Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-03

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There's a pretty how-de-do over de-
velopments regarding the recent baking
contest arranged by Mr.. H. y. Benson.
of the Marshalltown Mills. The facts
are that the young lady. Miss Alice
Echternacht, who was awarded the
first prize of $50 In gold, did. not bake
the loaf that captured the money, did
not enter the contest and now refuses
to accept of a portion of the prize. She
is very much grievad over the occur
renee while Mr.. Benton Is greatly cha
grined.
Mr.. Benson, soon after the prizes
We're awarded. was informed that the
loaf OF bread decided upon by the
judges as the best was baked by Mrs.
Beckwith, who is a professional baker
and who was barred, with others en-
gagged in the business, from entering
the contest. From all that can be
learned by Mr.. Benson plan was
evolved to capture the prize and divide
the money. G. j. Needham was the
chief conspirator, and engaged Mrs.
Beckwith to bake the bread. Ed Ech-
ternacht, a clerk in Needhanl's store.
was .induced to aid the scheme by en-
tering the bread under the name Of his
sister, Miss Alice Echternacht. The
latter was not informed of the action
until a short time before the contest
She asked her brother to go at once
and withdraw her name, but he re-
fused. She now says she should have
done this herself. but concluding that
.therewas no likelihood of the prize be-
ing awarded her she did not do so.
Mr.. Benson on Monday afternoon
called on Miss Echternacht and also
confronted Ed Echternacht, G. j. Need
ham and Mrs. Beckwith with the infor-
nation he had secured. He in no way
blames the young lady, but he threat
,ened both the young men with arrest.
Itchternacht was penitent and said he
was drawn into the scheme, but Need
ham expressed no regret at his action.
Echternacht says Needham secured IS
of the $50 offered as first prize. Mrs.
Beckwith was given and accepted IS.
while he has $40 in. his possession He
had sent to his sister one-half OF this,
but the young lady refused to accept OF
1T. Echternacht says he will willingly
return the SO in his possession. ne
Mr.. Benson says he would not have
had the incident occur for 500. He
spent considerable time and money in
an effort to bring about a fair contest.
Just what action he will take in regard
to the prize money he has not deter
mined. His first thought, which would
certainly be the most equitable action,
was to compel the return Of the prize
money and divide II equally among the
four ladies who were awarded second
PRICES He consulted an attorney,
however. and the latter advised that II
the Judges could not at this time de-
eide who Of these four Is entitled TO the
$50, another contest between those who
secured the second monies should be
arranged, the entries to be accompa-
MED by aftidavits to the effect that the
bread was baked from Cream OF Patent
flour and by the persons entering the
same. 1t is possible that Mr.. Benson
will prosecute the parties on charges
of cheating by false pretenses.
Mrs. Beckwiti, when interviewed by
Mr.. Benson. seemed to look upon the
proceeding as good joke. and ex-
pressed herself as having a bigger Joke
on. the judges. admitting that she
baked another loaf OF bread for q
rieighbor for entry and that she took
more pains with it than she did with
the Needham baking. Whether others
who entered hired their baking done is
not known, but it is not thought that
this was generally resorted to. Mr..
Benson says that Mrs. Needham, who
secured one of the third prizes. baked
her own bread.
Miss Echternacht regrets exceedingly
the part she unknowingly took In the
affair. and deplores the action Of her
brother in entering into the scheme.
Undoubtedly neither Needham. Echter-
nacht nor Mrs. Beckwith will ne al
lowed to profit By their action. and the
money will be awarded to the sa.isfac-
Jtlon Of ali who legitimately entered the
contest.