Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-24
STRANGER RIGHTS WRONG DONE
T. NEWTON RESIDENTS FIFTY
YEARS AGO.
MONEY PAID. TO HEIRS
OF MEN WcrlMlzEp
Mystsrlsus Stranger. Acting. For Client
Whose Life 10 Practically Closed,
pays $1,e1181 70 Benefieiaries Of
-Four Former Newton Residents--
Identity 10 Kept Secret.
Special to Times Republican.

Special 10 1IneS- NepuDlqcan.
Newton, July PA mysterious
stranger, who refused to reveal his
address and said he might be called
Smith, appeared In Newton last week
and LEFT 31.s11.S1 conscience money He
WIS young man and stated he was
acting for an elderly man, whose name
he refused to disclose, who did not
have long to live and desired to right
wrong done to Newton people over
half a century ago.
The story as far as the mysterious
Mr.. Smith would divulge it is that
sometime prior to or during the civil
war, the man for whom he was acting
took unfair advantage of William
Vaughn, d. ID. Piper, Thomas Arthur
and d. L. Clark, all former residents
OF Newton and all now dead. He said
the matter was private business deal
but further than that he said he knew
nothing of its natures
Dying Man Makes Amends.
The man, whose life is now prac-
tically closed, Is said to be wealthy and
he told the attorney, according to the
story, that he wished to ease his con-
science OF this crooked business deal
About six weeks ago the attorney APP
peAred in town and spent day look
ing up the wills of the four former
Newton residents, so that he might
know what proportion of each estate
went to what heirs He told some OF
the heirs his purpose at this time but
they did not believe his story. Last
week he appeared in Newton with the
money. It was divided as follows:
For the estate of William Vaughn:
Mrs. D. J. Eberrart. Henry Vaughn,
and Fred Vaughn, S167.67 each. For
the estate of D. ID. Piper: Mrs. Joe
Eyerly, 800; Will Eyerly. $45.45; Mrs.
Rose Masteller of Abel, $45.45; Mrs. ).
J. Vaughn, $3.50. For the estate OF
Thomas Arthur Mrs. Thomas Ar
thur of Seattle, Wash, $500. For the
estate of d. l. Clark, 5000.
"Mr. Smith" Leaves No Address.
The attorney stated that neither
himself or the man for whom he was
acting had any desire to be known.
He went hrst to b. ]. Eberhart and
when Mr.. Hberhart asked him by what
u8u40 uo W40ASA W OO AAASA SANSSN -
tho heirs he said, Call me Smith,
Hunt. or anything you wish" From
this ne got the name Of Mr.. Smith.
He played golf at the local country
club, dlned with Mr.. Eberhart and
spent the evening seeing the city, all
Of the time being known to those he
met Is Mr.. Smith.
The "Mr. Smith" said in connection
VITA, the transaction that the amount
OF money originally taken was onry
q few hundred dollars but that his
client had figured the interest on the
money for all these years and was
paying the amounts back in FULL All
{ 81 the persons who received money
say they have no knowledge Of what
business transaction might be con-
cernsd in this distribution Of money
Il is, however, authoritatively stated
that the matter was not a robbery or
other criminal action but was prob
ably some over-shrewd business trans
action.
hMr. Smith, bought a ticket from
Newton to Chicago but those who
talked with him are Of the opinion that
Is not his home, but rather that he
comes from somewhere in New York
state.