Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-02
MEYER HTTSASNAG
Smooth Individual Who Operated
Here Arrested at Mus
catine.
HAS A NUMBER OF SCHEMES
Appears in Role of Singing EvaI
gelist, Promoter, Preach
er, Etc.

Z. II. meyer, dlldS CTeu MdrSOIl,
alias Fred Marston, who operated in
Rock Island and Moline last spring,
his game in this city being promise
of good positions to local young men
in other cities on their depositing
with him 81, has come to grief al Mus
catine. He was arrested there yes
terday ON charge of obtaining mon
ey under false pretenses at MARSHALL
town.
Meyer, or whatever his name might
be. is smooth appearing individual.
and has appeared in various roles.
His favorite stunts are as singing
evangelist, promoter. preacher and
confidence man. He has served two
years in the Iowa penitentiary ut An
amosa and is now in fair way to go
back there and renew acquaintance.
Meyer, on coming to Rock Island in
the spring, engaged board and room
at a house in the west end of the city.
He advertised in the newspapers that
he had number of splendid positions
for young men in nearby cities 1t is
understood several local youths bit
on the scheme. but none of them
lodged Il complaint, and Meyer escap-
ed prosecution here, although he had
to be threatened with arrest before
he would fork over his board bill
Does Well In Moline.
From here he went to Moline. and
under different name announced
himself as the representative of
large eastern factory that was seek
ing location in the west. He was
favorably impressed with Moline, and
business men treated him nicely, and
things were coming so easily that he
rented office room and employed a
force of stenOgraphers. He kept up
his bluff for several weeks. The bust
ness people were growing suspicious,
and Meyer thought it the part of wis
dom to seek greener fields. This he
did. getting away without int erfer-
ence of the minions of the law. 1t is
understood he fattened his purse by
several hundreds of dollars in Moline.
How He Worked Ministers.
Another of Meyers CRAFTS has been
to solicit employment from ministers
who were conducting revival meet
ings. Having established himself i'm
the graces of the unsuspecting minis
ter, Meyer generally managed to Dor
row money from him on the strength
of correspondence showing flIat he
had a largC-sized check on the road.
but which in some manner had be
come delayed. The minister was us-
ually willing to accommodate one
whose melodious voice was capable
of attracting such great audiences.
Having secured the fund. Meyer would
decamp, usually contriving to leave
an unpaid board bill behind him. At
an Iowa town, not far from Rock ISL
and. this man with the sirens tones,
acted as both preacher and singer.
and the meeting was so successful
that at it's conclusion, when Meyer
gently intimated that Il collection to
defray expenses would not be entire
iy out of place, the congregation ac-
tually scrambled for an opportunity
to toss its several and individual mites
into the tray, and the latter was re-
turned to the confidence man literal
ly heaped with the filthy stuff. Meyer
decided that the contribution was am
pie to carry him to yet other pastures,
more verdant probably in his opinion.
and he babe the good people reluct
ant and affecting farewell. He has
been heard from all over the country
and the daring of the man is not his
least attribute.