Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-31
Russell Ordered Goods and
Tried to Pay in Drafts on
Other People
DREW ON BOB COUSINS FOR $3.50
Mythical Paper Called acountry Pub
lisher' His Rlind-ciaimed These
People Owed His Paper-Newspaper
Career at Toledo, Mecallsburs and
Jewell-4oo or More Drafts Out.

Special to Times Republican.
Cedar Rapids, Dec. 31.-Henry Rus
sell was taken in custody last night on
the charge of employing the govern
ment mails for fraudulent purposes.
His arrest was accomplished by c. E..
Stewart, postoffice inspector, and Mar
shall Kozlovsky, both of whom had been
working to arprehend Russell for
several days. Having accidentally as
certained that they were seeking the
same individual they pooled issues and
attention was directed to the case by a
letter of inquiry received from the Rice
Shoe Company of Milwaukee, of whom
Russell had ordered a bill of goods
amounting to s123.36. In payment of
this merchandise he had enclosed a
draft on the International Drug and
Chemical Company, No. IL Federal
street, and No. 70 Milk street, of Bos-
ton. Before forwarding the shipment
the Milwaukee firm forwarded the draft
to Boston for collection and 1T was re-
turned with the advice that there was
no such firm in business in that city.
1t is learned here, tho, that such a firm
did exist a number of years ago in
Boston. Upon the receipt Of the un-
paid draft the Milwaukee firm advised
the marshal of this city and suggested
that an investigation be made.
Iuc Sstaa1ro 3ruosse raalri,,e p,,u.
sci on a charge preferred by the Chi
cago Mail Order and Millinery Com
pany.
The Chicago concern represented
that on October 80 1t received an order
from Russell for s2.25 hat and there
from Russell for s2.25 hat and In pay
ment there was enclosed draft for the
amount of the bin on &c. Conrad of
Traer, Iowa. In the course OF business
this draft was forwarded to Traer for
collection and it was returned endorsed
as follows: dead long ago" The
Chicago firm wrote to Russell for an
explanation and payment of the hat but
no reply was received from him. The
complaint made by this firm resulted
in Russell's Incarceration and on this
charge his preliminary hearing win be
held
1t appears that Russell represented
to the firms and jobbers of whom he
ordered merchandise that he was the
editor and publisher of a successful
publication called the Country -Rnb=-
Usher" He represented that the myth
ical publication had a weekly circula-
ton of $500 and that 1t was a sixteen
page paper.
1t appears that the drafts which
Russell mailed in payment of goods or
dered Were supposed TO represent the
indebtedness of certain individuals to
him growing out of transactions with
the Country Publisher Asked by In
spector Stewart how many of these
drafts he had sent out, he replied that
the number was about four hundred,
which, if true, would seem to indicate
fraudulent operations upon quite an
extensive scale. Russell endorsed the
draft which he drew upon &C. Conrad"
deceased, of Traer, and so implicated
himself in this deal that the inspector
thinks that he has sufficient evidence
to convict him when the case finally
comes to trial, even If no other crooked