Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-03
KAVANAUCH SHIPS The TOWN
Takes with Him Team Belonging to
Liveryman Smith.
SMOOTH STRANGER GETS IN HIS GRAFT
Bought the Pacific Hotel, But Fails
to Pay the Cash, and Deserts
His Alleged wife-A Much
wanted Man.
SMOOTH STRANGER GETS IN HIS GRAF

Although ]. e. Kavanaughs physical dis.
ability compels him to go through life with
but one leg he appears to be able to travel
just as fast as a man with two sound limbs
At present Mr.. Kavanaugh is a much wanted
man by the police and w. j. Smith, who
owns a livery barn on Scott street Kavan-
aughs failure to return at the stated time
with a buggy and team belonging to Smith
is the reason why the police are anxious to
secure some trace of him.
Last Saturday Kavanaugh, accompanied by
a woman whom he represented to be his wife,
registered at the Pacific hotel. He at once
entered into negotiations with Landlord
Messmore for the purchase of the hotel, as
he claimed to be looking for some location
to go into business He displayed a big, fat
roll of bills and his talk indicated that he
was possessed of means. Subsequent events
have led the police to believe that the roll
OF bills he was so particular in displaying
was flash" roll.
Landlord Messmore was willing to sell
his interest in the hotel and the price was
named. The only thing that remained to
close the deal was the payment by kav-
anaugh of the money. This he was to do
Thursday, but Messmore still has the hotel
on his hands and Kavanaugh's alleged wife.
Tuesday morning Kavanaugh told Mess
more that he was going a short distance into
Nebraska to fetch a niece, who was first
class cook and whom he wish to place in
charge OF the kitchen at the hoter He went
to Liveryman Smith and hired buggy and
double team, saying he would be back
Wednesday. The story he told Of his pur-
chase of the hotel and the roll of bills he
took care to display satisfied Smith that he
was hiring a rig to a perfectly responsible
party but Smith has since learned to his
regret that appearances are often deceiving.
When Kavanaugh failed to return at the
stipulated time Smith became anxious and
notified the police. Information was re-
ceived that the missing man and team had
been at Plattsmouth and Smith at once left
for there. He returned yesterday morning,
but Kavanaugh and the team are still, as far
as he knows, going south.
Swim in the River.
Smith learned that Kavanaugh took des-
perate chances in crossing the Platte. The
river Is much swollen and the ferryman
at first refused to take the team across.
Kavanaugh, however, insisted and the fer
ryman finally agreed to carry him across
at his own risk When within about 100
yards from the opposite shore the ferryboat
became loosened from the cable and COM
menced to drift down with the stream.
haVanauSn lowered tue lOp VI lue pu6Sy
and jumping up the seat lashed the
horses until they sprang from the boat into
the river. The horses, guided by Kava-
naugh, swan to the shore. When he
reached Plattsmouth Kavanaugh put up the
team at barn for three hours and then
left town in the direction of Nebraska City.
On leaving Plattsmouth Kavanaugh was ac-
ccmpanied by a widow named Band. This
Information Smith secured from the woman's
49, year-od son. 1t seems that Kavanaugh
had been in Plattsmouth on several previ-
Gus occasions and had become very intimate
with the Widow Band
At Nebraska City 1t was learned that
Kavanaugh and the woman drove through
there shortly before dusk Tuesday night.
but did not stop. From there all trace Of
them has been lost.
The woman, who registered at the hotel
here as his wife, admitted to the polio yes
terday that she was not married to Kava-
naugh and that she had only been living
with him a couple of weeks. She claims
ito know nothing about the man. The sus-
picion of the police that the roll Of bills
displayed by Kavanaugh was a flash one
was strengthened when 1t became known
yesterday that before leaving Tuesday he
borrowed IS from one of the employees at
tue hotel. Kavanaugh appeared to be about
45 years of age and looked like a plain
business man. The police think he is a
CRATER" of the first water. Cards con-
tanning his description and that OF the team
were sent broadcast over the country yes
terday.