Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-11-04
PERiLS OF THE EXPRESSMAN.
A Remarkable Ease OF Express Robbery
wherein the Suspected Messenger
is Not Guilty. q. Wilson
the Prosecuted Man.

the Prosecuted Man.
Sunday globe Democrat in citing
, number ~ instances where express
messengers Awere suspected of rob
hing their companies and afterwards
proven innocent. mentions one IN
particular that will prove OF interest
to the people OF Mexico, rs the gen
is known here, and is n broth
er Of Mr.. 4. S. Wilson, the ticket
agent at the Union Depot inthis city.
The subject of the sketch is j. G
Wilson, of Moberly, who is known
to everybody AS an upright, honest
man, belonging to a highly respected
family, but in this particular instance
happened to be Il victim OF circum
stances-the unfortunate messenger
who was the first to examine the con-
tents Of the express company's money
packages, and there being $4,000
missing the company felt it duty to
dismiss Mr.. Wilson from its service,
knowing at the time he was innocent.
The narrative Is an interesting one,
hence we reproduce it:
pE.T.PK APIF CASE
There is a story that has never been
told by the press. and which will
show still further the perils that hang
around an exfressman, and that is
the strange disappearance of a $780,
900 package which was shipped from
New York to Chicago in a sealed
safe, and the non-appearance of
which when the safe was opened has
placed several men in awkward posi-
tons that they will only be relieved
from when the mystery which now
surrounds the affair is cleared up.
The two men specially involved in the
trouble are John G.. Wilson and Miles
Fl. Jackman who were, until the loss
of the money package, check clerks
in the Chicago United States and
Pacific Express Office. As this story
has most to do with Wilson a short
history Of his caree may not be
amiss. He was born in Cannonsburg,
Pa, in 1851, and came West with his
parents soon after the war, settling
on u farm five miles from this city
Not liking farm work he applied tc
the agent of the United States Elk
press Company, at Moberly, for {
position. 1t was given to him ant
for FIVE years he gave perfect salts
faction to his employer. His posi-
ton was a trying one, as he was com
PEELED to be up all day and about
..alf of the night, but he never com
planned and was always ready to dt
his duty. AT the end of that time
he was given n run as messenger
and in the next two years ran between
Moberly ard Ottumwa, st. Louis anC
Kansas City, and was finally appoint
ed messenger on the Chicago & Altor
route, and took the first express rur
from Kansas City to Chicago oye'
that road. After running into Chi
cago for some time he vas given I;
position in the Office there as money
check clerk, which position he filled
to the satisfaction Of the company
until the disappearance Of the $50,
900 on the 28th day of March, 1886
The money was checked in and on
Of the Office by four men-Jackman
Wilson, French and Stewart. On
week days, from 6 TO 10 a. NJ, al
would be on duty. After that two
only would have to stay. On Sun
days two were sufficient to attend tt
the checking, and Jackman and VIII
son were on duty. Sunday, the 28tl
of March last, Jackman was sitting
in the pen at n table writing up thu
delivery book for the Monday morn
ing delivery, while Wilson was check
ing in the messengers runs.