The record-union., 1899-09-01
A THRIFTY JUNK DEALER.
GRAND jury HAS INDICTED G.
w. VAN NORMAN.
Confessions Of Gestner and Stephan
Have Wound the Tolls
Around Him.

On June 2Sth Frank Kunsting, a
rancher at Franklin. notified Sheriff
Johnson and Chief Dwyer that during
the night thieves had carried away
from his warehouse at Cannon 5
Landing, near Courtland, 1.30O new
grain bags. worth at factory prices
$S7. Chief Dwyer permitted Patroiman
Max p Fisher to go about in citizens
clothes to try and locate the missing
sacks. He learned that junk dealer
named G. w Van Norman. whose place
OF business is at S1S l street, had
bought these and other new sacks from
the thieves Fisher who worked quiet
~ but surely, soon learned all the facts
surrounding the theft and sale of Kun
sting's sacks.
On the afternoon of July 4th he and
Special officer Fetherston called at Van
Norman's junk shop and Fisher asked
the junk dealer if he had bought any
new sacks lately. to which Van Nor
man answered that he had not.
Ar. Van Norman did not two men,
one Of whom is minus the right eye,
and who has a very noticeable scar on
the left side of his face, and the other
is a big, tall German. sell you, or leave
on your premises 1.500 new grain bags
on the early morning of June 2oth?'
was the question asked by Fisher.
Van Norman said he knew no such
men and had bought no such sacks.
Did not these two men bring to your
place, and offer you for sale these
sacks, which have blue letters running
the entire length of the sack?" next in
quired Fisher.
Van Norman answered somewhat
meekly No"
Did not these two men bring these
sacks right here into this yard in a
canvas covered spring wagon, and did
they not break their wagon cover in
making the turn to drive into the yard,
and did not you buy these sacks for
cents apiece or $50 for the lot?"
Van Norman grew uneasy at Fish
ers queries, and he again answered
No"
Fisher kept at his man, and finally
Van Norman admitted that he knew
the two men spoken of and said they
had comes to his shop on foot and had
offered him LOCO new sacks, but that
he had not bought any and that they
had no lettering of any kind on them,
as far as the sample showed.
Fisher again referred to the Kunsting
that they had not come to his place,
and he said he did not know who
bought them
"Well," said Fisher. "Ill know when
I catch the thief"
This latter remark of the officer evil
dently must have worried Van Norman
greatly, for bright and early the next
morning Van Norman hunted UP
Fisher and admitted that on the morn
ing of July Sd he had bought 1000
plain new sacks from these two men,
but again denied all knowledge Of the
first lot.
GEsTNER CAPTURED.
Several hours later Fisher, accompa-
MED by officers Higgins and Fitzgerald,
caught H. W. Gestner. one of the two
men suspected Of this and other crimes
and upon his person when searched by
the officers at the station house there
We're papers and memorandum which
showed a sale of 1.500 sacks at . cents
apiece to c.. ". Van Norman on June
2Sth, besides other matters which
showed the officers that Van Norman
had loaned these men vehicles, besides
q note signed by Van Norman, which
empowered Gestner to take away from
one Harry West q horse and wagon,
the property of Van Norman, and
which was supposed TO have been used
by West in making trips into the coun-
try after articles.
THE SACKS TURNED UP
Fisher again visited Van Norman and
simply handed Van Norman the note,
and asked: rs this your handwrit-
ing?"
Van Norman almost inaudibly an
swered Yes"
How about Kunsting's sacks, now?'
Fisher asked.
We'll, I have them down stairs and
he proceeded to show the officer the
way down rickety flight of stairs into
a dark cellar or basement. Fisher took
the precaution to let Van Norman lead
the way and by the aid of his flash
light he saw the much looked for sacks.
There was the lettering as described.
They are twelve short" said Van
Norman, there are only 1,4SS of them
yet I had to pay those two fellows for
1900"
When Chief Dwyer learned of this he
grew indignant and directed the officer
10 seize the sacks and have both lots
taken to the police yard.
When the officer notified Van Norman
Of the Chiefs orders he grew excited
and said: Now, I somehow forgot to
put these two lots Of sacks on my
books as required by law. and if The
Chief should find il out he could MAKE
ii hot for me. I'll help you to con-
vict these fellows, if you will allow me
10 say that I did not put them on be-
cause you told me to buy them fol
YOU: that you wanted to use them as
evidence"
Van Norman appeared as a star wit
ness at .Gestner's preliminary eXamina
tion, and his apparent anxiety to see
Gestner convicted was quite noticeable
Gestner was not inclined to impart
any information whatever which might
throw light upon his transactions with
Van Norman All OF the arts employed
bv Fisher so far failed to elicit from
him the slightest word which would
betray him or his confederates. Chiet
Dwyer allowed Fisher for the time
being to devote his time and energies
to this particular case, and he deter
mined yet to win from this obstinate
prisoner the secret of his crimes and
left nothing undone to accomplish that
purpose. Aided by Chief Dwyer and
Sheriff Johnson, he traced Gestner's
movements back for some time.
STEPHAN ARRESTED.
on July 18th Fisher, assisted by Dep.
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