Omaha daily bee., 1900-10-27
WHERE Was Mr.. SHIELDS?
Likewise, Where is William Wendover
Under Arrest for Forgery
OMAHA MERCHANTS WANT TO KNOW
Ubey Paid to Bring the Man Who
Hnd Nictimiyed Them from
Minneapolis and Now
He Is Gone.

william Wcndover, bound over under four
complaints of forgery and wanted in Des
Noines and elsewhere on similar charges
is at large and his whereabouts unknown
Omaha merchants who we're the victims OF
the forgeries made UP purse to bring
Wendover back from Minneapolis and be-
lleve that their money has been spent In
vain. They are much dissatisfied with the
manner in which the prosecution OF the
case has been managed. On the consent OF
County Attorney Shields Wendover was
sent to st. Joseph's hospital suffering from
n supposed attack of tuberculosis OF the
lungs The move was Professionally sane
toned by County Physician Van Camp.
II was told the man was in bad shape.
said DR.. Van Camp, and he certainly ap-
peared to be. So he was sent to the hos
pital on October 15, and l expected to make
a thorough examination few days later to
determine whether he really had tubercu-
losls. What was my surprise to see in the
next mornings paper that Wendover had
left the hospital"
Dr. Riley, in charge at the hospital. says
that no Instructions were given him as to
keeping the patient under restraint and
he permitted him to leave when his hemor-
rhages and fever had subsided. He does
not know where Wendover went
James c. Kinsler. attorney for Wendover,
says his client came into his office few
days after the county attorney had con
scented to his transfer to the hospital. Mr..
Kinsler advised Wendover to 20 back to
the hospital and added that he would ex-
pect TO see his client appear for trial. He
has not seen Wendover since.
Police Are Chngrincd.
The police are much chagrlne9 that their
efforts in securing Wendover should have
been brought to nothing by weakness in the
prosecution. Whether or not the prisoner
is ever seen again the merchants concerned
feel that their interests have not been
properly guarded. Ed +. Pickering re-
marked: THE young man came into my
store and offered a check for SIS signed
with the name Il. e. Bruce in favor of his
son, e. Z. Bruce, jr. The youth claimed
TO have been absent at college for four
years. I cashed the check and so did Pease
Bros. William Ostrauder, MoritZ Meyer and
Oscar Kipinger, for the same amount. SO
when we heard that Wendover had been
caught in Minneapolis we threw in $40
apiece to bring him back. Now he has dis
appeared and whether he is ever seen again
IS a question / wouldn't lay a penny on
In the last number Of the Detective, pub.
has an article on local criminals in which
he includes Wendover and describes his
effective method OF impersonating the sons
of prominent citizens. I'VE had hard
time to get him in Minneapolis. as Des
Moines officers had started habeas corpus
proceedings to take him there" said Chief
Donahue. 1--WE sent two additional COM
plants to the county jail in case Wendover
should be admitted to bonds on the four
others, but I understand they were 'nolle
pressed Wendover appeared here two
years ago. when he impersonated the sons
OF Kirkendall and Andreesen. We had
turned him over to the county attorney and
knew nothing of his disappearance"
Operations in Fort Wayne.
Chief Donahue received letter yesterday
from Homer A. Gorsline. superintendent
of police Of Fort Wayne, Ind, saying that
Wendover had exploited extensively in that
city in the spring OF 1899. Seven forged
checks had been passed there, says the su-
perintencent, by man whose methods and
description are identical with those Of
Wendover Each check was for SIS One
OF these forged instruments was inclosed
and II was observed that the handwriting
Is the same as that which appears on the
checks passed in Omaha by Wendover.
The check, which is on the First National
bank Of Fort Wayne. bears date of April &,
1899. II Is made payable to f. +. Yarnelle
tr., and Is signed "Massman, Yarnelle g.
Co.." being the name of prominent firm
Of Fort Wayne.
Chief Donahue has also received word Of
Wendover's operations in Des Mones
Louisville and Detroit