Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-03-02

uguOub tLhb 1DLsu anu hrst, seatA-i5 tn~t W
liberal use Of their large resources in the bri-
berry of the police and detective force of the
country, they were enabled to almost defy ar
rest and conviction; that MeRay Of Springfield,
Illinois, was -notoriously successful burglar
and a leading member Of the gang; that be
(Wilkinson) was on terms of confidence with
the gsug but that he had for sometime been
seeking to break his connection with them; that
he had at one time $4,000 of the sOhio Far
mer's" stolen bonds in his possession-placed
in his charge for the purpose Of negotiation
that he sought to restore these bonds to the
"ohio Farmers" and thatto accomplish this end
arranged mock arrest of himself by Felker
and certain unnamed policemen of Chicago, so
a. to place the bonds in Felker's possession,
without exciting the suspicion Of other men-
bers of the gang against himself, and with the
understanding that Felker should turn the
bonds over to the officers of the aOhio Far
mars" but that Felker violated this arrange
ment and negotiated the bondsfor his own ben
eft. He stated that at one time Felker took
some $4,000 of the bonds to cOuntsrfeiter in
Chicago for the purpose of having the numbers
changed; but upon calling for them q week af-
forwards, was informed By the couDterfeiter
that they had been stolen from him; that this
however was false as he had himself subsequent-
ly seen the bonds in the counterfeiter' posses
sion. t- .
a In a conversation with one of the directors
he casually observed that McRay was one of
the persons engaged in the attempted robbery
of the Sandusky County treasury safe at Fre-
mont Ohio; that although McRay did not en-
gage now as much as formerly in active opera
sions, yet that be was personally present in the
affair at Fremont.
We learn from B. that in private talk
with him be (Wilkinson) stated that McRay
had said that of the forty-two of LiIy's burg
lar proof safes which he had broken into, that
of the ''Ohio Farmers" was the only one that
cracked in the operation, the others requiring to
be smashed in. McRay is said to be man of
considerable wealth, being worth 100000.
+ Upon one of the directors remarking during
the interview that he had never given his word
that Wilkinson should not be arrested, quite
scene ensued; Wilkinson sprang to his feet and
exclaimed that they, might arrest him, but
there would be'two or three dead bodies there
and they would have a corpse for prisoner.
He was assured however that the pledge of
freedom from arrest should be respected.
Upon being urged to turn States evidence"
he objected saying that it would be certain
death to him if he should do SO. ss
He agreed, however, to secure the restoration
of the stolen bonds or their equivalent to the
Company and to obtain the arrest Of the burg.
lars, provided his name should not be connected
with the business, and provided further that
Pinkerton should cease his operations, as the
latter was seeking to obtain bis arrest and cor
viction. He returned to Illinois.
What progress has since been made we are
unable to say. fse1-
There would seem to be little or no doubt of
McRay's and Wilkinson's active participation
in the robbery of the s'Ohio Farmers and of
Felker's completely with the gang. Pinkerton
complained bitterly of the published article
exonerating Felker. Whether that publication
was pOlicy-and that probably alone induced
it-time perhaps viii determine.
The, Company are sanguine that the remain.
der of the bonds or their equivalent will be se-
cured, inasmuch as SO many of those undoubt-
edly engaged in the burglary or in the negotia.
ton of the bonds are in such close quarters.
tits but Just to state that notwithstanding
the loss the financial condition of this old and
reliable Farmers Insurance Company was new
more prosperous. The receipts Of the Com
pany over and above losses by fire, for the last
year, have more than made up the deficiency
occasioned by the robbery, aud to-day they
have larger surplus cash capitalthan ever be-
fore, amounting to over 800, ,OOO., zel