Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-08
PERFUME FACTORY
AIM OF F0RcER
GEORGE E. BOWER CAPTURED
HERE TELLS OF AMBITIONS;
MOTHER IN GERMANY.

Fairfield, April 6.--George e. Bower,
the forger, appeared in the district
court of Jefferson county before Judge
&c. w. Vermilion of Centerville for
about FIVE minutes Monday afternoon,
while he was questioned as to any OBJ
jections he might have concerning the
personnel Of the grand jury. He stated
that he had no objections whatever as
to the group of men whose duty 1t Will
be to return true bill against him.
No word of complaint of anything or
anybody has been heard to pass his
lips since he was brought here from
Otiumwa Friday evening He has read
lily answered all Questions put to him
except those concerning his true iden-
tit. He admits that Bower is not his
own name and also says he has gone
by the name of Fred Wagner in Lima,
Ohio.
When questioned concerning his
identity he very candidly states that 1t
would do his questioners no good to
know his true name and that it would
do himself, his family and friends
harm and cause them sorrow therefore
he declines to give his name.
Gus Traech, a detective from the
Burns detective agency in Chicago
spent the greater part of Sunday with
the prisoner with view of trying to
ascertain whether or not he is the
much wanted Richard wainwright. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Taech, Bower is not
wainwright and local officers and those
who have talked with Bower are inclin-
ed to believe the story he has told
since being taken into custody that
these two towns Fairfield and Mt.
Pleasant are the first that he has work
ed in.
Bower as he calls himself tells
most interesting story of his plans for
the future. According to his story he
was employed in the Office of a bond
ing company in New York City until
his eyes became weakened and then.
he travelled for the company all over
the eastern states chiefly in Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey, Massachusetts and
Virginia.
He finally made an investigation con-
corning the perfume industry of the
United States and learned that only
very small amount of capital, about
one-half million dollars, was invested
in the perfume industry here.
Bower figured out that if he had a !
small amount of capital he could or
ganize company for the manufacture
of perfumes and become Independently |
rich within few years. Having no
money he finally decided to come west
and turn the trick" return to the
east, take trip to the old world and
learn few of the secrets OF the per
fume industry then return to this coun-
try and locate his company In either
Florida or California and settle down
to making money,
On his way westward from New
York, Bower stopped at Lima, Ohio.
long enough to court handsome young
lady whose picture and several love
letters were found in his pockets. Here
he passed as Fred Wagner and the
girls letters are addressed to him by |
that name Bower states he has a !
mother and several brothers and sis
ters living in Germany and that he has
been in this country but six years.
Since becoming a prisoner at the
county jill. Bower has given absolute
~ no trouble and according to Sheriff
Shan Campbell and other officers .