Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-14
WAS A DESERTER
CHARLES cAckLEY FUGITIVE
FROM BOTH ARMY AND
THE COURTS.
Applied For Pension In 1902 Under
Name Of comrade Supposed to Be
Dead But Was Living and Who Ap.
piled at Almost the Same Time.

Charles G. Townsend, special pen
sion examiner, located at Des Moines
who was in this city Saturday gives
an interesting account of how Charles
Cackley, the. man who for thirty-six
years escaped justice after killing
Reuben Fenstenmaker in Pennington
was finally apprehended and turned
over to the courts of the state Of Iowa
through his Office. For many weeks a
most mysterious case puzzled Mr..
Townsend because two men ueder the
same name were trying to get pen
sion. When the clouds cleared away
fugitive from justice for nearly half
century was found and has since
met his punishment.
About 1902" said Mr.. Townsend "a
man living near Marysville, Mo-. filed a
claim for pension under the name of
Isaac Beck, stating that his true name
was John, though he had served under
the name Of Isaac in the Seventh Iowa
cavalry. When his application reached
the pension office it was discovered
that man in Oakland, Cal, had been
drawing pension under the name of
Isaac Beck for several years as having
served with the Seventh Iowa cavalry.
The matter was referred to this Office
for investigation. When pressed the
California man sent his picture, gave
the names Of the officers of his COM
pany' and many of his comrades. He
related incidents Of war recognized by
other members OF, the company which
were. located which could be told only
by a man actually there.
= Picture Recognized.
His picture was recognized by COM
rades found throughout the state as the
Isaac Beck who served The Missouri
man was asked for proof Of his identity
and the surprise and confusion can
we'll be imagined when he sent the
names Of officers, comrades and relat-
ed even some Of the same incidents
which the California man had related.
The California pensioner furnished the
affidavit of comrade living in the
same state to the effect that he was the
identical Isaac Beck. Then arose the
question as to whom the Missouri man
could be. An investigation was COM
menced to learn if there was any man
in the company who could have any
reason for hiding his identity. 1t was
related by members Of the company
that a man by the name Of Charles
close of the war, had later shot an Off
Ger at Pennington, and was a fugitive
from justice.
IAN officer was sent from this state
to Missouri and Cackley taken into
custody. It is the conclusion OF the
government officials that Cackley had
heard Beck was dead as many of his
comrades, it was learned, supposed. and
that he hoped to recover a pension up
on his knowledge Of the company.
"Old soldiers who were interviewed
said that Cackley was a daredevil fell
low of prodigious strength and that he
made his escape from the prison in
| Keosauqua after he had shot the Off
Ger by lifting from their hinges jail
| doors weighing 500 pounds each. He
made his way to the Mississippi river
stole a skiff and rowed away, never te
be heard Of again till he made his false
application for a pension and the mat.
ter was referred back to Des Moines