Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1906 — FOUND GUILTY! [ARTICLE]

FOUND GUILTY!

U. B. Kellogg Now In the Penitentiary. JURY OUT ONLY SEVEN MINUTES. Canadian Land Swindler Who Buncoed Two Score Of Rensselaer People Spends Christmas At Michigan City. Lafayette. Ind., Dec. 22.—After weeks of a bitter argument in the Tippecanoe county circuit court, U. B. Kellogg, of Brookston, Ind., charged with Canadian land swindling, was found guilty today and sentenced by Judge Dehart to a term of from two to fourteen years in the penitentiary. The jury was out seven minutes Kellogg showed no emotion when sentenced, but his wife, who has been at his side constantly, was prostrated. An hour later Kellogg was on his way to Michigan City in the custody of Sheriff Ray. Kellogg, claiming to be working in the interest of a fictitious land agency, secured hundreds of dollars from Lafayette and Bloomington (Ind) citizens. Hewasacquittedofthe same chargeat Bloomington, but was rearrtsted and brought to Lafayette. The above will be good news to the thirty or forty Rensselaer people who were also caught by Kellogg’s land swindle. He and his agents took about $4,000 out of Jasper county, and there is some talk among the victims here of trying to get after the “agents" but it is hardly likely that anything will be done about the matter. Great credit is due Prof. Michael of Lafayette, formerly of Rensselaer, for the successful prosecution of Kellogg. Numerous attempts were made to head off Mr. Michael, such as three or four arrests for contempt of court, malicious prosecution, suit for damages, etc., but he was not to be bluffed out and at a personal expense of $25 per day employed State Senator Will Wood of Lafayette to assist the prosecutor during the trial. His personal interest in the matter arose over his having been taken iu himself by Kellogg and having been the innocent cause of several of his friends getting caught.