Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-23
SEARCH FOR CROOK
Short Change Artist Who Has
Been Operating in GaIesburg
Headed This Way.
NEAT TRICK AT FORT MADISON
Pulls Gun on Policeman While on
Way TO Station and
Escapes.

{. F. Hurburgh, chief of police at
Galcsburg. has written Chief Miller to
aid in a search for the young man
who has been swindling citizens there
on the short change racket. Chief
Hurburgh has reasons to believe that
the swindIer came TO Rock Island. \
reward Of So Is offered for his appre-
hcnsion.
Since operating in alesburg he has
been in Fort Madison. Iowa. where he
was known a. Snake Wilson. He went
to the meat market of Thomas II. FL
kin and bought bacon amounting TO
$3O5. He stated that ne had $50
hill at the house and would pay the
account if Elkin would send the
change there. y clerk was sent with
him and Wilson took the change os-
tensibly into the house after the bill,
but in reality around the house and
away. Wilson was afterward found
i'm q saloon. but while being escorted
to the police station drew revolver
and escaped. Chief Hurburgh states
in his letter:
Il want. for obtaining money under
false preten>eS and confidence game.
q young man of the following descrip-
ton: About u years of age. ) feet
or inches in height. light brown hair.
red face, weight about $50 pounds;
wore dark mixed suit of clothes
which had been worn for some time.
May wear Il summer cap or Il black
fedora hat When last seen here he
l.. 4
something like a farm hand or one
that had been out in the sun.
Hangs Around Market Place.
His method of operation was as
follows: He would go to grocery
store or a public market place ard
buy a load of hay. coal or some pota-
toes, order the same To be delivered
to his mother or his aunt who lives in
the outskirts of the city. On arriving
at the place purpOrting to be his
mothers or his aunt's residence, he
would apparently 90 to the back door
and come out and inform the driver
that his mother did not have the cN-
act change. All that she had was
$50 bill. and that She was not well or
that She was busy upstairs. and would
suggest that the driver give him the
change and ne would give it to her
and return the $50 bill to the man on
the wagon outside. Once the change
in his possession he would disappear
behind the house and would be seen
or heard Of no mere. He worked this
game two successive days in our city.
If YOU have a market place. there will
he a good place to find him. as he gen
orally visits such places or grocery
stores.
Looking for Brothers
William Kline i127 Halstcd street,
Chicago. writes for information CON
corning the Whereabouts of his two
brothers. George and Thomas Kline,
who formerly resided i'm Rock Island.
One Of them. the letter states. worked
in livery stable here. Both are still
here
Fake Book Agent.
y letter has been received from the
Chicago Office Of Harper & Brothers,
publishers. requesting the police to
Ice on the lookout for one Mr.. Lang
don. representing himself to be an
agent fer Harper's Bazaar. In Davcn-
port ne collected from number Of
persons. including Miss Mime Stieger.
1922 West Sixth street. from whom nc
received SI.25 in settlement for one
years subscription for the magazine.
Miss Stieger was promised as a pre-
MUM seven yards of dress goods.
Failing to receive the premium, she
wrote to the Chicago mouse. Laugdon
il an impoStcr. He makes 4 speciality
Of calling On dressmakers.
Theyer Case Dismissed.
The ease If +. VI. TheNer. arrested
on complaint of {. f.. Weston. on Il
charge of obtaining money under
false preteuses. was dismissed by
Magistrate 6. y. Johnson. on the de
PENDANT paving to Weston the $40 he
had borrowed from him. Theyer Sc
cured the money by telegraph from
his father. Theyer gave St. Louis as
his home.
-Four Sent to jail.
Thomas Moore, for di>ordcrly con
duct. was fined $25. and Frank Baker.
James Kelly and Edward White were
each assessed 81 for drunkenness.
They were all sent down to the cOun-
~ iaiI