Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-08-01
He PLAYED DETECTIVE
Ross CowIes Comes to Griekas a
Result Of lmpersonatins a
U. 5. Officer.
MADE DAMAGING ACCUSATIONS
Claimed He Had Discovered Persons
Responsible for Loss of $4,000
In Postoffice Last Winter.

The mystery surrounding the supposed
working out of the details of the disap-
pearance of theSs.ooo in bank notes sent
from the Bank of Saginaw to the Bank of
Shepherd last winter, was cleared up
Saturday night by the arrest of Ross
Cowles. The young man is charged with
impersonating an officer, on complaint of
l. S. Fink, the assistant postmaster.
For some time past, Cowles has posed
as a United States detective commissioned
to investigate the case for the postcfiice
department. He appeared at the local
Office several weeks ago, wearing tin
star conspicuously on his coat, and dis
closing his pretended identity, sought an
interview with the clerks in regard to the
lost package of money. 1t was soon dis.
covered that the fellow was fake and he
was warned that he would get into trouble
if he continued in his role of detective.
Lat Cowles visited Shepherd, where he
made the same claims. The last issue of
the Shepherd Advocate tells of his opera
tions there:
"A fellow claiming to be detective was
here Saturday, and represented that the
$4,000 lost in the mail last spring between
Saginaw and Shepherd, had been located,
and that he would soon have the parties
under arrest He appeared here again
Monday, and tod Postmaster Struble that
he was looking for two girls for " 'ou all
estate was waiting, and asked ii they got
mail here. He was told 10 show his Gre
dentials and he would be given the infor-
nation, but he changed the subject.
He then told the IS 600 story and told
Mr.. Struble that he the detective was i'll
the postohice the next day after the
money WAS missed. He was informed |
that he was mistaken, as the money was
not missed for three days.
The Advocate communicated with the !
officials at Saginaw concerning The story,
but can find no trace of any truth to it
whatever"
In his statements both here and at
Shepherd, Cowles made serious refec. |
tions OH the local department. Post
master Brown took the matter up with .
the postoffice inspector of this district, .
who referred it to a higher official at .
Chicago. In order that the would be
agent of the government might be held
until definite charges could be formulated
against him by the United States postal
authorities, he was arrested OH the simple
charge of impersonating an officer. The
prisoner was taken to Ithaca Monday
His examination will occur
August 7, at which time more serious
accusations may be preferred.
Cowles is dime novel fieEd and, judg-
ing from his recent conduct, he was fired
by a noble ambition to initiate the ex-
ploits of Nick Carter, or some other
classic sleuth. During his residence in
Alma he has had no fixed occupation,
and has worked only at irregular inter
walls. He is about IS years of age and
Some of the state papers, which have
published articles recently i'll regard to
the loss of the bank notes, based their
statements on information that came di-
rectly or indirectly from Cowles, who is
also responsible for certain reports that
have been circulated here lately. 1t is
now evident that neither the tales pub
lished in the newspapers nor those cur
rent i'll the city had the slightest found
alton i'll faith.