The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-02-23
HEMPENSTALL
Il THE NAME OF SMOOTH YOUNG MAN
WHO Is ALLEGED TO HAVE WORKED
THE SAINTS.

THE SAINTS.
Down at South Haven there is an elee-
nosynary institution called the "Old
Peoples Home" conducted by a pecul
lar religious organization known as
Saints" very honorable people and good
citizens. This institution is under the
direct management of Mr.. Sebastian
Michel
Some time last fall, young fellow
giving his name as George Hempenstall,
and claiming to come from Grand Ledge,
where he said his parents resided, put
in an appearance at South Haven and
succeeded in ingratiating himself into
the favor of Mr.. Michel and other in
mates of the home. What seemed to
especially attract Mr.. Hempenstall was
the religion of the Saints and. although
he professed To have been raised in the
Catholic faith, he soon claimed that he
had received new light and professed to
have become an ardent disciple of the
faith professed by his new found friends.
Mr.. Hempenstall was hard up, but
stated that he had large sum of
money in the hands of his father at
Grand Ledge, that he had inherited from
the estate Of relative. but that it was
not yet available for his use; but ingrati
tude was DOT his besetting sin and he
wanted to do something for those who
had done so much for him and, at his
solicitation, Mr. Michel permitted him
to work for hehome without money and
| III l. f,.n
remuneration in the way of needed cloth
ing furnished by Michel
Leaving South Haven after time, the
institution received a telegram convey
ing the sad intelligence that HempenN.
stalls brother had been badly injured in
a railroad accident
When he returned to his South Haven
friends he was ready to receive their
sympathy on account of the death of his
brother, who, he said, survived but
short time, but long enough to be con
verted to the true faith. His mother,
also, had, through his influence, abjured
Catholicism, and he had strong hope that
his father would do likewise, all of which
tended to soften his sorrow over his
brothers death.
On this occasion he confded to one
William S. Krieble, an inmate of the
home, from whom he had previously
borrowed $50, that he had got his money,
5000 in cash and a draft of 81 900 payable
to Michel, which he intended to present
to the home as token of regard.
Hempenstall again left South Haven,
and letter was soon received from him
stating that in the city of South Bend
he had been knocked down and robbed
of both money and draft, and that he
had employed Sheriff O'Neil of Dowagiac,
who had captured the robbers in Chi
cago and had recovered everything, but
in making the capture the sheriff had
been shot and badly wounded; that the
robbers were in custody at South Bend;
that he could not get his money bach
until after their trial, and he asked Kric-
BILE to send him hundred dollars, which
he promptly did.
The next letter from Hempenstall
stated that he had been very i'll and for
some time unconscious and that he need
ed money to pay his doctor bill and other
expenses, and asked Krieble to send it,
which he promptly didn't. Investigation
showed that Hempenstall must be
lineal descendent of Baron Munchausen
certainly not of q. Washington and a
complaint was lodged against him for OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses.
After several days search, he was locat
ed at South Bend, where he was arrest
ed by Deputy Sheriff w. j. Thomas, and
he is now boarding with Sheriff Lamber-
son in default of 81 900 bail. His examina-
tion is set for tomorrow before Justice
Rowland