Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1915 — PURTELLE AGAIN IN TOILS. [ARTICLE]

PURTELLE AGAIN IN TOILS.

Charged With Operating Confidence Game on Lawyer. Chicago, July 20.—Eugene Purtelle, traction promoter, known by his business adventures in many Indiana counties, is in trouble again. He was arrested here on a charge of operating a confidence game, preferred by E. Leslie Cole, of Park Ridge, an attorney. Cole asserts he cashed checks for $3,500 for Purtelle and afterwards found they were worthless.

Purtelle has a long list of meteoric business adventures, since 1902, when he was Milwaukee manager for Red Letter Sullivan, operator of a string' of bucket shops. At one time he exploited the Northwestern Indiana Traction Company, a $5,000,000 “'paper line.” Last April he was arrested here on a charge of defrauding the Hotel Sherman, but prosecution was dropped when he paid the amount due. June 1 he was arrested on a charge of passing a bogus check here. He was held to the grand jury and indicted. The ease is pending. Last July Purtelle, who had offices here, was promoting an electric interurban line between Richmond, Ind., and Hamilton, Ohio. According to the attorney for Cole, who was Purtelle’s last arrest, the promoter elected himself president of the company and interested Cole in the project. Mr. Cole says Purtelle gave him one share of stock and made him treasurer.

Purtelle then went to Hamilton, 0., and according to Cole, sent back glowing accounts of how he was progressing in the work of obtaining right-of-way grants and indorsements of various chambers of commerce. Then, Cole says, Purtelle wrote back for expense money and sent checks for the amounts sent him. Cole alleges Purtelle gave him in all checks for $3,500 which were returned by the banks when he tried to cash them. Purtelle’s bonds were fixed at $5,000. ■