Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1911 — “PROMOTOR” PURTELLE [ARTICLE]

“PROMOTOR” PURTELLE

May Be Arrested When He Appears In Rensselaer, It Is State. A few days before the August meeting of the county commissioners in Jasper county, Eugene Pqrtelle, the dead-beat railroad p’imotor and check-worker, telegraphed Dr. Merry at Mt. Ayr to have Makeever (Swaney) file the petition for a subsidy election in Newton tp., saying that everything was coming on swimmingly and he had a large force of men at work near Roselawn. But evidently Swaney was not impressed, as the petition was not filed and has not been to da/te.

A bond, though, to partly cover the expense of a subsidy election in Carpenter tp., in the sum of SIOO with the U. S. Fidelity and Guaranty Co., of Baltimore, Md., as surety, was filed a few days before the commissioners met, but no one felt that there was any use in holding an election in view of the status of Purtelle’s scheme at the time, and no action whatever was taken on the petition filed some time ago. As a matter of fact the election would probably cost all told over SSO to the precinc*, and therefore the bond is only about two-thirds what it should be.

The county attorney, who was instructed several months ago to investigate the $5,000 “bond” Furtelle put up here almost a year ago, before the election was held in Marion tp., and see what the chances were for recovering on same, has never reported as yet. This “bond” was to be forfieted if Purtelle failed to commence active work on the line in Marion tp., in 30 days after the election, provided the election carried, and was foreited last January. The matter should be looked into and if the bond is any good an effort should be made to collect it. Let’s hear from the county attorney.

In the meantime the holders of Purtelle’s checks here and elsewhere are still holding them and there is no prospect of their getting their money apparently, and it seems strange that Purtelle can keep out of jail. A gentleman informed us yesterday that very likely as soon as Purtelle set foot in Rensselaer again he would be arrested, so it seems some one here does not propose to be swindled by the fellow without making an effort to put him where he will be good for awhile, at least.