced to
| the court that he was satisfied the offense
| was wholly technical. The mans plea OF
guilt had made it impossible to nole the
case and the district attorney made strong
plea for clemency.
Charles Douglass, charged with a technical
violation Of the retail liquor Dealers license
| law. was discharged pending good behavior
George Williams, bootlegger, was given a
Jail sentence Of six months and ordered to
pay a fine OF $500. This was also a slight
infracton OF the revenue laws and Williams
first offense and his sentence was also sus-
pended pending good behavior.
w. Fl. McKees offense against the same
laws was more serious ami he was ordered
to be confined in the Avoca Jail Tor six
months and to pay fine OF $500.
George Perkins, same offe1se, was given g
term of four months In Avoca and orderet
to pay fine of $3.50.
Ed F. Dunn proved to be an old offender
and his plea of guilt and application fol
, mercy availed him little. He was sent to the
Fort Madison penitentlary for eighteer
months and fined $500.
| T. l.. Allen another tootlegger, was giver
six months in Avoca and assessed fine O.
$500. No mittimus was ordered issued II
his case, and he win keep out of Jail II his
conduct proves to be of the right kind.
Peter Schlaak, who pleaded guilty to rob
bing the Treynor postoifice, was sent to thu
Fort Madison penitentiary for three year.
and required to pay a fine OF $500.
!, Frank Welcome, negro bootlegger. wa
! sent to the Avoa jail for six months AM
ordered to pay a fine Of $500.
Only two OF the grist Of bootleggers wer
ordered to be confined in the Council Bluff
, jail, G. II. Castrip and Cha1ses Exman. Eacl
. was given a sentence OF four months i'm
prlsonment and fine OF $3.50.
The grand jury made its final report an
returned a number Of new indictments.
D Real Estate Transfers.
. The following transfers are reported from
the title and loan office of ]. w. Squire 10
Pearl street:
Henry Anderson to Augusta Anderson.
sis swA swh seA 49, sh swh swh 30
76-4l; nia SEA- mel. 25-76-42. q c DIS
l.. Il. Johnson and wfc to Frank L.
4 Hodges, part lot 2, block %, Nicola,
Z W ...............;......... ~
Will c. Estep and wife to II. ]. Evans.
lot TO- Evans subdiv of block 16, Mill
= add, ...........................
Three transfers. total.................$l.4 .4C