Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-05-15
CHARGED WITH FRAUD.
General Agent for The Climax
Fence Machine Company
Comes to Grief.
LODGED IN THE COUNTY JAIL
Arrested on Charge OF Obtaining
Money Under False
prGtGnSGS.
Had in His Possession Contrasts
and Notes WhiSh 1t l. Held
Were Obtained Through
Misrepresentation.

Misrepresentation.
| c. w. Sholes, who represented him
self as general agent of the Climax
Fence Machine Company OF Lincoln,
Nebraska, came to Mineral Point
early in April, and registered at the
Globe Hotel. His business, he said q,
was to appoint local agents to sell
the Climax Fence Machine: and to
better explain the merits claimed for
the machine, he obained posts and
put wire fence along the front of the
park, just east of the city hail. Here
he continued, day after day, for near
ly month, meeting farmers and 9TH
ers interested in wire fence making.
He did not appear to be doing much,
but remained here right along, being
absent only occasionally for Il few
hours.
On last Thursday, May $, MIR.
Sholes appeared at the Iowa County
Bank, and showed J w. Hutchison,
one of the proprietors, Il promissory
note signed by Robert Hawke, post
office address Linden, Wis. He asked
Mr., Hutchison to cash the note, which
he did, with others for smaller
amounts. Sholes then bought two
drafts, one for $500, and the other for
$500, both payable to himself; and
Mr., Hutchison paid him 500 in money.
The following day lFriday, May 81
Mr.. Sholes again appeared at the
Bank with another note for $430 sign
ed by Robert Hawke, and asked to
have it cashed. Mr., Hutchisou inn
mcdiatcly suspicioned that something
was wrong. He told the man that
before cashing the second note, he
would rather wait aud consult with
his brother and partner Elmore, who
would be at the bank in a short time.
| ShOles went out saying he would call
again.
Mr.. Hutchison then telephoned to
Linden to Mr.. Hawke about the affair,
telling him to come in at once. Mr.,
Hawke telephoned back that he had
not signed any notes and would be in
Mineral Point as soon as possible.
Upon his arrival at the Bank, Mr..
HutchisOn told him not to let Sholcs
see him: but Mr.. and Mrs. Hawke had
already driven to the City Hotel,
where Sholes was then stopping.
Sholes saw Mrs. Hawke, and asked
the proprietor, Mark Terrill, who
she was On being told, he appeared
to think that it was time for him &c
be going. He hurrcdly got his two
sachels, went to Gerlach's livery
where in the morning he had engaged
a team to take him to DOdgeyillc. In
order to hasten matters he drew the
buggy out himself while the driver,
Matt Berg, was harnessing the horses.
He then said he would walk across
the railroad track, where the driv-
er could overtake him. He started
but in a few minutes came back and
uroed the driver to make all possible
haste, then started out again, and
walked over tbe track and around the
corner near ButIer's dam. When the
toan arrived he told the driver that
bo ,ro,tod to drive to Ridgawav inst
90 nnio,, os ,ho +oom conId oo Ihoro
L1, No artod to avoid au foIonbo,a
stations
q, Iaarnfnr If his danar,ura from
,riroro1 pofr, ,o1orhoo. ne.-ago
,rag som, tn sborfr ramos q, Dodgo-
vile GIVING him doserfptjon Of the
man driver and ,bo team and ,orIino
him ,hs+ ,bov started from her. a,