The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-05-14
M0YER A BURGLAR? ?
Chicago Paper Says Miners
leaderServedTime inPrison.
RECORD OF THE CASE


For steunenbers Murder as Taker
From the Chicago Police Records
Meyer Denies story.
Chicago. May II. - The journal
prints long story in which il is al
legged that Charles H. Meyer. president
OF the Western Federation OF Miners
now on trial az Boise. Ida. served as
a convict In the peutitentiary at Joliet
in this state. IN 1856 and 1887. Tn,
date of his discharge is said to hay,
January T. 1881
According 20 the Journal Mover was
sentenced from Cook county on Feb
ruary 4, 1856. TO serve one year fol
burglary. The date of his discharge
is given as January 4. 1887.
The records Of the Chicago police
department show the following entries
under the date of December 4. 1855.
The name OF the prisoner being
given as c. IS. Meyer IN each ID.
stance
c. 5 Mover alias Fred Baker. bur
giary. complainant lngoor Larson.
John keaung burglary; the same
complainant
c. 5. Meyer. alias Fred Baker. bur
glary. Sven T. Johnson.
c. 5. Meyer. alias Fred Baker. rob
berry; W. ;. Newell
c. 5. Mover. alias Fred Baker. rob
berry. G T. Murphy
{. $ Meyer. alias Fred Baker. at
tempted robbery. Jacob Emans.
G. = Mover alias Fred Baker. car
ryuns concealed weapons. John Hart
nett
In AN the above cases duplicat,
charges were filed acainst John Keat
Ing. who was said 10 have been a
partner Of Meyer IN tie crimes com
mitted
The arrests were made on the morn
ing OF December Z. 1855. according 4,
the Journals story by Patrolman JohI
Hartnctt who is now lieutenant a
the West Lake street police station
and was for a time an inspector o
police. Hartnett was walking nortl
in Wood street toward Warren ave
nue. when he heard men running be
hind him. lie stepped into the shad
ow of tree. and when the men ap
preached him he stopped them an,
asked where they were going. The,
said they Wore going home. Harmet
then asked one of the men. who wa,
later Identified as Keating. what hi.
name was. Heating replied. "Johr
Kelly"
What is your name?" asked Hart
nett of the other man.
Fred Baker" was the reply.
The man giving the name OF Baker
opened his coat as he spoke. and
Hartnett caught sight OF revolver
He at once struck the man across the
face with his club. knocking him
senseless Keatlng turned and ran.
but was brought TO a halt by Hart
nett's threat To shoot him down II he
did not stop.
January 20. 1886. the men were sen
tenced TO Joliet penitentiary Keating
for two years and Mover for one year.
The charge on which the sentence
was based was the burglary OF Lar
sons clothing store. at III West Lake
street
John Heating died while n convict
in the Joliet penitentiary. and one OF
his brothers. Charles Heating who is
now prisoner IN the county jail.
said.
We always knew that Charles II.
Meyer, president OF the Western Fed
Grafton Of Miners. was the man who
was sent to the penitentiary with my
brother. Johnny don't remember
him myself but no used to go with
my sister. and have often heard my
folks speak OF him. After Meyer got
out OF the penitentiary he used to write
to mutual acquaintance. Sam vii.
liams. and Sam used to read the let
ters 10 us
"One time Sam came over with a
paper telling how Charley Meyer had
been made the head Of the Miners
Federation "
Mrs Keating. the mother Of John
Keatlng. accuses Meyer OF being the
cause Of her sons downfall. She said:
Charley Meyer left Chicago as soon
as he got out Of the penitentiary. hut
he for a long time wrote 10 Sam VII
liams. who lived next door to us. and
Williams used TO read us his letters.
Williams later went to Missouri. and
We have never heard from him since
he went away.