Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1919 — SOLDIER DOING RED CROSS [ARTICLE]

SOLDIER DOING RED CROSS

Visited Rensselaer Last Week With His Alleged Wife. A young man wearing a U. S. overseas uniform and accompanied by a young woman, and who claimed to be husband and wife, was in Rensselaer early last week and "hooked” the Red, Cross for a couple of days board at Barnes* restaurant and also *for 12 in. money which they spent .-for candy and nick-nacks. They stopped at the Makeever hotel and, on account of the young man’s tale of flnan* cial shortage, Landlord - Stockton charged them nothing for their room, it is understood. The Red Cross finally suspicioned that the young man was not straight and telegraphed to the camp where he said he had recently* been discharged, only to find that he wgs. never there. That he was a imposter is now known it is probable that the officers of this division of the Red Cross will take steps to apprehend and handle him /he deserves. sThe couple rest town after having "worg ofif their welcome” here and started to hoof it to Francesville, via Pleasant Ridge. They are understood to have been picked up by Thomas Eldridge of Barkley township who carried them about 4 miles east of the Ridge, as far as he was going on their way, and there let them out. The young man had tried to hire him to car>y them to Francesville but this he told him he could not do, and when he let them out they even forgot to thank him for the lift he had given th elm. The Pulaski County Democrat gives the following account of their arrival and travels in that county: A young fellow whose greatest ability seems to be that of a prolific liar, accompanied by a young woman claiming to be • his wife, traveled across this county the first of the week on a journey apparently aimed at nothing _ more than 1 * securing something for nothing from the Red Gross. They were first heard of here when he telephoned Monday ( noon from the John C. Wendt home nealr Francesville. Calling Miss- Helen Scott as secretary of the Ibcal Red Cross chapter, the stranger stated that he was a discharged soldier and demanded that she send an auto to the Wendt home to bring the couple to Winamac, in ordsc that they might get on to relatives at Kokomo. He said his name was Harris, admitted that neither he nor his wife was sick, and became somewhat profane when Miss Scott asked some question to learn the basis for his demands. However, Miss Scott, accompanied by J. H. Hepp, drove to the Wendt home during the noon ■ hour, only to find that the couple had been brought as far as the Mark Fritz home, where they had gotten a ride in another car and reached Winamac by a different road. ’ From here they went east, picking up rides as they could, (reaching Kewanna. Sheriff Kopkey went there next morning to inquire into the? peculiar actions, and to extend Red Cross aid if the strangers should be found worthy. Their stories were vastly different from those of the day before. They said then their name was Larue, that neither of theuni had any relatives at Kokomo, but that his mother lived in California, anld that her parents were’ dead. He said he had been discharged from the army at Camp Grant, but did not have his diffcharge papers with him, and was not sure of the company or regiment. The giri''sald she had been working in a 10-cent store in Chicago, but did not remember its name or location. The Sheriff brought them back here, and further questioning only

showed more lying. Telephone calls to other points gave no clew as to any wrong-doing; there was no charge on which to hold them here except possibly for vagrancy or for trying to fleece the Red Cross, and they were released —or rather they slipped out of town after dinner, leaving their suit case containing some clothing. They were last heard of in the Beardstown vicinity Tuesday evening. A letter received yesterday from the Red Cross chapter at Rensselaer told of their visit to that city, where they told entirely different stories upon their request Tor assistance. He called himself Devin, saying he was discharged at Fort Riley and so on. The same impression was created there as here—that he had never been in the army. He looks to be about 25 years old, and wears a nice looking uniform. The girl appears to be about 20 and is well dressed. There is a feeling that they have been up to some sort of mischief somewhere, but what or where is a Certain) it is that they have no claim on the Red Cross for aid.