Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 131, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1913 — CLAIMS HE IS A VICTIM OF ASSOCIATES [ARTICLE]

CLAIMS HE IS A VICTIM OF ASSOCIATES

Still in Jail at Tipton and Stands a Very Good Chance of Going to Penitentiary.

B. J. Moore, who has been grading the Purtelle interurban road between Frankfort and Tipton, has returned home. Since the arrest of Purtelle work is at a standstill and is liable to remain so for some time. Purtelle is still in jail and unless he finds a way to take up the protested checks he stands a splendid chance of going to the penitentiary. Purtelle claims he is a victim of circumstances and lays his trouble to two of his associates. He had three New Yorkers selling stock for him and assisting him in the promotion of the road. He had already purchased several pieces of right-of-way and on the day the checks were cashed he had two pieces of land which he wished to buy. He made arrangements, he claims, with two of the men to purchase the land for him, which he expected to pay from two to three hundred dollars for. Not knowing the exact amount, he says, he signed two checks in blank, and instructed the men to fill In the amount and names of payee, when a price was agreed upon. Instead of going to see the farmers the men filled out the two checks for about equal amounts, a total of $1,500. They then went to Frankfort and cashed the two checks at a local bank. There was enough money in the Tipton bank to take up one of the checks, but the other was protested and Purtelle’s arrest followed. He has tried about every means to secure the money to take up the check, but so far has been unsuccessful and now languishes in the Tipton jail, crushed in spirit. When searched at-the jail he had over S2OO on his person. He sent for Attorney W. H. Parkinson, of Rensselaer, to represent him in the criminal proceedings. Parkinson went to Chicago to see if he could raise funds to take up the protested paper, but had not returned to Tipton at the time Mr. Moore left. The circuit court is now in session at Tipton and unless Purtelle succeeds in raising the money in a few days he stands a good chance of being tried and convicted at the present term. It is strongly suspected by those intimate with Purtelle that he was “double crossed” by his associates, they taking this means of securing funds which he expected to secure for bis own benefit. Mr. Moore has graded three miles of road and has been paid promptly for his work, but had a little due him at the time of arrest, which has not been paid.