The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-06-02
Stole a Few Horses Too
Many and Was Pinched.
Then He Became Peni-
tent, Confessed and
Sent For Friends.

worker, is tonight a prisoner in the
county Jail in this city, a self-confess-
ed horse thief who has been leading a
dual life for six months.
Loyal merchants and fellow church
workers of Waynetown would not be-
ieve the news when the facts relating
TO Greene's downfall were communi-
cated--to them today and many bust
ness men from the prisoners home
town came to Indianapolis to be as
sured that no mistake had been made.
Greene, his eyes red with weeping
and his face flushed with shame, met
them at the jail
"Can it be true?" asked w. ]. Marsh,
a close friend of the shattered pillar
in the Waynetown church. This is
terrible"
yes, it's all true" Greene replied,
waving his hand in good-by at the
agitated group of callers. Il can't
explain now. Come back again to
see me-"
Greene broke down during this visit
and the Waynetown citizens went
away, some of them in tears
Greene, who gave his name as Frank
Ross and his address as Chicago, when
arrested on one of the streets of this
city three days ago, has been stealing
and selling horses on an extensive
scale since the early part of last WIN
ter. Fourteen horses, many of them
owned by prosperous farmers in this
vicinity, were shipped by Greene to
horse dealers in Chicago. His capture
was effected just as he was preparing
TO ship four more to a Chicago horse
trader.
Gambling in the stock market Is
given as the cause that dIuVe the
banker tc desperation in order to
raise money. The man was known rar
and wide as a sound banker whose
word was never questioned. His for
tune was generally believed to be at
least $250,000. His family lived in the
best of style for a small town and
no note of suspicion was ever sounded
regarding him.
When arrested Greene sought for
three days to conceal his identity and
to get out of the scrape before his
disgrace could be made known to the
world. Relatives, who were notified of
the bankers predicament communicat-
ed with the authorities here.
The chief of police received several
messages by long-distance telephone
this afternoon assuring him that all
stolen property would be paid for and
that those who had lost horses through
GTeene's operations would be more
than compensated. Several horse own
eTs, however. refused to listen to any
proposals that savored of leniency to
the prisoner and it is assured that
restitution will not save the Indiana
banker and churchman from prosecu-
tion. So clear is the case against
Greene that it is said the, penitentiary
= will almost certainly be his fate.
Three days ago two horses were
stolen from Judge James McCabe of
Williamsport, small town near here. |
The thefts followed numerous others
Of a similar character in this region !
The horse detective association and |
local authorities have long been per- |
picked over the mysterious disappear
RHce of valuable animals. Not a
week has passed without horse thefts
from some town In western Indiana
being reported. Policemen have been
watching the stables for many weeks.
A negro coachman employed by
Judge McCabe led to the capture of
Greene and to the confession which |
followed, duplicating the prisoner in
wholesale horse theft for profit The
cOachman came to Indianapolis to
search livery stables and barns in
company with policemen. As he was
passing the blacksmith shop he saw
q man leading out one of his employ
er's stolen horses.
That's Prince" the negro almost |
shouted in his exultation to the po-
licemen accompanying him. That's |
Prince. Arrest that man"
Greene overheard the cry and start |
cd to run. The policeman commanded |
him TO halt, and he did so. Greene
was taken to the police station, where !
he gave his name as Frank Ross of |
Chicago. He refused to discuss the !
case at first, except to say that he had |
bought the horse from a travelling |
trader.
A few hours later another Of Judge |
McCabe's horses was found in a livery |
barn and Greene was identified as the |
man who brought 1t there. Following |
these discoveries two more stolen |
horses were found in a barn rented !
under the name of Ross. and 1t was
also discovered that Greene had or
dered box car of feed from a local |
concern, and that he had arranged for
car in which to ship four horses
% Chicago.
The police Immediately began a wide !
inquiry among llVCrymen. All recog- |
nized in the prisoner the man with |
whom they had been dealing in horses !
for several months. They knew him
~ Ross.
When confronted with this evidence
the prisoner sought a private confer