"Kidnaped Greek Loses His Money - Tony Pappageorge Charges that Constables took $140 from Cash Drawer" article - Chicago Daily Tribune, May 18, 1902



Published Chicago Daily Tribune, May 18, 1902

KIDNAPED GREEK LOSES HIS MONEY
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Tony Pappageorge Charges
That Constables Took $140
from Cash Drawer.
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DETECTIVES ON GUARD.
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Store from Which Fruit Dealer
Was Ejected Placed in Hands
of Receiver.
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While Tony Pappageorge was being whirled around the South Side in a carriage in company with constables who had ejected him from his fruit store at 4100 Cottage Grove avenue, he says $140 disappeared from the cash tray in the store, which he was forced to abandon at the point of revolvers.

During the enforced absence of Tony strange men, whose identity cannot be learned, but who, it is reported, were acting under orders from Tony's landlord, dumped all the fruit dealer's possessions on to the sidewalk in front of the store.  When Tony returned his demand for admittance to the store that he might secure the $140 which he was compelled to leave behind him was refused.

"There is nothing in the store," a constable is said to have replied:  "Everything is out here in the street."

Finds His Money Gone.

Then the fruit dealer began to search for his $140.  He found the cash drawer and opened it excitedly.

"The money is gone," he declared, "and the constables took it.  They robbed me not only of my store but of my money."

When he discovered his loss he acted like a man crazed.  With blood streaming down his face and hatless and coatless he went to the dry goods store of C. H. Rimes, 4042 Cottage Grove avenue.  It is to Rimes that Tony's store had been leased, and he is blamed by the Greek for all the trouble.  As Tony entered the front door Mrs. Rimes warned her husband, who disappeared out the back door of his store.

Says Constables Were Brutal.

"I do not blame Tony for anything he did last evening," said Mrs. Helen Nugent of 4101 Cottage Grove avenue yesterday.  She witnessed the kidnaping of the fruit dealer.  "The way those constables dealt with him is an outrage.  They went into his store and dragged him out.  They kicked him and beat him, and when he asked to be allowed to get his coat and money he was abused and hurried into the carriage."

Tony and Chris Ganopoulos, his partner, were arrested on warrants sworn out before Justice Everett, charging assault with a murderous weapon and disorderly conduct.  The charges are said to have been fictitious.  The two men were driven hurriedly to Justice Richardson's house, 3141 South Park avenue, where they were released on bonds.

"They drove up to my house in a carriage shortly after 8 o'clock," said Justice Richardson yesterday.  "I released them on bonds which were signed by some man who was with them."

All day yesterday the store at 4100 Cottage Grove avenue was guarded on the inside by private detectives, while two policemen patrolled the premises outside.  On the windows of the disputed store were pasted placards bearing the following announcement:

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These premises are in possession of
Henry T. Chace Jr., receiver of the Circuit
Court of Cook County, Ill.
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Owners Defend Their Action.

"The action in ousting Pappageorge from his store was taken by our attorneys," said W. F. O'Brien, agent for the National Life Insurance company, yesterday, "and everything that was done was, I believe, within the limits of the law."

Justice Richardson said the constables who spirited Pappageorge away in the carriage were from Justice Everett's court.  "One of them was named John W. Ronksley," he said.

The trouble which ended on friday night in the ousting of the fruit dealer was due to the refusal of the owners of the property to renew the lease, which expired on May 1.  The store was let to Rimes, the dry goods merchant.  When May 1 arrived the Greek, acting under legal advice, refused to move.

Constable's Bond Canceled.

Thomas Donahue, the constable who was ordered to come into the County Court yesterday with new bondsmen, did not appear, and the court ordered his bonds canceled.  Judge Carter said that he would vacate the office tomorrow unless Donahue appeared with good and sufficient bondsmen.



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