St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-17
DONE UP BY A DEPUTY.
One of Sheriff Beams Efficient
aides Identifies POstofice In.
spectOr ImpersOnator Wright.


aides Identifies POstOffce In.
spectOr ImpersOnatOr Wright.
The identity Of the man who was ar
rested at New Ulm, Minn., On the 7th
inst. has been established. The aliases
known before were F. T. Wright and
Charles E. Griffiths, but his real name
is William A. Ball, son of Mary A. Ball.
of 2426 Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
Six years ago the delectable individual
served term of two years and a half
in the Wisconsin state penitentiary at
for very similar offense. On that Oc-
casion he impersOnated an internal rev.
enue inspector, having obtained the
papers of a former inspector. The
papers were issued in New Jersey, but
Mr.. Ball in some way cOntrived to fix
them up so as to pass in Wisconsin.
His method of operations was to 20 into
cigar and liquor establishments and ask
for their licenses and other documents.
If they had them all right he said
'sGoOd day" and moved on to some
other store. When he found a delin-
quent he told him he would be around
and see him in the morning. When he
came he compromised with the man on
a cash basis. But in some way the
breweries at Oconomowoc, Wis, got
onto his little game and he was jugged.
While serving his term his conduct was
most exemplary, and he was discharged.
After this highly entertaining Incident
in his career he worked as manager OF a
lumber yard at Ellen Lake. But in
some mysterious way his past career
became known to his employers after
ha bod CpIu corund fhom thjrtv dave
Becoming aware of this knowledge, he
skipped. He was never heard of again
under the name of Thorpe, but
has since travelled as F. I.
Wright, and sometimes as Charles E.
Grifiths. The next occasion on which
his ilIustrious career became of inter-
est to an anxious public was when un-
der the name of F. r. Wright he started
out to fight this wicked world in the
guise of United States postotfice in
Spector. AS such he visited the minor
offices and demanded to be allowed to
examine the books. He had no commits
sion, but he continued to persuade
number OF ereGulouS and unsuspecting
pOstmaSters that their accounts were
not straight, and accepted mpre or less
heavy remuneration for his valuable
services in saying nothing. While pre-
dulUuldGluS tuG IuId1 Ql0GIlCGSs pldy lIS
a lone hand against the wide, wide
world, he was suddenly euchred by a
little joker in the shape of the post
master at New Ulm, whom he
had played for a sucker under the
decidedly erroneous impression that he
was hayseed. Not being able to show
his commission when it was demanded
by the postmaster he was slightly taken
aback. It is rather trying Oh the nerves
to be caught in the act Of running in a
cold deck. After brief conference
with Congressman Lund. POstOffice In
spector F. T. Wright was arrested, and
up to the present time has been puz-
zling the brains of the knowing ones to
ascertain just who he is. Sheriff Bean
has deputy, however, who rose to the
occasion. 1t so happened that this dep
uty was an instructor at Waupun dur
ing the period of Mr.. Wright's, alias
Thorpe's, alias Griffiths' Incarceration.
When he saw him he Instantly recog-
nized him as William A. Ball, the ex-
internal revenue inspector impersOn-
ator. Postoffice Inspector Fleming
was at once put in possession OF all the
facts, and ''that which was told in the
closet is proclaimed from the house
tops" This is only another evidence of
the extreme efficiency of the Ramsey
county sheriff's employees. A man who
can go around identifying every GRIM
inal who comes along is valuable &C
QUESTION, and one that the sheriff should
value.