Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-08

R. Tanner Walker described the Shet-
land ponies and caused the children
great delight. Orchard Yates Walk
er" also wrote. He tol9 about affairs
on the Walker stock ra ge, as well as
the splendid outcome from produce
sold from Walkers t5o' and acre farm
near the county seat, md described
the escape of pris'9er.
The warden was flighted with the
comrade and they nad their photo
graphs taken together. In the mean
while Comrade Walker had Lost his
pocket book. He lost it, he said, dur
ing a stroll through Chester, but he
supposed some one would find it and
return it to him.
"The average man is honest" he
said to the warden. "There were a
thousand, some odd dollars in it," he
added. The loss did not seem to dis
turb him very much.
Walkers reported loss caused great
distress to the warden, who at once
had placards printed and posted in
Chester over the name of j. Mack
Tanner, announcing the loss of Com
rade Walkers pocket book and offer
| ing reward for its return.
About the same time, Comrade
Walker, who had the liberty of the in-
stitution, outside the cell rooms, man
aged to have conversation with Joe
Reynolds, convict trusty IN the elec-
trical department and former cell mate
of Walkers in the Missouri peniten-
tiary. Deputy Warden 0owell thought
this strange and Walker explained to
him by telling him that he had known
Reynolds when he was an honest man
in Kansas, and forthwith strengthened
the effect OF the assertion by writing a
letter to the Illinois State Board oi
Pardons, recommending Reynolds for
parole and signing himself as the
sheriff of Finney county, Kan.
j The next day Walker displayed 8
letter signed John Tapner Walker
which, he said, would cause him tc
cut his visit short and necessitate 6
request for funds to tide him over unit
he reached home. The letter stated
that the escaped prisoner, regarding
whom Richard Yates Walker had writ
ten, had been captured near Bevier
Mo-, that the proper requisition hac
been obtained for his return and woult
be found at Bevier, together with
money, forwarded for his own use
The letter further stated that the Shet
land ponies, furs and other tokens
which Comrade Walker had promised
members of the Tanner household
had been shipped charges prepaid.
J 1t was just at this juncture, wher
the kind-bearted warden was about tt
come to Walkers relief, that Deputy
Dowell appeared on the scene.
II call time on this confidence game
he exclaimed. "You are the first mar
that ever tried to play an entire State
for a sucker, but the jig's up"
"What do you mean," gasped the
warden.
"Only this" answered Dowell, seiz
ing the imposter, and reinforced by
two guards. "This man has beer
playing the State of Illinois as sucker
for soft bed and good meals and wa
; about to work you. He's three-tim'
convict, and got the truth at last ou
; Of that fellow Reynolds.
"You scoundrel y exclaimed th,
warden.
"A trusty who had seen Walker writ
ing the bogus letters, then came for
: ward and gave his evidence, and
. search of Walkers person REVEALED
the stub and fine pens. The warde
: had given his guest costly pair @
: cuff buttons and he was shorn G
4 these. A cane that had been give
him and large amount of trinket
: made by conyicts which he had OF
:. tained with the assurance that h
; would send check covering thei
: price when he reached home, wer
u taken from him. Then to avoid un
pleasant comment, he was quietly pu
off the pen itentiary grounds an
allowed to go his way.-Mt. Sterling
y Ill.,, Democrat Messenger.
-D-H-a
n ND