Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-07
A BLOTTED PAGE.

william e. Page, Station and Express
Agent at Golden City, Missouri. Winds
Up q Christmas Spree by Stealing 3d.
600 and Decamping in Female Attire
Arrested at st. Louis and Most OF the
Money Recovered.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, December 30.-De'
tectise Frank Erskine boarded the incom.
ing Frisco train at Grand avenue last
evening, and arrested young man dis.
guised in woman's clothing, whom he
identified as William E. Page, station and
express agent at Golden City, Barton
County, Missouri, on the Gulf Road.
Page was attired in half-mourning, con-
sisting of black Jersey, closely-ftting,
and displaying a well-developed bust, q
long black crepe veil, black skirt and Ia
dies shoes. Beside him was sachel,
which was found to be filed with money,
stolen from an express package. The
prisoner was taken to the -Four courts,
much to the surprise of the passengers,
who were surprised to discover that the
demure little lady was man.
At the Four Courts Page was brought
before Captain Fruchte and compelled to
disrobe, when the beautiful bust was
found to be composed of greenbacks
His waist and hustle were formed OF the
same valuable material, and when the
money was counted it footed up $500.
He admitted taking about $4,000, and
said the remainder of the money had been
lost while Skulking in the woods.
Detective Erskine was formerly con-
nected with the police force, and has been
employed by the Frisco Road. He knew
Page, who was considered reliable man
and good telegraph operator. Yester-
day Erskine received a telegram from the
conductor of a train on the Frisco Road,
stating that Page was on the train and
travelling disguised as a woman.
Page had neglected to provide himself
with male attire and was sent down to the
calaboose grotcsquely arrayed in his femi-
until he looked like a clothes line in
high wind.
To reporter Page said this morning:
~ thought over the thing for some
time, but was never tempted SO strong
before. | live at Golden City, whe1e I
have wife and child. am Twenty-Five
years of age, and have been drinking with
the boys since last Sunday. Last week
received a message stating that a package
of money would arrive Monday for the
Golden City Bank. While drunk
determined TO roo the SX-
press company and clean out the safe.
Monday a message came that the package,
containing $4,000, would come from Kan
sas City on the five o'clock train. The
safe contained about So 1000, and on re-
Ceipt of the message l went home and
told my wife that friend of hers wanted
to see her. When she left the house I
took lot of her clothing and hid it in the
brush. Then I went back to the
depot, received the package, cleaned out
the safe and started for the woods, where
broke open the package and put all the
bills 1 could inside the package. lost
good deal of the money in the darkness
and walked around all night. Next MORN
ing slipped into a freight car and rode
to Springfield, where l bought a ticket
for St. Louis over the Frisco. On the
train recognized the conductor, Andy
Carey, but he did not seem to
recognize me at first, until
I reached the station, where the
passengers dine. My walk then gave me
away, and I noticed that the conductor
and brakeman began cycling me, and when
wanted to leave the train at Newburg
they wouldn't let me, and I knew the
game was up. I tore up a letter which I
had written to my wife informing her
hat was going to Canada, and would
never return"
The Adams Express Company were noti-
led aud visited the prisoner, who will be
sent back to Golden City to-day.