Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-04
O. e. Norton Says Barton and Bon
ner Are the Same.
CHARGED WITH SWlNDLING JOHN KANE
Secured $500 on Bogus Mortgage in
December, 1898-WiIl Undoubtedly
Be Tried in WapeIlo County After
Facing the Fairfield Charge.
From Mondays Daily.

~. E.NOTIOu, OIL CnlS CITY, mas seen +.
| 9. Bonner now behind the bars at Fair
field, charged with defrauding the
Iowa State Savings bank, of that place
out of $1,000, and says that he is the
same man who swindled John R. Kane
of Eldon out of $500 in December,
1898, to recover which Mr.. Kane has
suit pending in the Wapello county
district court against Mr.. Norton,
claiming that he, in some manner
guaranteed the validity and genuine
ness of the transaction. The allega-
lions Mr. Norton denies and says
that he merely made the fact known
to Kane that Barton desired to bor-
course, at the time, had no knowledge
of the real character of Barton.
Mr.. Norton was seen this morning
and said that Barton is the man who
worked the deal in Ottumwa, without
doubt. AS a matter of course Bonner
alias Barton did not know Mr.. Nor
ton, but nevertheless Mr.. Norton is
positive the right man is in custody.
He will be first tried on the Fairfield
charge and if sent to the penitentiary
when released will have session
with petit jury in the Wapello coun-
| ty district court on criminal charge.
.Bonner's Record and Arrest.
Bonner is charged with swindling
many banks and men with money to
loan, always with the same scheme.
| Usually he is not found out until the
| time arrives for the bogus mortgages
to be foreclosed but few days ago
he attempted to negotiate loan with
w. B. Martin, of Greenfield, candi-
date for state treasurer on the repub-
lican ticket. Mr.. Martin suspected
that all was not right and caused Bon
ners arrest. The Fairfield authori-
ties were the first to get him and
brought him back to that place where
he will be required to stand trial on the
charge of obtaining money by false
pretenSes.
His Scheme.
In December Bonner who at that
time gave the name of John W. Bar
ton, walked into Mr.. Norton's office
in this city and stated that he was
about to trade house and lot in Sig
Quincy for a farm of 120 acres in
the southwestern part ofWapello coun-
ty be onging to A. D. Smith. He also
stated that he desired loan of $500
with which to stick it, otherwise
the land would be free from incum-
brance. He desired MIR. Norton to Sc
cure the loan for him on the usual
terms. Barton appeared to be a hard
working farmer and there was nothing
in his countenance to create suspic.
ion. Mr.. Norton has had hundreds of
just such requests in the usual course
of business, and agreed to find man,
if possible, who would loan the money.
He inquired among Ottumwa men if
they had money they would loan, and
in the few days prior to December 10,
1898, happened to be in Eldon. Mr..
Kane had funds which he was anxious
to loan and Mr. Norton spoke to him
about the Barton deal, telling him of
the circumstances. On December 10,
the deal was completed. Barton os-
tensibly had traded his Sigourney
the Wapello county farm, which was
acknowledged by Sigourney notary
public.
Coming to Ottumwa the deed to
the land was placed on record and the
property stood in Barton's name. Miss
Hattie Allen had furnished an abstract
OF the Wape 10 county property and
had set out what the record showed
>
mortgage from Barton to Kane She
did not know the former and refused
to do it. By the way, it might be said
that notaries, when they take acllnow.
Judgments, certify that the person
making a deed or mortgage person
ally appeared before the notary and is
personally known to him or her. For
this reason Miss Allen, who is also a
notary public, did not acknowledge the
mortgage Barton evidently had other
strings to his bow. He went to Morn
ing Sun where he induced no
tary to take the acknowledgment He
came back to Ottumwa with the mort
gage upon the property and received
the money from Mr.. Norton, who had
had been instructed by Kane to do so
Kane afterwards paying the sum bach
to Norton.
The interest fell due after the pro
per time had elapsed but Barton die
! not appear. Mr.. Kane instituted sui
: to foreclose the mortgage. A notice
was served on the occupant of the
,, property, as required by law, who was
amazed that foreclosure proceeding
should be brought, when he had giver
no mortgage. Gradually the matter
: began to untangle itself and it was
learned that the owner Of the land, A
!. d. Smith, was in Colorado at the time
Barton was making the deal, and thi:
: fact must have been known to the
latter Kane soon saw that he hat
been duped and dismissed the fore
: closure case, which instead quietedtht
property in the real owner and re
: moved the cloud cast by reason of the
!, record of the bogus mortgage. After
!. ward Mr.. Kane sued Mr.. Norton tt
, recover the amount of the loan am
: the case is still pending. Kane claim!
that Mr.. Norton guaranteed the val
: idity of the transaction, which Mr.. Nor
ton specifically denies and says tina
Kane had the same opportunity TO
discovering anything wrong that HI
had, and that he guaranteed nothing
Since his deal here Barton wal
: never heard from until his arrest a
: Greenfield. He leaves broad trai
0 of other alleged swindles behind hin
. and if convicted on all the charges
: there are against him will probabl.
I serve a lifetime in the penitentiary
IN n