The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-08

Sheriff Charles Shean, of Kalama-
ZOO county, Michigan, arrived in VIII
mington last night, accompanied by
Mrs. VanHaaften, for the purpose Of
seeing if G. J. Cooley and his wife,
known as Madame Ona, were parties
wanted III Kalamazoo, Michigan, for
the larceny of $1,000. They arrived on
the train from the north due at 6
O'Clock but it did not reach here until
nearly $50, the train being an hour
and a quarter late. Sheriff Shean and
Mrs. VNanHaaften went at once to the
city hall and Mrs. VanHaaften as soon
as she SAW Mr.. and Mrs. c. j. Cooley
said they were not the persons wanted.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooley were Immediately
released from custody.
Sheriff Shean and Mrs. VanHaaften
left Kalamazoo on Monday night and
they will leave tonight on their return.
Mrs. VanHaaften was not the party
who lost the money but she had seen
the man and his wife who committed
the theft quite often and consequently
could have easily recognized them.
Sheriff Snean said that the parties
wanted stole more than $1,000 from
persons in Kalamazoo. The particular
warrant under which they were arrest
ed charged them with the larceny of
&IiH fp.a,Ng Nh. C>~oo MI. pN:.
was the largest. sum stolen, the other
amounts ranging from 800 to $500.
The parties wanted in Kalamazoo
represented themselves as being Pro-
feSsOr and Mrs. Harrington. They
were hypnOtists, palmists and fortune
stelleSS. Harrington n his wife
worked a slick scheme. They adver-
tised to tell fortunes and also said they
could tell in what money
should be invested so as to bring in
Large returns. There was something
peculiar about the requirements, the
fortune tellers not being able to tell of
the wonderful investment unless the
money should be deposited with them
. for at least twenty -four hours. They
worked this scheme for some time but
:at last after Il successful days work,
AdNluS E6cclN Gu IudHy ucpOSltS IlOLu
persons who we're anxious to invest
and reap large returns, they folded
their tents and silently stole away.
The fortune tellers had secured board
with a nice family and those who pa
troniZed them were among h best
people in Kalamazoo.
After the 10Th of February, 1904,
nothing was seen of Harrington and
- ..-:co =, = - ~ nn1 tho chief
of police and sheriff of that county
have been unable to locate him since
that time. Rewards have been offered
from other cities for parties charged
with committing q similar Otfense.
Several of these show the meth
DDS employed to be the same as those
used in Kalamazoo. When a telegram
was sent here asking for a description
of Cooley and his wife and the same
was wired to the Kalamazoo authorities
they felt positive that Cooley n his
wife were the persons wanted
Mr.. and Mrs. Cooley have been on
Wrightsyille Beach during the entire
season. Mrs. Cooley being known as
Madame Ona. She is a palmist. They
were first arrested on last Saturday
night upon instructions from The Kan
ssas City authorities but or the follow
ing day were released. On Monday
they were again arrested. this time in
obedience to 4 telegram from kalama-
ZOO, Michigan, asking that they be ar
rested and held for Identification. Mr..
and Mrs. Cooley We're very indignant
when they were arrested and it now
seems that they had sufficient cause to
be SO. They were not locked up but
were allowed to stay at police head
quarters and occupy the private office
of the chief of police. Mr.. Cooley has
been absolutely unconcerned from the
first and this has made the officers be-
Ifeve that he was not the person want
ed. He was very angry last night and
declares that if there is a way to make
the Kalamazoo authorities pay him
damages for false arrest he will resort
to it. He has already consulted Mr..
Herbert McClammy in regard to the
matter.
Mr.. Cooley says he is the SON of a
Methodist minister and is a native Of
Ohio. When a mere boy he says he
ran away from home and went to work
on a railroad and later got into the
show business.