Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-10
CEDAR RAPIDS
MAN FOUND TO De LIVING
UNDER FALSE NAME.
FORCED TO RESIGN
CORPORATIONS HEAD
Man Who Successfully Promoted
Three Substantial Companies at
Cedar Rapids Shown to Have Led
Dual lifs--lsft Duluth and $4,000
Shortage Five Years Ago.

Cedar Rapids, March 10.-Regard-
less OF Connie" O'Donnell's tenden-
cies when he was an insurance shark
in Duluth, Minn..several years ago and
left that city after discrepancies in
his accounts had grown to such pro-
portions as to make South America
seem to him an important destina-
ton, c. j. Duncan. precipitately re-
tired manag ger of the National Bond
ing and Insurance Company, the
Iowa Mutual Liability Company and
the Iowa Automobile Mutual Insur-
ance Company. has LEFT clean
slate behind him so far as the at
fairs of these three Cedar Rapids or
CARNATIONS are concerned.
Connie" O'Donnell, who left Du-
luth between two days, and c. j,
Duncan. who appeared in Cedar Rap
ids five years ago and placed the
two mutual insurance companies on
their feet, putting them among the
strongest and best paying concerns
in the Middle West, and who last
year arranged the organization Of
company with capital of $1,000, 600
and paid-up surplus of 100000,
are one ard the same man. His duel
identity was positively established
Last Saturday. h.: the showdown did
not come until yesterday. When he
knew that the jig was up Mr.. ODon-
nell Duncan was very calm. He Of
the three companies, and, needless to
say. they We're accepted by the
boards of directors.
Has Novel History.
The history Of the man Is one Of
the most novel ever disclosed in
American business circles. Admit
tedly a genius at the insurance game.
1t would seem that his Duluth esca-
pades. not all OF which have received
publicity here. have branded him,
despite the fact that a wealthy rela-
tive tried to effect settlement Of
most of the $4,000 in illegitimate
debts that O'Donnell left behind him
when he deserted wife and four
children and struck out for southern
chimes. Since coming to Cedar Rap
ids he has made a nation wide repu-
tation. and has been offered numer-
Gus high salaried positions. His most
recent offer was that Of $4,000 a
year to head a large eastern concern.
Directors OF the National Bonding
and Insurance Company say the re-
port be was drawing $4,000 a year
from his connection with the organ.
ization is erroneous. He was getting
$12, 900 a year as manager Of the
mutual companies. but hts salary
with the newer company had not
been determined, nor paid.
Recently O'Donnen- Duncan pur.
chased a fine home in Vernon
Heights. acquired what is said to be
the finest set Of furniture sold here
in recent years. hired numerous SER
wants and firmly established himself
socially. The wife with whom he
lives in the Vernon Heights mansion
is not the wife. mother Of his four
children, whom he left behind when
ne fled Duluth. Whether he ever
has obtained divorce from the
northern woman. or she from him, Is
not known here.
Men who have known him since
he came here have not recovered
from the shock experienced when his
real identity was disclosed. They
tell one another Of the many kind
nesses he has done them and their
families, Of his courtesy, his untir-
ing energy. One man who is inter-
ested in the insurance companies
said. Duncan did something for my
boy one time, and I'll remember that
long after forget the mans mis-
Deeds"