The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1910-04-30
G.. F. WAS. Va
IN hl!!p!lS:::.',
When Sheriff Called Sunday
Morning. Merry is Wanted in
Foster County on Several
Charges of Fraud.

>>ASN>NS S<@eAAS
crookedness at McHenry but he did not
60 into hiding at once.
Sunday morning S. j. Patterson.
grain dealer at McHenry, arrived in
Dickinson with a warrant from Foster
county, for Merry's arrest. He hunted
up Sheriff WEIGH soon after 10 O'Clock
and accompanied him to. the Merry house
on First Ave. W. Mrs. Merry met them
at the door and told them that C. F.
left for the east the night before to be
absent three weeks. The sheriff soon
found that he had been lied to, as
Merry was seen on the streets as late
as 9 80. or probably about an hour be-
fore the official call at the house. Later
the sheriff searched the house and barn
but could not find anything of Merry.
People familiar with Merry's tricks
are inclined to think that he has a
false door or two in the house lust for
emergencies of this kind. The same
sudden disappearance has happened
before al the c. F. Merry place.
The sheriff has the warrant with i'm
structions to serve it at the first pepor-
tunity. So it is quite probable that
this sly old promoter will hunt other
fields for few months at least.
On the 14th of April C. F. Merry
dropped into Mchenry in the afternoon
and soon got a line on S. j. Patterson,
grain dealer, Geo. D. Setz, a retired
farmer, o. +. Hart, the we'll known real
estate dealer, F. r. Cruden, a grain
dealer and Anton Jessen,- "a merchant.
He told these men thst he was general
manager of the Dakota Southern ;Ry. Co.
and that his road was going ito run a,
line up through that country connecting
with the farmers line north of Devils
Like which weuld be extended into:
Canada. He represented that the steel;
was all bought. 80 coaches ordered and
that he would return within few days.
to the general Office and would then
send out the grading crews. Merry:
explained that heresided in Peoria, ILL.,,
although he registered from Watertown,-
S. D.. and that he would not be able TO
leave the general office after making
this preliminary trip. He was, now
ever. arranging meeting for all the
representative people along the new
line in Fargo for the Goth of April. To
make a long story short, Merry wanted
$500 from all of the small towns along
the line and he was looking for FIVE
public spirited men who could give,
$f0o each and never feel lit and who
would eventually get back many times
this sum Of money on the advance of
their property. He found them easily
at McHenry, and this is the receipt he
gave each man for his money:
Received of ............. the sum of
One Hundred Dollars as part payment
for the Incorporating of the Dakota
Southern Ry. Go. and amendments
thereto at Pierre, S. D.. and filing a
certified copy Of the articles of incor-
p0ratiDn at Bismarck, N. D.. within
90 days from shove date. Signed,
Charles frederick Merry. General Mana
Ger 49,.
Merry turned the printed receipts over
and wrote the following on the back:
It's agreed and understood that should
said raiiroad not be built by July 1,
1911, then the holder Of this receipt, on
presentation of same at the General
Office. shall have his $100 returned to
him. Signed. Dakota S0uthern Ry. Co.
Charles Frederick Merry. General Mana
ger.'
After cleaning up McHeaFy Merry
went on the following day to Warwick.
At Wimbledon he got his five men,
including one of the rich Moore Bros
of automobile fame. He also grafted
five men at Litchville and is knwon to
have taken $1,000 out of this country
on the Cooperstown branch, and Mr..
Patterson is of the opinion that he
picked up at least So. 600 on the trip
covering week or two
If it had not been for Rev. r. j..
Kellogg, pastor Of the Congregational
church at McHenry. formerly of Dick
insonss the railroad scheme victims
might not have located the past master
of promoters Of North Dakota. Mr..
Kelloge was away the days that Merry
stung the people of his village. but as
soon as he returned he was able to give
plenty of information regarding the
checkered career Of the man.
Mr.. Patterson wanted RI do nftnr Marry