Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-21
GOVERNMENT ORDERS ARREST
OF cHIRoPoDlsT IN CEDAR
RAPIDS.
DECLARES HE Is
VICTIM OF FRAME.UP
Said to Have Correspondent With Mex
leans While on Mexican Border -
Maps and Wireless Apparatus Found
in Doctors Possession-Visited Rock
Island Arsenal and Got Plans.

Cedar Rapids. April 2l.-Dr. William
Won Gerard erstwhile a chiropodist,
with offices in the American Trust
and Savings Bank building, was ar
rested by United States Marshal NJ. l..
Healy last evening upon orders from
the department of justice. Wearing a
suit of clothes which he said was the
worst he had, and which was better
than the best newspaper man affords,
DR.. Won Gerard was taken 10 the city
iaii. to sleep-perchance 10 dream.
Protesting that he was the victim
off frame-up. and his deep. dark
brown eyes flashing ominously as he
protested, DR. Gerard was all smiles
the next minute and cheerfully agreed
to go to Jail quietly and be martyr.
He declared that he had done nothing
wrong and laughed at the charge
which it is said the government Off
Gals will prefer against him, that OF
corresponding with Mexicans in Mex
.co while he was down on the border
attending 10 the feet of the First Iowa
and the other Iowa regiments.
A little while ago when government
detectives were on his trail DR.. Won
Gerard laughed and said to a repor. er:
II they want to catch me they had
better get some real detectives: these
detectives who have been shadowing
me are amateurs"
Does Some Queer Things.
But now they have caught him and
II remains 70 be seen If the govern
ment has anything on him" OF
course he has done some queer things.
II is not usual for a man 10 marry a
beautiful young WOMAN and a few
days afterward leave her and go away
on secret business. II is not custom
AIRY for even a chiropOdist 10 go 20
the government arsenal at Rock Island
TO interest the commandant in foot
sanitation and to come away with
plans Of the place: it is not usual for
4 chiropodist to have in his possession
parts Of q wireless telegraph outfit.
nor one OF the very finest automatic
guns ever seen IN this city. II was
not customary for men messing with
United States officers on the border to
be corresponding with Mex!cans in the
Mexican interior; but then Dr. Won
Gerard was not an ordinary sort OF a
man and he did SO many things that
an ordinary man would not dream of
doing.
When George F. Softer, Of the de-
partnent OF justice, was in the city
recently, DR.. Won Gerard obligingly
allowed a thoro search of all his be-
longings Mr.. Softer took away maps
and plans. books and papers. and Won
Gerard smi!ingly allowed him TO do
so, saying never a word of protest
But George F Soter's search was not
thoro said the doctor last night. for
afterward when the order as to mu-
nitions Of war went forth from Wash
!ngton, Won Gerard ooeyed like a real
patriot He took to Marshal Healy an
arsenal and part of wireless out
fit which the government agent had
overlooked.
Found Nothing on Him.
F. A. O'Connor, of New Hampton.
the district attorney for the northern
district Of Iowa, spent several DAYS
in the city recently and was closeted
with Won Gerard for hours at a time
But apparently he found nothing on
which charge could be based The
opinion has seemed to prevail here
that Won Gerard was a queer char
acteT but that ne was guilty Of no
wrongdoing But his actions certainly
have mystifed any number of local
state and federal officials and they
will all be curious 10 see what the
government can do with Won Gerard
now that he has been arrested.
Apparently no suspicion is directed
against Mrs. Gerard who is staying as
guest IN private home in this city.
Won Gerard was born and educated
in Berlin, Germany. He has been in
this city since December, 1915. He
| and his wife both pracrised foot SAM
| tation' and kindred branches Of surg
! cry and medical science. DR.. Gerar
| speaks French fluently and English
fairly well. He is said also to speak
Spanish easily and is highly educat ed
| in MANY branches