Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-19
AN OILY RASCAL
One of Party Who Tried to Fleece
Wealthy Man Out OF
$4,000.
UNDER ARREST AT GALEsBURG
Long Search of Officers Ended
Wanted for Grimes
Elsewhere.

Galesburg. Jan. ia search last
ing two years ended Sunday when
Detective Sergeants Cudmore and
.OMalley, at Chicago, arrested George
Henderson. alias George Haight. Hen
dersCn was the leader of gang of
confidence men who operated through
out the country for many years, and
was wanted at Galesburg, where he
and two other men tried to defraud
a wealthy farmer out of $4,000 in Il
real estate transaction.
The attempt was made in May. 1901.
and Charles Bayliss Wilson. Hender-
sons alleged companion, was arrest
ed at the time and sentenced to pris-
on. Henderson escaped with another
member of the gang. Several days
ago Charles Bachman was arrested by
the Galesburg police in Peoria. Bach
man was brought here and identified
as one of the men who attempted to
defraud the farmer.
Sheriff Charles Hurburgh. of this
city. was notified of the arrest. and
brought the prisoner here. Hender-
son is % years old and has the APP
pearance of Il business man. Pleasant
Marks. whom the three men tried to
swindle. went with Sheriff Hurburgh
TO Chicago. and recognized Haight at
the very first glimpse.
Many Wanted Him.
Il was not an easy task to secure
him. Before going Sheriff Hurburgh
had taken the precaution to telegraph
Springfield that no requiSitiOn he is
sued to officers of other states for
Haight. II was 4 wise move. 1t seems
that the detectives who had caught
Haight. who went in Chicago under
several aliases, had wired every place
where they thought he was wanted,
and as consequence there was "a
swarm of sheriffs and others on hand
who wanted to take him back. Inas-
much as the officers here had furnish
ed the description that led to the ar
rest of Hal ght. and inasmuch as they
had taken out the warrant. the Chi
cago chief held that they were emit
tied to him and should have him. IT.
was for time doubted whether
IIaieht would be given over. Mr..
Marks strong Identification was con-
elusive.
Among those who were present was
an old German who recognized Haight
as man who had cheated him out of
nearly everything he had. Mr.. Marks
says that Haight is a member of the
Wilson gang. Wilson is in the pen.
Bachman is in the county Jail. Haight
i the third. The man Ha|ht was the
advance agent of the other two and
at Marks home about two
weeks before the famous attempt of
Wilson and Bachman to VictimiZe
him. Haight wanted to loan Marks
at 2l% per cent, prOfessed TO
be greatly interested in farmers, gave
this as his reason for wanting to lend
money at such low rate; said he was
getting out Il farmers paper and
would send Il copy to Marks.
Learne Marks Was Rich
Incidentally. this man Haight went
TO Pat Reddington and remarked that
he could not see why Marks should
refuse to borrow money. Pat said the
reason WHY was because Marks had
100000 i'm the bank. This was Il cOu-
pie of days before the confidence
game. and il is clear that Haight CON
veyed this information to his confed-
crates.
The morning of the attempt to VIC
timize the three men took breakfa
together at Abingdon. Haight pro-
cured a horse at Austin'S livery stable
and drove out toward Marks with
Bachman disguised as IL tramp His
sui sequent movements are clear to
the officers. and the proof is regarded
as strong and convincing.
Marks suspected Haight of being Il
rascal. At that time Haight went un-
der the name of George Haines. The
requests for Bachman, or Beckman.
are still coming to hand. The sheriff
* in receipt of letter from New
York officers. inclosing photographs
of him and showing that he had been
under arrest there. The letters at
hand disclose that he operated very !
in Minnesota and Iowa. as
well a. in Michigan. Among his vic
Tins was banker on whom he passed
a forged mortgage.