Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-04-03
INVESTIGATION.

FER ID.
INVESTIGATION.
/ The first thought in connection with the mat
ter was that the silk firm was located in an I'M
usual place for such a business. Nos. 2l0 and
212 North Third street are in the Mitchell build
ing, just south of the old pos'office. 1t is an
office building, tenanted by the Mining Ex-
change, brokers' offices. etc but would probab
ly be the last place i'll the city where silk pur-
chaser would look for dealers in his line. An
nvesigation by the reporter resulted in the dis
covery that N. j. Hills & Co occupied room 81,
on the sixth floor. The door was labeled -. L.
Blood. Studio" and it was learned that the &C.
cup&nts OF the rooms were receiving, through
the mails, about twenty or twenty-five letters
day. Having secured this information, The
Globe Democrat reporter laid the matter, with
the papers and tie information obtained, before
Chief Inspector Gulick, of the Postofiee Inspec-
ion service. THAI gentleman soon decided that
it was case calling for the attention of his Of
tice and he acted accordingly. Considerable
trouble was experienced in catching Mr.. Willis
in his office. it apparently being his habit to
spend the least possible time in the vicinity. A
number of visits were paid to the place Friday,
but s.WIllis & Co." could not be found. ester
Qav morning 1ESpeCtOI OullCh dCCOul pdulcn tuS
mail carrier on his first and his second
| rounds, with no success. On the third the car
| rier reported that the much-sought man was in
After giving him time to get well into his MAIL
| the inspector walked in.
'Would you be kind enough to show me your
goods?" he inquired of the merchant.
The latter was not expecting a customer in
person 1--WE have none in the building" he
said, ''as this is only the companys Office
II would have known that 10000 pieces OF silk
could moi have been stored. not to say ;splayed,
here if 1 had taken second thought" dry.y re-
marked the inspector, alancfng around the walls
that were some eight feet apart Wouldn't you
| send your partner to the store with me to show
| the goods?" he continued.
ssWell-h'm-couldn't we see you later?" ask
ed the merchant
/ THE ARREST.
Eyes, before the United States commissioner.
You are my prisoner, sir, on this warrant charg-
ing you with using the mails for fraudulent
! purposes"
The victim was deeply surprised. He wilted
| He told a good many stories He was not pre-
pared to tell the secret business of the concern
| to all officer. He was representing a house in
! Rochester N. Y, but could not give the address
or name. Then he switched off to New York
CITY. He had partner there He tod the Of
ficer that the New York partner G. S. Tracey
located on Twenty-second street, but didn'
know the number of the house. He claimed
that he secured the addresses of his customer.
and then filled the orders by purchases at one
house and another.
n J. Willis 4 Co was then taken to the United
States maFshaIs Office, where all effort was made
by District AttoI ney 6ashaw to induce him t.
talk. But the brief exposure in the morning
breeze had cooled his laxative powers and at
ter the pumping machinery had been applied
the attorney and inspector remarked that b,
was the 'smoethest young man that had eve
been in the Office" He was tall, slim young
, / man of handsome appearance, and of courteous
polite manners, and well dressed in a suit will
Prince Albert coat Another batch of mail hav
ing arrived, Willis was taken down and request
ed 70 open the letters He smilingly refused
with the added remark, Don't you know
wouldn't do anything you asked me to do, ant
simply because you arc trying to get the ad
yantage?'
He refused to give his residence but tele
phoned to Chas 2. Johnson to defend him.
deputy was then sent to exercise the prisoner
as he expressed wish to see the town, now h
was at leisure. as, he said, business cares ha,
| confined him too closely to allow a study of 81
Louis heretofore. The office of willis d Co.
4 was then visited aid found to be one Of tn
portably furnished kind. There was chair,
I. desk and waste basket, into which orders ha
+ been swept after the cash had been removed.
number of money orders, postal notes. stamp
at random on the desk. A cuspidore complete
: the appurtenances. The prisoner given i
charge of Jailer Callahan, at the Four Court
alter the town had Leen seen.
4 THE PRISONER INTERVIEWED.
IN the spacious rOtunda made famous by MAJ
: | we'll Globe Democrat reporter interviewed q
that the inspector had found visible of Willis
{ CO.
1.-The business of your firm has been SOM
what interrupted by the United States author
f ties, has it not?" was asked.
We'll, yes. But will be out in a few day
: if I can see the commissioner. However, fes
!, that the volume of BUSH ess will have accuml
q lated until my trusting customers may becOn
e impatient at the delay. But, at the farthest,
| will not be more than week, and by employin
g couple of stenographers and clerks can rus
Is it eff /"
/ ssWhy do you not send to the Co.. and have
!, bond fixed for releaSe?
u 'Why. time is not pressing, and as it woul
; cost S1i0 may as well remain here at nothir
/. as outside at So to $40 per day. This is vel
- pleasant place. and there is an excellent chant
to study human nature. See that woman?
can learn the characteristics of people who kee
fences from her. There is another that il pre-
) ty. and yonder Is negro who looks like Den
: ocrat."
q "Where is Tracy, your partner and the rest
the company
o well to tell the truth, Tracy was only nom
? nal Trace him if you can. Really am II
: head. feet and soul of the concerns trinity, q