Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1907 — AN IMPOSTER FINED. [ARTICLE]

AN IMPOSTER FINED.

A one-legged man was in the city last Friday seeking alms to purchase"* wooden leg, so he said. *He carried a paper with a typewritten heading, stating that he was worthy etc., and signed by several prominent people of Remington. He gave the name of Elmer R. Gerry, and represented that he was raised in Jordan tp., and now resided there. As a result of his canvass here he secured $14.75 in a few hours. Someone finally telephoned to C. T. Dye of Remington, whose name appeared on his recommendations, and asked Dye if he knew anything of the fellow. He replied that he did not, except {hat he had worked Remington a few days before, there showing recommendations from Fowler. A couple of affidavits were then filed against the man by George Healey of the Republican, one obarging getting money under false pretenses and the other vagranoy, and he was arrested. It was found that he had some $75 on his person, 114 75 of which he had secured in Rensselaer. On his returning the money to the parties hen who* had contributed rt and entering a plea of guilty to tagranoy and paying a fine of $5 and costs, $12.10 in all, the more serious charge was dismissed and he was escorted to the depot where he took the milk train out of town. The fellow would tell little of himself, but it was found on examining his papers closely that the type-written recommend at the top was pasted over the names of the Remington parties I who had contributed to his “fund,” and he worked the same soheme in each town visited, pasting the reoommend at the top of the list of contributors in the last town he Visited. These recommends were written for him, he stated by a Fowler attorney, but he would not divulge the attorney’s name. Fowler, Kentland, Goodland, Remington and Monon were near by towns that he had worked before coming here.