Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-12
MoNEYED MEN OF KEokUk
COUNTY VICTIMS OF SMOOTH
CREAMERY MAN
CLEVER MAN SKIPs OUT
After Gaining Confidence of Citizens
j. r. Jones and Wife Skip From
City, Leaving Bad State Of Affairs
Behind-victims Are Incensed.

sigourney, Sept. 11.-(special. y
Many good citizens of this place are
victims of misplaced confidence in the
person of ]. R. Jones, who three years
ago located here. In this short time,
Jones has descended from a once pop
ular and highly respected citizen to a
fugitive from justice, counts being
held against him by the grand jury
of this county. Mr.. and Mrs. Jones
moved. to Sigourney from Williams
burg about three years ago, and Mr..
Jones took immediate charge of the
creamery here. He mad previously
been in charge of the Williamsburg
creamery which was destroyed by fire,
account books and everything. This
disaster left things in such shape that
nothing could be investigated and
many people by their cream accounts
lost considerable money. Soon after
his removal to this city, he gained the
confidence of the citizens here, and
after conducting the old creamery in
a successful manner for a short time,
he interested some Of the moneyed
people here in a proposition to build
new establishment, operating not
only a creamery but dealing in pro.
duce and the manufacture of ice
cream. Such was the confidence In
the man that more shares were de.
sired than were for sale. Those in
terested leased the property near the
Rock Island station and erected two
story brick building near the tracks
New machinery was installed and aft
er being operated a few months, bet
ter equipment was purchased at the
solicitation of Mr. Jones. He Joined
the Masonic lodge and Mrs. Jones
went into the Eastern Star organiza
ton. They strove for prestige anG
popularity in every way and succeed
ed in getting it.
Gave Jones the Management.
The company placed the manage
ment all into the hands of Jones ant
gave him what he asked for The!
paid him big salary and sent him tt
conventions and other gatherings
where he could learn matters of value
to himself and for the benefit of the
organization At the end of yea
some of the people began to get un
easy as SO much money was continu
ally going into the thing and none
| COulluS ptCh. IL lie hSpI any IeCOIl
by which they could investigate tht
conditions, he kept them to himself
and would not produce any for the in
spection Of the stockholders. Thing
finally came to a place where they de
manded the keys and put man ii
charge of the place, and forbade hi
going near the building
Indicted by Grand Jury.
The matter was brought before th'
first grand jury Of 1905 and Mr.. Jone
was indicted on the charge Of EN-
bezzlement. The matter was KEEP
quiet for some time, as Jones ant
family had meanwhile moved away
and it was thought to secure him be
fore the indictment was made public
Several months having elapsed an
the criminal not being found, it wa
decided to advertise for him. So tn
county sheriff has had cards printed
describing the man and asking for hi
arrest The creamery was sold som
time back to firm in New York Cit
that owns many such places aroun'
over the country.