Two Men Hunted After Flight When

Banker Questioned $1,750

Payment for Treatment.

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BROWN COUNTY RICHER BY $8,000

FORFEITED BAIL

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Roy L. Martin and Elliott Wilkinson Operated

Near New Ulm in

September, 1924.

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Whether or not the two “eye specialists,” who operated near Red Wing the latter part of last week, and escaped before being apprehended, are Roy L. Martin and Elliott Wilkinson, who are at large after forfeiting $8,000 cash bail in Brown county, for “operations” near New Ulm in September, 1924, is not known.

Sheriff W. J. Julius and County Attorney T. O. Stieissguth state there are several bands of “eye specialists” operating in different parts of the country, but it is possible that the green pastures of Minnesota attracted Martin and Wilkinson and they returned for some of the “good pickings,” they left behind several years ago. They were bound over to the district court and secured their release through posting $8,000 cash bail. Relatives furnished the funds.

They were to appear at the opening of court in December, 1924, but failed to do so. The bail was there-upon forfeited.

Same Tactics Used at Red Wing.

The same tactics were used by the Red Wing “specialists” as were employed by Wilkinson and Elliott. This leads to the supposition that they may be operating in Minnesota again.

It will be remembered that while Wilkinson and Elliott were in jail in New Ulm they made settlements with those, whom they had mulched to the extent of several thousand dollars. They obtained $1,500 from Anton Grossmann, which was returned intact. The package of greenbacks was secured from him for performing an “operation” upon the eyes of his sister, Miss Margaret Grossmann, and for an electric belt, which was supposed to cure her of kidney ailment. Martin accompanied Robert Jahncke, another Cottonwood farmer to the Citizens bank, where the former was going to withdraw funds to pay for an “operation” on his eye. Quick action of O. M. Olsen, president of the bank, and local officials, apprehended Martin and later Wilkinson, who remained at the farm, while Martin and Red Wing Active Jahncke made the trip to New Ulm.

Red Wing Activity.

Two alleged swindlers, posing as physician and optometrist, are being ought by authorities at Red Wing following their extraction of $500 from “patient” and futile attempts to obtain money in two other cases.

George and August Nelson, farmers residing in Burnside township, near Red Wing, gave the men a certificate of deposit for $686 and received 186 in change.

Flee From Bank.

At Welch, a village 15 miles from Red Wing, the same men inveigled Cric Larson into an attempt to draw out $1,750 from the bank in payment or the removal of a “tissue” from his eye.

When Larson, accompanied by one of the men, requested withdrawal of his money, the banker became suspicious. Evidently frightened by the hesitancy of the banker in effecting the withdrawal, the stranger hustled Larson into an automobile, drove to the latter’s home, picked up his partner and drove off. Larson, puzzled by their actions, was left standing in his yard.

Auto is Ditched.

Nearing Highway No. 3, the men drove their sedan into a ditch, abandoned it and obtained a “lift” to Red Wing, where arrangements were made with a drayman to bring the car in.

After the drayman’s departure, however, one of the pair hired a taxi-cab, declaring he was going to Cannon Falls, while his partner went in another direction. The abandoned car was taken to Red Wing. It bears a Missouri license, but Iowa license plates were found inside. The car is being held.

In each case the men professed intimate knowledge of the families visited and claimed to be the “Doctor Miles,” whose calendar decorated the wall.

Certificate Turns Up.

The certificate of deposit for $688, obtained by the “eye specialists” was received by a Red Wing bank Tuesday, from a Kansas City, Mo., bank,which forwarded it for payment. The Kansas City bank had not made payment, but merely forwarded the certificate to Red Wing for cashing.

Brown County Journal

June 11, 1926