Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-24
From Navy to Prison
For Twenty Years

alma, aug. 80 .hdleTlal Tor naI1
a dozen moving picture scenarios is
furnished in the escapades and recent
conviction of Frank Wiewel of this
town to a twenty year term at Ana
mosa on charge of assaultiny and
robbing his father
Viewer, who is very progresses
ing young man, is the son OF Joe W.
Wiewel. who owns the Wiewel drug
store here. His people are eminentIy
respectable. and it is said that Fran
mad been quiet. Vel behaved boy
and young man.
he served on the border during the
Mexican trouble. and when America,
entered the world war, enlisted i'm the
navy. On his return home. it is said.
he found it hard to settle down. He
worked in his fathers drug store for
a time, but that became. irksome ana
he left there last spring.
Then number of checks turned
up which he had forged in his
fathers name. His father paid the
amounts and no legal action was
taken,
But young Wiewel did not stop
With using his fathers name. He
left trail of forged checks in var
ious middle western cities making
merchants the victims. and the au-
thorities were set on his track.
About month ago Frank returned
to Varina. and here >he was arrested
on forgery charges. He was taken to
the Jail at Pocafontas, the count.
seat. At this point we have one OF
the little touches" the scenario artist
loves. The sheriff. perhaps not ac-
customed to entertain prisoners. for
got to lock the door of the Jail. That
night Frank turned the handle and
found himself free man.
He came back to Varina and was
rearrested. They took him back 20
Pocahontas, but deeming the Jail her
ineffective. went on to another tow :
and left him behind the bars. He
escaped again, how. 1t is not known,
and once more returned to Varina.
Then occurred the most ineNplic-
able part OF the story. One night he
lay in wait for his father, who had
always been kind to him. knocked
him over the head with ia lead pipe.
robbed him and ran away, The ply
stefan who attended his father said
that the mans hat was all that saved
him from death. AS it was. he was
badly injured.
Frank WieWel then went to Rock
well City and got former army
friend to cash the checks which he
had found in his fathers pocket.
Back to Varina he came, arriving
or Saturday. That afternoon, he later
confessed to the judge, he had in
tended to open his fathers safe, the
combination Of which he knew. and
loot It,
However, County Attorney Lynch,
who happened to be in Varina on
other business. heard of young Vie
wells presence, and taking deputy
sheriff hunted him up and took him
in custody Wiewel submitted tamely
enough and went with them to the
depot to take the train to the county
seat. AS they waited freight pulled
out of the station and Wiewel. watch
Ing his chance. suddenly jerked away
from his captors and climbed to the
top of car. Hepushed off the deputy
sheriff. who followed him. and was i'll
a way to make his escape when a
brakeman saw the commotion and
| stopped the train.
| Wiewel jumped down and disap-
peared in a field Of high corn. A
posse soon vas gathered and mer
with rifles surrounded him and once
more made him prisoner.
For the time he vas taken to Po-
cahontas and arraigned. this time fol
! the attack on his father. Early Mon
day morning he sent word to the
county attorney that he was ready
| to plead guilty, and he was taken a.
4 once to the home Of the judge a.
Humboldt, court not being in session
and was sentenced to 90 years.
1t is said that the judge broke into
tears when he pronounced the sen,
tence and put his arm around VIE.
wells shoulders. II couldn't do this i
/ I were just consulting my inclina
TONS" he is reported to have said
But it is my duty under the law"
| It Is believed that the forger,
charges will be dropped.
| Friends and family of young Wei
vel are unable to explain his actions
beyond the fact that they feel he hat
fallen into bad company.
! Car Turns Over, injuring Four.
Plymouth, Aug. 24.-Four person
were injured, two seriously, when lie
Hobbs. living seven miles east of thi
city. attempted to pass another ca