Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-07-27
SIOUX CITY MAN INFLICTED BY
STRANGER WHO PASSED AS
LoNG-LosT BROTHER.
CRATER ANSWERS "Ap,
FROM WESTERN PRISON
Tom ceeIan Contributes Regularly to
Man Who Claimed to Be wronsfully
Imprisoned in Utah-Fraud Finally
Exposed and Arrest FolIows-other
State News.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Sioux City, July 27.-Desre on the
part of Tom Geelan, a Great Northern
railway conductor to locate his brother
George, whom he had not seen in if-
teen years, caused him to fall an easy
Victim to convict in the Utah pen
itentiary at Salt Lake City. His story,
recited in police court this morning,
would put to shame the most thrilling
episodes ever written by the author
Of Diamond Dick"
Fifteen years ago, according to Mr.
Geelan, his brother George, also rail-
read man, left home, and he has not
since been heard from. About one
year ago this advertisement was in
serted in the Order of Railway Con-
ductors' Magazine:
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of
George Geelan will confer a favor by
writing Tom Geelan. Sioux City, Iowa"
Last February Mr.. Geelan received
a letter from a woman of Stockton,
Utah, conveying the information that
George Geelan was serving a term in
the Utah penitentiary under an as
sumed name.
On February of this year Tom
Geelan wrote to the warden of the
penitentiary at Salt Lake City and
was informed that the party for whom
he was inquiring was doing servitude
there and would be released shortly.
Following this Mr.. Geelan wrote a
letter to his supposed brother and .e-
ceived a most pathetic reply. All let
tiers thereafter were addressed to
George Geelan, care Utah state peni-
tentiary," and each of them contained
money sent by the sympathetic
brother.
More than 5000 was thus sent. Less
than a month ago Mr. ,Geelan received
a letter from his supposed brother
stating that his time had been served
and he was ready to return to Sioux
City. He needed money with which
to pay car fare, and the necessary
amount was Immediately sent.
Alleged Brother Appears.
On last Friday evening some one
called up the Geelan residence on the
Riverside drive, asked for Tom and
declared the speaker to be his long
lost brother George. Mr.. Geelan was
then at the depot preparing to take
his train out on its regular run, and
the speaker at the telephone was SO
informed.
Just before Conductor Geelan's train
pulled out, he was accosted by a rather
nicely dressed stranger who handed
him this letter:
Dear Tom-I'm in Sioux City, but
prefer to keep under cover because j
am being shadowed. You know I've
just been released from the Utah peni-
tertiary and should this fact become
known it would disgrace my family.
You said that father and mother had
long since died, leaving some money
in the bank for us children and you
were waiting for me SO that the estate
could be settled up.
Il am inclosing a power of attorney
and you can go ahead and settle up
affairs to suit yourself, giving me
whatever you think best.
Il would rather wait few days be-
fore seeing you and, as i am out of
funds, wish you would send me some
money by bearer to tide me over until
think it safe for me to come out of
hiding. Your brother, George"
After reading the note Mr.. Geelan
gave the stranger 81, telling him that
he was just starting out on his run,
but would return the following day,
and requested that he meet him at the
depot.
Detective on Case.
Meantime Mr.. Geelan became suspi-
cious and placed the matter in the
hands of Chief Of Detectives j. b.
Richard, who had his man in tow
shortly thereafter.
I'm the brother of Tom Geelan, and
would like to know for what I'm ar
rested. My name is George Geelan,
declared the prisoner.
Investigation was marked opposite
the mans name on the police blotter,
and Tom Geelan was sent for.
That's not my brother" declared
Mr. Geelan, when the prisoner was
brought before him, and then the pris-
oner broke down and confessed that
he, after reading the advertisement
concocted the scheme to represent
himself as the long lost brother.
County Attorney U. G. Whitney filed
two complaints against the alleged i'm
postor-one for obtaining money under
false pretenses and the other for for
gery-and the case will be heard in po-
| lice court tomorrow morning.