Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-04
MORE ABOUT DUDLEY
An Indiana Citizen Identities
Him as Man Who Got His
Money.
Was Known at Kokomo by the
Name of Sawyer..Many
Victims.
Estimated That He Got at Least
$751; 600 From Kokomo
Dupes.
ecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Davenport, Jan. Acknowledgements In
the case of DR.. Jackson 3. Thomas,
alias j. j. Dudley, grow more interest
Ing with the approach of the time when
he Will be placed on trial. 1t has been
stated that Dudley heeced Indiana par
ties out Of at least s25, GOO. One of his
victims was w. Z. Blocklidge, n leading
attorney and financier of Kokomo. Yes
terday Blocklidge came to Daveponrt
and met his man face to face, after a
prolonged and expensive search.
Upon being ushered into the Jail and
Dudley. Mr.. Blackiidge greeted him
with Hello Sawyer. I've spent five
years time and over $500 for the salts
faction of seeing you behind the bars."
Dudley used the name of Sawyer at
Kokomo, where he succeeded in OBJ
taining ST. 700 from Mr.. Blacklidge on
a similar trick as hat which he perpe-
trated on Mr.. Putnam. of Davenport,
who was swindled out of 2 800 on a forg-
ed deed. To the above salute. Dudley
replied. II hope you are satisfied"
Mr.. Blacklidge has the appearance of
a shrewd and successful %finarcier as
well as attorney, and would be almost
the last man that one would suppose
Dudley to select for his victim. In his
dealings with both Mr.. Putnam and MI.
Biacklidge, it is conclusive evidence that
| Dudley did not have a weakness for Sc
lecting easy victims but took his chan
ces with the shrewest and best OF finan-
ciers.
Mr.. Blacklidge positively identified
Dudley az the man who in 1895 win
died him out OF s1,70O on q forged deed
and also stated that from descriptions
sent him from other places he is quite
sure hat ne is the same person who
operated at Rushville. Charlottesville.
Lafayette. south Bend, Lebanon. Wa
bash and Ridgeville in the same state.
Most of these deals were successful and
dates from 1855 to June. 1901. Upon his
Indiana pilgrimages alone he is accused
Of having secured in the neighborhood
OF SIS, 900.
At a number of these towns he attend
ed church, took an interest in Sunday
school affairs and wherever the occasion
offered he would play the organ, at all
times being partial to the gospel hymns.
The statement made by Jackson or
Dudley as he was known here that this
is the first time he was ever arrested
proves to be false. Blackiidge states
that Dudley was at one time under ar
rest at Ridgeville for having a forged
note in his possession. He tore the note
into fragments with his teeth while be-
Ing conveyed to jail. He was
brought to trial, however, and 1t is
claimed that money had an influence in
securing his release.
Dudley II regarded by Mr.. Blacklidge
as one OF the most dangerous criminals
In the country. While ~conversing with
him in Jail the latter said: Dudley,
there was a time when I would like to
have shot you. but now I am sorry for
you." Before leaving him and bidding
him. good-by, Mr.. Blacklidge asked Duo
ley IL he had anything to say, to which
the latter replied: There was a time
when I was honest" When questioned
as to that time he replied up to 1855, 30
that II would appear that Dudley has
been engaged in his line Of bushes for
the past seventeen years. Dudley also
took occasion to tell Mr.. Blacklidge
that many OF he crimes attributed to
him. he had no connection with. To this
information his visitor replied that he
guessed he wae involved in enough OF
them.
Out Of Dudley's numerous victims in
Indiana. Mr.. Blacklidge is the only one
that has spent time and money In the
prosecuting OF a systematic search for
Dudley and for which he deserves great
credit. For the past five years Mr..
has never abandoned his
hope OF some day seeing Dud-
ley placed behind the bars. He en-
ployed an Indianapolis detective agency
to trace up Dudley. From 1t he learned
that Dudley had a wife in Philadelphia,
the fact being revealed by her cashing
a draft at the Commonwealth banw In
city. He even learned that Dudley
had an attorney In Philadelphia by the
name of Yocum. but wen with this in
at hand he was never able to
of Dudley's whereabouts at a
when he could be captured. At
Ind, Dudley Is known to
lave secured 1000 on a single deal.
L