The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-20
ESCAPE OF AGAR
WAS SENSATIONAL
Alleged Forger Tells How He
Was Thrown into River
While on Grain Boat.
MADE WAY TO LOUISIANA
BECAME INVOLVED IN DEBT AND
TURN IN GRAIN MARKET SWEPT
AWAY ALL MONEY APPRoPRi-
ATED FROM THE BANK.

Brownsville, Texas, Dec. 19.-Henry
E. Agar. alleged forger, held for the
authorities of Princeton, Ind, who ex-
pect to start for that place with him
today, has told the story Of his escape
from Indiana.
To Col. Allen Haywood, oil king OF
Jennings, La, and chief officer in an
extensive enterprise near this city, by
whom Agar has been employed during
the last two years, the confession was
made. In substance it is as follows:
Having become involved in debt by
over speculation, Agar used the money
of the bank in which he was interested
at Princeton turn in the grain
market left him without means to re-
place the money and he knew himself
to be a defaulter. While the crash
was still pending. but which he ex-
pected to come at any time, he was
aboard one of his grain boats on the
Wabash river.
PIunges Into River.
The river was running bank full and
the wind was blowing a gale. He
to the other when, in some way, which
he is unable to explain, he was either
knocked or blown into the water. 1t
was dark at the time and he was
quickly carried away by the strong
current
! He uttered one cry for help as he
fell, but, believing rescue was impos-
sible he had about given himself up
for lost, when he was carried in near
the shore, which he managed to reach
after floating some distance down
stream. He made his way to house
boat, where he remained over night.
and 1t was here he evolved the plan
to go away. He knew the report would
be circulated that he had been drown
ed, and to leave for parts unknown
seemed to be the easiest way out of
his difficulty. He resolved to go to
some distance place and begin life
anew.
| Goes to Louisiana.
| The people on the houseboat were not
aware of his identity, and permitted
him to leave the boat without question.
/
der the name of Ralph A. Conner he
obtained employment with the Hey
woods and others in the oil fields at
Jennings. He soon gained the conf
dence of his employers and when Cal
| Haywood came to Brownsville he
brought Agar as his secretary.
Haywood formerly lived in Indiana,
hint ho Of
| identity until after the mans arrest
Agar looked after Mr. Heywood's ex-
tensive business interests and proved
valuable man. He divided his time
between San Benito and Harlingen and
soon became a leading factor in the
business affairs of the two towns.
1t is said that Agar brought a large
sum of money with him. He made
| heavy investments in land, and is in
terested in other business enterprises.
He has prospered and some of his in
vestments have more than quadrupled
in value during the last eighteen
months.
In Real Estate Business.
| He was a partner in a real estate
firm that transacted a big business.
A few days ago party of homeseek-
ers and prospective investors from In
diana arrived at San Benito among
them a former State Senator who
knew Agar when the latter was a
member of the Legislature. He spoke
to Agar. calling him by his right
name. The latter assured the Indiana
man that he was mistaken; that his
name was connor.
The visitor was so certain of Agar's
identity that he notified the officers
and the fugitive's arrest was ordered.
| Agar enjoyed the complete conf
dence Of his employer and the respect
of all who have known him At the
time of his arrest he was on the point
of taking active charge of a bank at
San Benito just established by Hey.
wood Agar was taken to San Benito
today under custody of the Texas
rangers to permit him to arrange his
business matters.