Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1915 — JOHN BURRIS TO BE RETURNED TO RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

JOHN BURRIS TO BE RETURNED TO RENSSELAER

Man Wanted For Passing Bad Check and For Blackmail Now in Jail At LaPorte For 60 Days. John Burris, who is wanted here for passing a bag check and in Illdnois for attempted blackmail, is now in jail at LaPorte serving a 60-day sentence for vagrancy. Burris, it seems Obvious, has demonstrated that he is a bad character and in arresting him a bad man has been rounded up. Not long ago, while laving in Illinois, Burris and his wife filed charges against a well-to-do farmer charging him with a criminal assault on Mrs. Burris. The man stated at the time that it was blackmail and after a visit here Mrs. Burris went back and made an affidavit that it was blackmail and that Burris had gotten her into it. Burris then left that vicinity and it developed that he had previously cashed a forged check for sl4 on James Snedeker, the Main street grocer. Prosecutor Sands has not learned of Burris’ presence in the LaPorte jail. The following is an article from the LaPorte Argus. The name used by that paper is John Hess, but should read John Burris: “John Hess, who is serving a term of 60 days in the county jail, imposed early in July, on the charge of vagrancy, is wanted at Rensselaer, Ind., on the charge of forging checks, according to word that has just been received from Prosecutor Charles M.. Sands, of Rensselaer. Hess’ term in the county jail will end on September 9, when he will be taken to Jasper county for trial. The fellow had two aliases when arrested and other circumstances lead to the belief that he is a, crook. For this reason a heavy penalty was imposed, partly to give time to get some information concerning his record. It appeared that Hess lived, or had lived, at one time at Medaryville and circulated considerably across the state line among Illinois towns. He

went to South Chicago, fell in with two youthful tramps from New York, and came to Michigan City, why© the younger of the two youths secured a position in a restaurant. Through him it was learned that Hess was plotting to rob a jewelry store, and Hess and the older youth were run down by the police. Both were sent up for vagrancy.