The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-20

publishing house. The letter stated
that he had assumed the name of w.
II. Fitzgerald on going to Salt Lake.
Says Family is Wealthy.
The prisoner told The sheriff thar inc
arrest was an error. He said that he
had merely endorsed check for a
friend in the amount stated, and that
he would be glad TO go back to Texas
To straiShten up the matter. He said
his folks lived in Troy, n. Y. and that
they were wealthy. He intimated that
they had helped him out of financial
difficulties in the past.
When he was asked why he had a.
sumed the name of Fitzgerald. the pris-
oner said that there were a number OF
private reasons. among others that his
folks are people of standing in Troy
and that he preferred not TO have them
drawn into any trouble through him.
From the Information received by
Sheriff Hughes and Chief Pitt, Fitzser-
air. or Feeny. which was his Texas
name. had something OF a career os a
1uggler of finance in Texas. He hac
been in Texas several months before
coming to Utah. He said that he
was at one time secretary Of the Kirby
Lumber company. one of the largest
concerns In Texas He went to Anna
rlllo In July, after having been in sew
eral other cities in Texas. While In
Amarillo he posed as land buyer. In
several minor transactions he is said
to have tried to influence the people Of
that place to part with their money,
but he met With little success. Finally
through a draft on a Waco bank. which
is said to have been a forgery. he OBJ
tanned $475 from the First National
bank of Amarillo. leaving there for Salt
Lake almost Immediately.
Bad Checks Appear.
For some months no trace of him
could be found. After he had left Anna
RHO il was charged that he had passed
bad checks on at least four Texas
banks, including banks in Waco and
Amarillo. The Texas Bankers associa-
ton took up the search for the missing
man. and finally the National Bankers
association was asked to assist in the
chase. Detectives in Chicago thought
they had a trace of him. but theirs
proved to be blind lead The next
learned of him was two weeks ago,
when the letter was received from the
young lady telling where the man was
to be found. Ever since Fitzgerald left
Texas il is understood that he and the
girl in Fort Worth kept up a daily
correspondence, and do yet, i'll spite OF
the fact that Fitzeera suspects
strongly that the information leading
TO his arrest was given out by her. Yes
terday Chief Pitt received a wire from
the chief Of police of Fort Worth say
ing that Fitzgerald was also wanted in
that city. The charge was not men,
toned in the telegram
Fitzgerald still retains his colossal
nerve and puts on a bold front When
Sheriff Hughes went to his cell yes
terday Fitzgerald received him with Il
smile
Have you seen Tom recently?" Fftz-
gerald asked the sheriff
Tom who?"
Why, my old friend Tom Campbell,
governor of Texas" replied Fitzgerald.
to the astonished sheriff
The prisoner asked about other Texas
notabies. calling each Familiarity by his
first name.
Sheriff Hughes expects to receive the
proper requisition papers from Austin.
Tex. today. and probably will start
back with his prisoner tomorrow.