Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-29

Portland was of the opinion that
there was no question about its being
La France. The investigator reported
that he seemed reasonably certain of
the identity OF the body, and all OF
the companies paid the death losses,
Emile, the wife, receiving $15,500.
The local company at Portland paid
first, the Woodmen paid Oct. "a, and
the Postal in December. On Jan. 8,
Mrs. La France attempted TO get cash
for the $4,000 draft This she was
unable TO do, but finally one bank
gave her a cashiers check for $4,000
and $4,000 in cash, the latter sum be-
ing placed in another bank.
About the first of February the loo
al Offices received a telegram from ].
W. Simmons, state deputy, that La
France had been seen. He stated that
a butcher who vas acquainted with
La France had said that the missing
man had come into his shop to get
some change for so and that the
butcher recognized his customer but
before he could talk to him, La France
made his getaway. Other stories of
. seeing La France drifted about. One
woman, a stenographer for an Ore
gon Short Line official, declared she
saw him get on a street car but when
ne noticed her he dropped of.
START INvEsTIGATION.
1t was decided to start an investiga-
ton. The Postal company joined in
the move and then began one of the
shrewdest battles Of intellects in
criminal history on the coast. A de-
tective agency was employed and it
was decided to shadow the widow.
Her mail was watched and her house
as well. On Feb. Is she left Portland.
with her four children, the youngest
having been born Feb. l. She went
TO San Francisco, Los Angeles, and
finally to Lake Charles, La. near La
Frances old home of Marshfield.
UNCLE JESSE SHOWS Up.
II was here Uncle" Jesse got into
the game. The house in which the
woman stayed was spotted and one
OF the operatives crawled under the
house and listened TO conversations
The children repeatedly called the
man Uncle" Jesse. One of the de
tectives became great friend of the
children and took them TO the picture
shows, all the time pumping" them
about papa Then one day a man
rode up on a horse. The operative
was hiding and did not dare show
himself but thought the voice and the
general appearance and size of the
man corresponded with La Frapce
The man talked for 20 minutes with
the woman and rode away.
; CLEW CONES.
The women then took her children
to Houston. Texas, and then to Sum
merdale, Texas. TO the country for {
! three weeks stay. Uncle Jesse alsC
; followed. Word came that the hus
: band was expected in about 10 days
) The group then went back to San An
, tonic where a man. now presumed t
, have been La France, left the train
The widow and children proceeded Il
, San Francisco, then to Bandon, Ore
; and then to Coquille, Ore, where thu
woman set up housekeeping. II wa
, at Bandon that she cashed the cash
iers check for $4,000. the A. j. Fer
} ger Lumber company paying out tn
5 money. This gave the operatives ;
A definite clew.
] WHO Is FERGER.
= Who could this man Ferger be
i that was cashing such a large checl
for woman he had known but few
! days? II was found out that Ferge
a had come there last December an
purchased a saw mill and timber ]
D was also found that he answered eN
o cry description of La France and de
4 tectives were positive that he was tn
/, missing real estate man. An arres
o was not made, but City Detectiv
r Epps of Portland was telegraphed {
/ come to Bandon, as he PERSONAL
n knew La France. Ferger went to
livery stable to get a rig but neve
n came out. He made a clean getawa
S with detectives all around him. 1t
a known that he went by stage to Rose
n berg, Ore, April s and April all c
d his property interests were foun
n transferred TO one J. c. Walker
u thought TO be a fictitious name. FroI
II Rosenberg Ferger bought ticket I
d Seattle and went from there TO Van
n couver. il is claimed
ARRESTED ESTFRDaY.
The woman remained at COquill'
Yesterday local officers received wor
. that \ j. Ferger and his wife ha
been arrested and that SI,4S0 wa
: found on them State Deputy Sin
: mons also telegraphed that there wa
- no question but that La France an
Ferger were one and the same an
n that La France had admitted it to TN
sheriff who started yesterday fc
Portland with his prisoners. 1t
g presumed that Ferger returned to Sc
- his baby. as the child had been Dor
" in his absence and he had not seen i
II This desire to see the child resulte
in his arrest. as well as that of h