The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, November 30, 1905 Last Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock, P.M., by direction of E.M. Wells, County Attorney, the peace officers of the city, vis. Sheriff Boss, Deputy Gittinger, Constable Waynick and others were asked to meet at the office of E.H. Storie, J.P. for the purpose of entering into a systematic search for one J.F. SPEAR, late a resident of Lucas County, in the employ of Dr. Elrod, and who had departed from our midst under a peculiar condition of circumstances, having suddenly left this community for parts unknown. It seems that Mr. Spear had gone out to the little home of Mrs. Taylor Gillespie, the widow of the late Taylor Gillespie, and had taken her application for treatment with Dr. Elrod, giving her promissory note for $100. After MR. SPEAR's departure, Dr. Elrod sold this note to the Chariton National Bank and shortly thereafter another note for a like amount practically identical with the genuine note, was sold by MR. SPEAR to J.J. Smyth. As this man SPEAR had taken quite a pr! ominent part in behalf of the pear tree swindlers, lately bound over to the Grand Jury in bonds of $1,800.00, the general supposition was that he had gone with these excellent gentlemen to Des Moines. It was finally determined by the officers to mail postal cards to the officers in the various towns to which there was a possibility of SPEAR's being inclined to pay a visit, and the Leader volunteered to hold open shop until a true description of the man could be obtained from Dr. Elrod and others who have known him intimately for the purpose of printing the cards. It so happened that Sheriff Boss received a telegram on November 25th that the gentleman wanted was under arrest in Centerville and would be held in custody and turned over to the Lucas County authorities. * * * * The above contains the allegations. The officer arrived in Chariton from Centerville, where he had gone for the purpose of getting him, Monday evening. MR. SPEAR denies that he was guilty of forgery; stating that Mrs. Gillespie had signed and delivered both notes and that afterwards her son had demanded the surrender of one of them. They both deny this stating that they knew nothing of the second note. Dr. Elrod says he paid SPEAR's commission out of the proceeds of the original and there should be but one, so the duplicate one would only indicate fraud, not much of a plea in mitigation. However, he may be able to extricate himself but it looks bad. He is now in jail awaiting preliminary and has retained Penick & Anderson to defend him and the hearing will likely be held Saturday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 15, 2004 [email protected]