Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-04
NECESSARILY INCLUDED AMONG
THE $4,000 MEN SELECTED FOR
DIES MONIES cAhToNMENT.
SEVERAL BAD MEN"
UNDER SURVEILLANCE
Army May Make Good Men Of Some
Who Were Crooks in, Civil Life-Ex-
empt From Civil Law After Enter
ing Service Soldier Police Force at
Camp Dodge Not Finding Much to Do.

Special to Times Republican,.
Camp Dodge, Oct Alt is impossible
to bring together $1,000 men of GER
tain ages and from all walks and oc-
equations in life and not have among
them few undesirable citizens"
The military authorities are discov-
ering this as they start the training Of
the first half of the Eighty eighth divl-
sion, national army, at Camp Dodge.
r For example, two bad men" are now
being watched closely at Camp Dodge.
In civil life they were crooks of the
cleverest kind, so it would appear. The
officers discovered the character of the
two men in question in a mysterious
manner. A letter written by one of
them to a woman in Omaha fell into
the hands of an officer, who immedi-
ately turned it over to headquarters.
In. the letter the writer informed the
woman that they were having diff
Guilty in locating fence" for stolen
goods in Des Moines, but that as soon
as this could be done operations"
would begin.
There is one fellowShere with a 5000
roll in his pocket that we expect to
land soon.n the fellow confided.
The man who wrote this is a soldier
in Uncle Sans uniform one Of the cos
mopolitan group Of individuals called
by the nation to make up the great ma
tional fighting force.
. cfI
There will be more when the full quota
Of 10000 men are in camp
A few who We're crooks in civil life
may have change of heart when they
take the oath to fight for the flag. The
uniform may reform some Of Them But
great many others will simply well
come the change in life as an oppor-
tunity to continue their game.
Bogus Checks Appear.
Des Moines merchants are already
feeling the effects of this host of visi-
tors. Bad checks" have begun to ap-
pear in many quarters
One private must have invited writ
ter's cramp from the number of SO
and SIS checks that have shown up
with his signature attached.
Cases of this kind will be taken to
the grand jury! If indictments are re-
turned it is probable that the military
authorities will allow the man to be
tried and punished by the civil courts.
Soldiers are exempt from the, civil
law in time Of war, at the option Of
the commanding officer. Which means
that General Plummer can turn a man
over to the courts in Des Moines or
have him tried by court martial. The
Judge advocates department at Camp
Dodge announces that each case will
be considered on fits merits during the
time the men are in Des@ Momes.s
One rule that has worked in many
cities. where soldiers are encamped is
that of buying an officers uniform and
acquiring credit on the strength of it.
The policy Of Des Moines merchants to
date has been to extend credit to all
officers without question and to make
casual inquiries with regard to pri-
Yates.
Up to date no one has tried to imper
senate an army officer but the warning
has gone out and in the future; 1t is
probable that some sort of identified
ton will be asked. This will be done
with as little embarrassment to the
officers as possible.
While a number Of cases of forged
checks have arisen, none of them so
far have gone as far as a court prose-
cution. In several cases parents have
made the checks good. The private re-
ferred to above comes from a we'll to-
do family in northern Iowa and the
father has promised to straighten it
out.
Police Force Not Busy.
..zs,r.; at soldier police force for Camp
Dodge and Des Moines has nad little
to do since it was established Three
hundred men are detailed for police
duty Half of them, one company, are
located in Des Moines and the other
half In camp. They wear arm bands
with the letters m. P" They have
full authority to make arrests. ONLY
a few days. after the system was
started an ordinary private, acting AS
q policeman in Dest Moines, arrested
two second lieutenants for alleged in
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