The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-11
MOVER YEAR In
PENITENTIARY
Was Sent Up From
Chicago.
THE JOURNAL TRACES RECORD
Declares President Of Miners Was
Convicted Of Burglary.
Records of the Joliet Prison Partly Con-
firm the PAPER. statement-ro-
nceman Who Made the
Arrest Talks.

Chicago, May 10.-The Journal today
prints a long story in which 1t is al
legged that Charles H Meyer, President
of the Western Federation of Miners.
awaiting trial at Boise, Idaho. served
as a convict in the penitentiary at JOLT
cite In 1886 and 1887. The date of his
discharge is said to have been January
4, 1887.
According to The Journal. Meyer was
sentenced from Cook County on Feb
ruary 4. 1886. to serve. one year for
burglary. The date OF his discharge Is
given as January 4, 1887 The official
record of the Joliet prisoner in the
case is said to be as follows:
Name, Charles II. Meyer.
Number 1856.
Sentenced from Cook County Feb
ruary 4. 1886.
Age 20 years.
Term, one year. for burglary.
Height, i've feet eight inches.
Weight 1853 pounds.
Complexion, medium dark.
Color of eyes, hazel.
Color of hair. dark brown,
occupation. farm hand from Iowa
Discharged, January 4, 1887
Al the office of the warden of the
Joilet penitentiary 1t was said that
during the dates mentioned by The
Journal man bearing the name OF
CHARLES H Meyer was an inmate of the
prison. His number was declared to
be Identical with that given above
The records of the Chicago police de-
partment show the following entries
under the date of December 4, 1885,
the name of the prisoner being given
as c. s. Meyer in each case:
e
glary; complainant, Ingor Larson, 721
West Lake Street.
John Heating, burglary the same
complainant.
C. Meyer. alias Fred Baker, bur-
glary.
Sven T. johnson. SIS Northwestern
Avenue.
C. S. Meyer. alias Fred Baker rob-
berry; W. S. Newell, As Warren Ave-
nue..
G. S. Meyer, alias Fred Baker. RON
SSfy. e. u. Murphy, 1888 Michigan
Avenue.
c. s. Meyer, alias Fred Baker. at
Walnut Street.
e. 5. Meyer, alias Fred Baker, carry
ing concealed weapons; John Hartnett
In all the above cases duplicate
charges were filed against John Keat-
Ihs' VINO was said to have been a part
Arrests In December, 1855.
The arrests were made on the morn
ing OF December 4. 1885, according to
Inc Journals story. by Patrolman
John Hartnett, who is now a lieuten-
ant al the West Lake Station and was
for time inspector of police. Hart
nett was walking north in Wood Street
toward Warren Avenue, when he
heard men running behind him. He
CT fK,ta
the men approached him. He STONED
them and asked where they were ro-
ing. They said they were going home.
Hartnett then asked one of the men.
who was later identified as Heating.
what his name was. Heating replied
John 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 Hart
nett caught sight of revolver. He at
once struck the man across the face
with his club, knocking him senseless.
Keating turned and ran but was
brought to halt by Hartnet's threat
to shoot him down If he did not stop,
According to the story printed by
The Journal, Hartnett waited until the
man. who was afterwards declared to
be Meyer, recovered his senses and
he marched both men to the patrol box
at Wood and Madison Streets. Here he
was Joined by Patrolman Thomas Hen
messy, who is still connected with the
Lake Street Police Station.
Here keating made an attempt to
escape but was recaptured Both men
were then taken to the Lake Street
Police Station, according to The Jour
nal. Meyer first gave the name of Fred
Baker, and then said his name was
Charles Meyer. Heating made no fur
Their attempt to conceal his Identity
and made full confession of the crimes
enumerated above.
Sentenced to Joliet.
The two men were later held to the
grand jury In bonds of $4,000 each by
Justice White January 26, 1885, the
men were sentenced to Joliet peniten-
tiary, Heating for two years and
Meyer for one year.
Lieutenant Hartnett today corrobo-
rated all the facts given above and
said that he had been told afterward
that Meyer declared that had Hartnett
been a little slower with his club he
would have killed him. Hartnett said
today:
"Moyer used to amuse himself in
saloons by shooting pool balls into the
pockets with his revolver. and he had
lfe RtleIaI IepuldtlOH at mat time OF
being a bad man
John Heating died while convict in
prison. One of his brothers. Charles
Heating who is now a prisoner in the
county Jail. said today;
We always knew that Charles II
Meyer, President of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners. was the man who
was sent to the penitentlary with my
brother Johnny. l don't remember
him myself. but he 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 a
mutual acquaintance, Sam Williams, and
Sam used to read the letters to US
One time sam came over with paper
telling how Charley Meyer had been
made the head Of the miners organtza-
ton. "
The Journal also prints story I'M
der the date of Boone, Ia, which is
substantially as follows.
Frank s. Meyer chief Of Police Of
Boone for four years and now con-
ductor on A street car line here, is a
brother of Charles II Meyer. He said
today to a Journal correspondent;
II heard that Charley got into trou-
bic in Chicago once and was arrest
ed. Probably the less said about 1t
the batter. 1 know that Charley want