Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-14
ILLINOIS FARMER DUPED BY
CROOKS FAILS TO AID IOWA
AUTHORITIES.
CHAUFFEUR OF GANG
BELIEVED TO BE INNOCENT.
poI;ee Arrest Man Who Drove Car But
Discredit His Dishonest Intentions
Auto Number Plates Turn Up-Num-
bers Stolen and Switched to Car Of
innocent Citizen.

Davenport Aug. 14-'T can't say
that any Of these men belonged 10 the
gang that got my money.
This statement, made Saturday af-
ternoon to Sheriff Louis Eckhardt by
j.. J. Cummins, of Oregon, ILL.,, who
dropped $1,000 to a gang Of fake race
horse men last fall, caves IN one OF
the defenses of the state n the prose-
nution of John William Brown. Har-
old Ward and J. W: Reeves. the alleged
horse race swindlers held here
Came Here Yesterday.
Climmins came to Davenport Satur-
day 10 look the gang over in an at
tempt to identify them as the men VINO
got his coin. This, however, he failed
to do. He left at I o'clock saturday
afternoon for his home, after a confer
enee with the sheriff.
Cpmmins was discovered by Consta-
BILE Phil kahles, Of Davenport. when
the local man was on vacation IN
Oregon, HI, some time ago. He heard
rumors in the town TO the effect that
Cunmins had been sw!ndled, and when
he looked the matter up, he discovered
that the rumors were authentic. Cum
minis told Of his loss, and was seen by
state men later.
The men 10 whom he dropped the
money. however, are still at large, 1t
is thought. altho they may be con-
nected with the Greenbacks.
Conmee Is innocent.
That William Conmee, chauffeur,
who was engaged by members OF the
gang of ,Greenbacks after the arrest
of John William Brown. Harold Ward
and j. w. Reeves. is. perfectly inno-
cent of any wrong doing. was the
statement made Saturday night by
County Attorney Henry Jebens.
.fConmee was engaged by other
members of the gang" he said. only
to drive the car, and he was paid for
his services just as any other chauf-
feur, -, I am confident that he had. no
connection with the Greenbacks.
Told Straight Story.
After he was picked up, Conmee
told a straightforward, reasonable
story. He said that he would have
come forward voluntarily If he had
known that the officers were looking
for him. and denied that he know that
the operations Of his employers were
in the least crooked.
The lad was arrested Friday night,
ard told his story then. The next
morning he was taken around the city.
and told the same tale. corroborating
his former story in every detail.
Both the state men and myself are
confident that he had nothing what
ever to do with the Greenbacks, and
~ ~, -,H Nm
in their crooked operations"
Arrested by Estes.
Detective John Estes Of the Dav-
Young Conmee Friday night at 3: 80
o'clock at Third and Ripley streets. He
was taken to the police station. where
he made a complete confession to the
police.
Later OFFICER Hauschild picked up
the car hearing the stolen number
plates, and it was claimed by Nick
Coin. Saturday morning. state officers
took. charge Of Conmee. and secured
another statement from him in the Of
fee Of County Attorney Henry Jebens.
duplicates Davenport Man.
The young man promises TO be the
chief witness for the state in the
Forthcoming trial. His story irnpli-
Gates TWO more or less prominent Dav-
export men, one of whom engaged him,
and the other paid him for his SER
vices.
One Of the men under suspicion, il
is said, has shaken the dust of Dav-
export from his fleeing feet, but the
other still remains here. Both. it is
believed. are being closely watched.
Biggest Coup Thus Far.
The discovery of young COnmee is
the biggest coup pulled by the state
agents in their investigation in Dav-
export. After the arrest Of Brown
Ward and Reeves. the only other
member Of the gang in Davenport, took
the car to Moline, and placed it in a
garage there.
The next evening. one Of the two
local men believed to be implicated,
called Conmee at his home, and in
structed him to go to the Moline ga
rage and bring the car to Davenport.
This Conmee did the next day.
Stayed in Davenport. Why?
For several days after that, the two
local men and a man who IS believed
to be the sole remaining member of the