Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-08-05
POSTOFFlCE SENSATION
Arrest of a superintendent of SECOND
Class Mail Matter on a Charge of
Embezzlement.
Damaging Evidence Offered to Sinh.
stantiate an Accusation Which
Seems Almost Incredible.

] Chicago postoffice, under orders from
! Washington, created a most STARTLING
sensation yesterday by causing the arrest
of Col. William III. Bolton, superintend.
of the second-class mail. The arrest was
made at noon, in the Office of the inspec-
tors, who had sent for him ostensibly to
explain some matters connected with his
accounts, which they were examining
Deputy Marshal Jones was waiting far
him there with a warrant, and immed
lately placed him under arrest on
charge of embezziement. About an hour
afterward another warrant was served
charging Bolton and his weighing clerk
John I. Stuart, with conspiracy. The
prisoners were taken before United
States Commissioners Hoyne, where they
waived examination. They were held in
bonds of $4,000 on the bharge of conspir.
acy, and Col. Bolton $4,000 additional
on the charge of conspiracy, and Col
Bolton $4,000 additional on the charge
/ of embezzlement. Legrand w. Perez ap-
peared as attorney for the defendants,
and at his request the case was held open
until six o'clock to enable them to pro-
cure bail.
The explosion of bombshell could
!
in the postoffice than the arrest of Col.
! Bolton. Those who were not expecting
| something of the kind refused to believe
him guilty of any willful malfeasance I'M
! til after the discoveries of the inspectors
were related to them, when they general
| ly changed their tone and said he was the
! last man they would have suspected of
such thing. For nine years he had
IF ha fr,, tal a. -.
the office,
ENJOYING THE FULL CONFIDENCE.
not only of Postmaster Palmer, but of
| Postmaster Judd. Last Friday, when In
| spectors Bassett and Kidder began the
inspection of his division he became in
dignant, and accused them of seeking to
do him an injury. His conduct at that
time was regarded as very peculiar for
an innocent man, but his friends excused
it on the ground that he had been ill with
! heart trouble and was nervous and irri
table. He was absent from his Office all
day Saturday, and sent his resignation to
Postmaster Judd at Geneva Lake. Yester-
day, shortly before the arrest was made,
Mr.. Judd's answer was received. 1t was a
kind and friendly letter, refusing to ac-
cept the cononel's resignation, and as
surfing him of the writer's fullest conf
dence in his integrity.
Colonel Bolton says
HE is INNOCENT
of the charges made against him, and
will court a full investigation of his Off
cial doings, He does not owe the govern
ment one cent, he believes, and will prove
IT,
Mr.. Stuart, he said, runs shoe store at
Aurora and ON West Madison street, and
deposited his wages with him, and for
this received the checks referred to by
the inspectors, as he could do business
better with them. Colonel Bolton has
been advised by his attorney to remain
silent for the present. Stuart absolutely
refused to say a word on the matter.
The inspectors say Bolton has collected
$49l LIP, IA, for the government in the
past three years They intimate that he
changed the figures of about fifteen
months, sapers, and believe that his short
age willamount, if it growslin proportion
to $4,000 If it they find that it increas-
es they will require more bonds. They
say the loss must be paid by the Post
masters, Palmer and Judd Colonel Boil
ton gave these gentlemen bond of Sl0,-
600. His first sureties were c. B. Farwell
John r. Walsh j. A. Sexton, ex-Mayor
Milliken, and Dan O'Hara. His last bond
bears the name of +. II. Hill in place of
Dan O'Hara, who is now deceased.
Colonel Bolton is about 80 years of age
and has wife and two children. He was
commander of Bottoms Battery orgauiz-
ed in 1862, and afterward served as chief
of artillery and on the staff under Gener-
al Logan. He was clerk of the United
States Circuit Court of Mississippi after
/ the war, and was appointed to the post
4 Office in 1876. He is a member of the g..
! A. r. Loyal Legion, and Union Veterans,
/ of which he has been treasurer for nine
/ years.
HE WAS TREASURER
of the Episcopalian diocese of Chicago,
| and is now warden of the Episcopalian
diocese OF Chicago, and is now warden
! of the Cathedral. His salary was S2,1OO a
year. Stuart is about 40 years old, and
! has a wife and seven, children He is a
son of John 7. Stuart, one of the first
/ Congressman of Illinois, and is related to
Robert T. Lincoln. He was appointed
assistant cashier of the money order de-
partment of the postof1ice in September,
1882, and was transferred to the second
class division April Is, 1888. His salary
was $1,000 a year. Their friends hope
and expect that they will be able to ex-
plain away the charges. The charges
against Colonel Bolton will surprise all
who know him. He has hitherto borne
an irreproachible character, and has a
wide circle of acquaintance 1t is only
fair that the public withhold any express
ion of Judgement until he has an oppor-
tunity for explanation.
The Hon. Robert I. Lincoln visited
Postoflices Inspectors Adsit and Kidder
last night and hada long interview with
them about Stuart, who is charged with
having conspired with Colonel Bolton TO
rob the government. Mr.. Lincoln Will
not believe that the man has done any
thing dishonet.
Tbax- launched