- Abe Barrier captures escaped prisoner Major Benjamin Bell, alias Clark, alias Parker, alias others names,
The Citizen (Howard) April 15, 1885: “Our exchanges are warned to keep a good lookout for a very clever swindler, a Major B. Bell, of Chautauqua County, N. Y. Major Bell is a little over six feet high, weighs about one hundred and eight, age about fiftyfive, grey hair and mustache dyed black. He is a very fluent talker and possessed of a wonderful fund of information in regards to persons and places.
“Major Bell made his advent into Elk Falls some time ago and announced that he wished to buy several farms and some town property. Major Bell got the town excited with his news of building a grand hotel in Elk Falls. He contracted for farms with Bob Wheeler, Jason Glover and James McBeth, but so far as we can learn he did not pay a dollar on them. He bought a house and lots of J. K. Sprague in Elk Falls and paid a $100 on it, but afterwards borrowed the money to buy lumber to fix up the barn. He actually bought the lumber and fixed the barn, but he did not pay for it. The lumber company will hold Mr. Sprague for it. He also bought two farm wagons of George Blackburn, a spring wagon of Burchfield & Co., a buggy of Mr. Kasson, two sets of double harness of Henry Strong and clothing, dry goods etc., from a number of merchants. He bought four work mules of O. G. Athey for $680, giving his note therefore, a pair of horses from W. M. McReynolds, borrowed a $100 from Ole Richolson and smaller amounts from others.
“Major Bell was the better enabled to do this as he went right ahead fixing up the places he had bought, purchasing supplies, etc. but never paying cash. He borrowed $200 from the Elk County Bank, Jason Glover going his security, but keeping a wagon and span of mules as his security. Major Bell was getting along swimmingly until Mr. McReynolds began to press him for payment for his team when he began to make arrangements to skip. He had two accomplices, who passed as hired hands. One of them took one pair of the mules and wagon and went to Morehead from whence he telegraphed to Bell, who took one of the McReynolds horses and one of Mr. Kassons and his buggy, went down to Elk City and there boarded the train, went to Independence and thence to Morehead, since then he has not been heard from. McReynolds got his horses back, Burchfield & Co., their spring wagon, Kasson his horses and buggy, but the rest of the people will, in all probability lose all he owed them. As nearly as we can ascertain, he managed to get away with about $1,500.
“Major Bell, alias Clark, and alias several other names, was caught by exsheriff I. A. Powell, last Saturday over at Moran. He victimized several citizens at Elk Falls and the penitentiary will surely get him. He is an old offender and has operated in several states.
April 17, 1885: “I. A. Powell, ex-sheriff of Elk County, and O. G. Athey, of Columbus, arrived in Eureka Thursday, with a man calling himself Major B. Bell, who had been arrested for stealing and swindling on a wholesale plan in Elk County.
“Mr. O. G. Athey, one of those that suffered from Bell’s rascality, determined to corral the scoundrel and swore out a warrant and accompanied by the indomitable ex-sheriff Powell, set out on the chase. After several windings, they finally ran the old fox to the earth at Mound City and brought him back, Eureka, to the scene of his depredations.
“Being attacked with diarrhea and vomiting, through the mercy of Mr. Powell, he was permitted to lodge at the Forrest City Hotel and not be confined in our jail, which was crowded with criminals anyway. Mr. F. B. Sprankle was secured to guard the prisoner, but early in the morning by some means, the prisoner eluded his vigilance and escaped. Every means was taken at once to capture the man, but no trace was found of him until, by accident, Mr. Abe Barrier overheard a conversation between the captors and learning the description of the man, informed them that he had seen such a man passing his place up the river in the forenoon.
“Mr. Barrier, accompanied by Mr. Athey, was at once sent after the man, who was overhauledatMr.JoeHarris’ place at Ivanpah. Major Bell had not made extra time in his travels owing to the debilitating effect of his disease. Mr. Barrier was at once presented with a reward of $50 for his services and Powell and Athey are rejoicing over the return of the prodigal who, however, will hardly be treated to the ring and corpulent bovine of scripture lore.
The Citizen April 29, 1885: “Major Bell was held in the sum of $1,000 to appear at the next term of district court, as he could not give bond, he tarrieth in the Eureka jail.
Democratic Messenger May 22, 1885: Last Thursday night, Major Bell madehissecondescapewhile being guarded in Eureka. Being too weak to travel, Bell took refuge in a stable belonging to Mr. Munsell, in the north part of the town, where he lay for 24 hours before being discovered. Meanwhile a reward of $50 was offered by the sheriff for his capture and the search being prosecuted in all directions. Deputy Sheriff Dobyns, of Elk County, came up for Bell on Monday, but his physicians certifying that it would endanger his life to move him, the redoubtable Major still languishes in Greenwood County.
The Citizen July 15, 1885: “Greenwood County keeps our prisoners and the bills sent down from Eureka for the last quarter amounts to $513.65, $404 are sheriff’s fees for board, lodging and extra work attending to Major Benjamin Bell.
Eureka Herald July 24, 1885: “On Monday Elk County Commissioners came to Eureka to investigate as to the correctness of the charges made by the sheriff for extra guards for Bell and medical attention for the same. The attentions were given Bell by direction of those officials of Elk County, and they know the kind and amount of assistants given him in his sickness. Bell is kept in a room on the third floor of the court house, by direction of the Elk County officials, and it is necessary to keep a guard with him at all times, which has been done so by the same direction. Drs. Pierce, Stewart and Watson (sounds like a law firm) of Eureka, Monday, and they are agreed that he needs close medical attention. He is greatly emaciated, being reduced from over 200 pounds in weight, to wellnigh a skeleton. Relief must be given him at regular intervals or he suffers great pain. He has been confined to his bed more than 85 days. The sheriff says he told the Elk County Commissioners they ought to make arrangements to dispose of Bell and thus save expenses, and that he, the sheriff was anxious to get rid of him.
Greenwood County Republican July 31, 1885: “Major Bell, prisoner from Elk County, who has languished in our jail for several months, and about whom the public have heard so much, was released last Monday, after a hearing before Judge Lamb. On a writ of habeas corpus. An examination into the facts showed insufficient evidence to hold the man. Elk County will not be rejoiced over the news as Bell played a fast and successful game against the confidence and pocket books of many of its citizens. Bell has taken up his quarters at the Park Place Hotel.
Howard Courant Aug. 20, 1885: “Major Bell is himself again and is getting his work at Quincy, Ill. In good shape. One Wednesday of this week, J. M. Lambert, cashier of Lambert’s Banks, Howard, received the following telegram from Quincy, Ill: “Is George A. Parker, liveryman of Elk Falls good for $800 at 4 months?” E. M. Miller & Co. Mr. Lambert answered that he did not know George A. Parker and referred Miller & Co. to Blake’s Bank at Elk Falls. On Thursday Mr. Lambert received from M. Huffman, jeweler, Quincy, Ill. a letter enclosing George A. Parker’s check on Lambert’s Bank in favor of Huffman with instructions to remit exchange on St. Louis, Chicago or New York, in lieu of the check. Mr. Lambert telegraphed Huffman, that Parker was unknown here and that no such person had credit at his bank – in fact that Parker was a fraud and his check worthless. Ex-sheriff Powell, who has Mr. Bell down about as fine as anyone, says that “George A. Parker” is one of Bell’s numerous aliases and it is known that Bell had some of Lambert’s checks in his possession.
Howard Courant Sept. 8, 1885: “Major Bell, the allaround swindler and crook who so recently operated in Elk County, was recently arrested in Mt. Sterling, Ill., made his escape therefrom, last week. He is good and slippery, all right.”
