Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1890 — THE FLIGHT OF A VILLIAN. [ARTICLE]

THE FLIGHT OF A VILLIAN.

There is a good deal of excitement throughout the northern portions of the county through the reeentabsconding of one J. 11. Crowell, and also much indignation over the villainous conduct he lias been guilty of. For the last year and a half Crowell has been iu charge of the big Sigler Ranch, in Wheatfield tp. lie is a smooth tougued, gentlemanly appearing scoundrel, about 40 years old, and when be came there passed himself off as a widower, saying that his wife had been dead six years; and after beihg there something over a year, he married Miss Panola Wntson. a very estimable young girl, daughter of Geo. W. Watson, of Wheatfield tp. The marriage took place last fall, and was consummated : across the river, in Porter county. ! suddenly left home, pretending that jhe was going to his old home at Fort j Dodge, lowa, as a witness in a law suit, a man having come to see Crowell, with the ostensible object of inducing him to do so. He did not go to Fort Dodge but went to Chicago and collected some money due him i from his employer, Hamilton Brown, j then owner of the Sigler Ranch, and to him said that he was going to Tennessee. He had been gone but a very few days when the prosecuting attorney here received a letter from an attorney at Fort Dodge saying that Crowell has a wife and two children at that place, and asking that steps be .taken to secure bis arrest for bigamy. The fellow had made good his escape ! however, and it is not likely that his 'whereabouts will be discovered. I .