The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-03
MYSTERY OF ARIZONA
 REVIVED Man Sentenced in 1879 In herits Fortune in
 Michigan. Woman Claiming to Be Wife Claims Share of
 Wealth. McTavish Relates Strange Story to Middletown Au- thorities - Arizona Was Sentenced for Forgery Claims to Have Been De- tective.

| IfddIetown, March 3-Convicted o1 | statutory forgery in Middlesex coun- | ty in the year 1879, and sentenced to 1 jail for two years, one Edward G.
 Arizona, now going through the world
 under different name, fell heir to a ! fortune of s20O,O out in Michigan a few days ago, and his personal repre- | sentative is now in this city gathering | information about Arizona'S prosecu- | tion and conviction.
 Neil McTavish of Michigan is the l designation of the gentleman who ar
 rived in Midd1etown this morning to look up Arizona's record. MT. Mc- Tavish is a prominent man in his own city, and is interested in the Michigan Trust Go.
 According to McTavish's story, the life and adventures of Arizona have been like a novel of the widest and most grotesque type. His commit was arranged simply for the purpose of enabling him to get information against a man who was already a prisoner there. which information he was to convey to parties interested in preventing the granting of a pardon.
 MT. McTavish relates the story as follows: In 1878 a man named Charles Allen was sentenced to WethersHeld jail from Iitchfield county On the charge of killing his brother. who had inSulted .Allen's wife. A movement was started to obtain his pardon. those prominent in the movement being MT. Sperry of the Hartford Courant and MT. Taylor. who is still a member of the prison association.
 The movement to secure Aliens pardon was opposed by the people of Litchfield county. MT. McTavish says, and they arranged with several agents to fix up a scheme to frustrate the pardon. McTavish charges that the plan as arranged was that Arizona was to pass a worthless check and get himself committed to the state prison so as to get acquainted with Allen and secure evidence from his lips which would help to keep him in prison.
 The plan was carried out in all it's details. McTavish says. He claims that Arizona can prove that he received $1,- 900 for conveying-the desired fnforma- tion to a MeSSrs. Peck and Dickinson.
 The court records show that Arizona was convicted and sentenced in the superior court in this city, his sen terce being two years in state prison. The original check which he was ac- cused of passing wrongfully is on file with the papers in the case. It is a check for SIP. made out to the order of William H. Pagan. who then conducted the McDonough house in this city.
 The check is endorsed with AriZona's other name, but MT. McTavish claims that Arizona never endorsed it. it is not written in his hand. If he can prove this it will be important. per- maps, III the DuSlI1eSS III WHICH ne IS engaged.
 The whole reason for the inquiry be- ing made into Arizona's record is that the will of his father. by which he was left $200.00O. is being contested by a woman named Romma Justina Fiegle, alias Potts. alias Baker, alias Porter. belonging in Philadelphia. She claims she is Arizona's wife. also that he was convicted of forgery in Middle town in 1879, which he denies His claim will be that he did not forge the names on the check. but that the crime he was convicted of was not forgery but statutory forgery, a different thing.
 MT. McTavish claims also that Mrs. Fiegle has joined forces with Mrs Helen Kenyon. the wife of a Method st minister at Ionia. Mich, in the effort to break the will. He has with him a deposition, signed by Arizona, telling of his relations with the Ffegle woman and her family and relatives. Some of the statements in the deposition would not make good reading and it is evil case is one of the most mixed up mess es that ever came before a law court.
 McTavish ascertained to-day that Judge B. B. Birdsey was prosecuting attorney at the tiRe of Arizona's con viction. and he called on him for further information. He also called on MT Pagan. but MT. Pagan he said did not vouchSafe much information.
 McTavish did not care to make pub lie Arizona's real name. as he says he is now a prosperous business man in Michigan.