The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-03-10
A HARD NUT.


In December, 1883, man giving his
name as w. H. Henderson, claiming to
be a postofice inspector, made a tour
through Montana examining postotiees,
and in many cases by threats of expos
ure for alleged dereliction Of duty levied
contributions from frightened postmast-
ers to a large amount. While en-
gagged in this nefarious business, he
was arrested at Missoula on Charge
made by Postmaster Wright, of Livings-
ton. of whom he had obtained money
under false pretenses. While en- route
to Livingston he was interviewed by a
Helena newspaper reporter, to him he
stated that he had but recently met Mr..
Bannerman, his associat inspector. This
incensed Mr.. Bannerman, who had
never seen the individual and he deter
mined to prove beyond the shadow of a
doubt that he was unacquainted with
the thief Appearing in Livingston he
went to the jail, wherein Henderson,
was incarcerated introduced himself as
Bozeman attorney, and was at once
employed. Bannerman appeared next
morning at the bar and dramatically
made himself known. Henderson"
who has as many alias as he has fingers
and toes, was finally brought to Boze-
man, indicted by the grand jury, and on
the charge of obtaining money under
false pretenses-there being then no
punishment for one personating gov
eminent officer-and was sentenced to
six months in the county jail.
Nothing has been heard of him since
he was released until lately, when he
was arrested in Marshall, Tex, at his old
trick of representing himself as post
Office inspector
In the sixteen years of his criminal
career, says the Globe-Democrat, he has
adopted many DISCUSSES and aliases but
has rel1ed chiefly on acquaintance with
postoffice affairs as basis for the prose-
cution of his fraudulent schemes. Where
he learned so much of the business is not
known to the department. His first ap-
pearance in the records was in 1879,
when he was captured in Adrian, Mich,
in the act of tapping the money order
division TILL Ex-Postoffice Inspector j.
E. Stuart, of Chicago, saw him then and
recognized him as a telegraph operator
EMPLOYED for about month in 1869 at
Fon du Lac, and known there by the
the name of Morris In 1879, when cap
tured at Adrian, he was convicted and
sent to the penitentiarY for three years.
He was at that time wanted in Louisiana
for frauds in Pointe Coupee Parish, and
the government sent requisition for
him to Stuart. At Pointe Coupee he
had cut a wide swath during the preced-
ing year, establishing and disseminating
mail ro1tes, making mail contracts and
levying contributions upon all persons
doing business with him. On the ex-
piration of his sentence in Michigan he
disappeared and the Louisiana people
lost track of him Until December, 1888,
he either lived an honest life, as he was
capable of leading, or so covered bis
frauds that he was not heard of.
In conversation with Ex-sheriff Blake
". who arrested Henderson" in 1888,
we are informed that his prisoner was
far from being sharp and shrewd. Pos
| sessiny a check of adamantine and a gift
of speech that was oily beyond compare,
nothing abashed him. Nj. Blakely also
added that prominent Chicago lawyer
who visited Bozeman professionally
while Henderson was in Jail, informed
him that he had seen Henderson, i" who
went by the name of Morris, jump from
the court house window in Kansas City
and escape, while being tried for somt
offense.
Gle is described as being AZ years old
5 feet 5 inches high, light complexion
brown hair, light mustache and NJ
whiskers. Mr. Bradbury Williams say
| he does not know the individual wis
has such familiar recollections of him
SELF but thinks the fellow has gotten hi
name from others. The aliases he adopt
are many, starting with his first name
Morris is used in 1869 S. w. Scott, Val
Henderson, w. T. Henderson and S. 4
Smith used in 1884, and NJ. R. Morrison
Morning and w. R. Morrison used latter
". Which of these names, if any, tina
is really his the department does nc
know. He will be taken to Topeka fo
trial"