Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-08-05
POSTOFFICE SENSATION.
Arrest Of a Superintendent Of Second
Class Mail Matter on Charge of
EmbeZZlement.
Damaging Evidence Offered to Sub
Stantiate an Accusation Which
Seems Almost Incredible.

f, CHICAGO, July 29-The postoffice in
Spectors who have been engaged for the
past week in a general inspection of the
0hlcago postofice. under orders from
Washington, created a most startling
sensation yesterday by causing the arrest
OF Col. William II. Bolton. superintend-
OF the second-class mail. The arrest was
made at noon, In the Office of the ms pee
tors, who had sent for him ostensiblv to
explain some matters connected with his
accounts, which they were examining.
deputy Marshal Jones was waiting for
him there with warrant, and immed-
lately placed him under arrest on q
charge of embezzlement. About an hour
afterward another warrant was served,
charging Bolton and his weighing clerk,
John L. Stuart, with conspiracy. The
prisoners were taken before United
States Commissioner 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 APP
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 bombshelI could
scarcely have caused more astonisbment
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 maIfeasance 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
been one of the most trusted employees in
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 i'll 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 cononels 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 full investigation of his off
oso1 l0,,, To H.
ment one cont, lie beI1eyeo, aud will provo
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
$491, 712,14, 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 growsEin 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 $10,-
900. His first sureties were @. B. Farwell
John R. Walsh j. A. Sexton, ex-Mayor
Milliken, and Dan O'Hara. His last bond
bears the name of F. III. Hill in place of
Dan OHara, who is now deceased.
Colonel Bolton is about so years of age
and has wife and two children. He was
commander of Bottoms Battery, orgauiz-
L
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
Office in 1876. He is a member of the @.
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 a warden
of the Cathedral. His salary was $2,100
year. Stuart is about 40 years old, and
has a wife and seven, children. He is
son of John t. 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 postoffice in September,
1882, and was transferred to the second
class division April Is, 1883. 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
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 L. Lincoln visited
Postofices Inspectors Adsit and Kiddar
last night and had long interview with
them about Stuart, who is charged with
having conspired with Colonel Bolton to
rob the governnen t. Mr.. Lincoln will
not believe that the man has done any
thing dishonet.
They Ali Laughed.
Texas Siftings.
Bob-Have you sold your humorous
article to anV newsnaner vat2