Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1891-11-19
1t is Claimed That Thompson Was In
the Penitentiary While Graham
Lived In Mexico.

hAoAASOs SA0AAA8 0AOAA . Scs"s01
and claiming that the child here
was illegitimate, and her mother
was not the wife of the deceased.
DR.. Lanius, Of this city, insisted
that they were one and the same
person, and several facts tended to
show that he was correct. We now
have reliable information that it is
to be proven that Thompson and
Graham were two different persons,
and that Charley Graham never
had a wife and child I'M Frederick.
town. This fact, it is claimed, will
be proven by court records and 9th.
or evidence which can not be over
come. DR.. Lanius said, when seen
by aLEDaER reporter to-day, "There
can be no mistake about this mat
ter; that he knew Thompson in
Fredericktown, and did his prac-
tice. Thompson deserted his fami-
ly. Two or three years after he
came here to Mexico he saw Ora.
ham and knows that he was the
same man, and that he has known
him eff and on every SINCE" He
says that there can be no question
about the matter. At the same
time, we understand that parties
claim to have proof, that during
two years of the time Graham lived
here in this county, perhaps IN the
years of '79 and 80, the man who
called himself Charley Thompson
was in the penitentiary at Jefferson
City, where he was sent from Iron
county, while Graham was living
in this county. If this is a fact, of
course they could not have been
one and the same person. Wheth.
er this matter will ever be definite
ly settled or not, is question. OF
course the Insurance Companies
are going to fight the matter to the
last ditch, and it is likely to be a
good while and to cost good deal
Of money before this mystery is en-
tirely cleared up.
Mr.. w. w. Fry, an attorney at
law in this city, on being interview
ed in regard to the Graham-Thomp-
son mystery by a reporter of the
LEDGER Friday, said: "About ten
days ago I received information that
Charles Thompson, father of Jos.
Thompson, of Fredericktown, who
claims to be the heir to Graham'e
estate, who it is claimed was the
same as Charles Graham, was sent
to the penitentiary from Iron coun.
ty, Mo-, in ~ for 20 years, on a
charge of murder in the second de.
gree. I was informed that if Ora.
ham was not in the penitentiary
after ~, he could not be Charles
Thompson" Mr.Fry also exhibit
ed to US a letter from Deputy War
den of the penitentiary, Todd, re-
ferring to description of the con
vict, Thompson. This description
said that Charles Thompson wal
sent to the penitentiary January 16
1878. He was sent from Iron coun'
ty and was convicted at the Octo
Der adjourned term in 1872. Tht
crime for which he was sent wal
murder in the second degree. HI
was sentenced for 20 years from
January 8, 1873. His age was 81
years /; nativity, Illinois occupa
ton, farmer heighth, 5 feet and {
3-4 inches /; loot, 10 IA inches
long hair, light blue eyes, ligh
complexion. There were severa
very small black marks on the bacl
of his arm and a mole on his lef
shoulder. He was fully pardonet
by Gov.T.T. Crittendon on Dec. 25
1852. Now if this Charles Thomp
son was the Charles Thompson tina
DR.. Lanius knew at Fredrlcktown
Mo, he could not have been Ora
ham, fo1 during the time above re
ferred to Charley Graham was Of
his farm in Audrain county. Dr.
Lanlus claims that this is a differ
ent Charley Thompson altogethe
and that the Charley Thompson
who went to the penitentiary from
Iron county is not the man b
knew in Fredricktown, but Chat
Graham, who killed himself no
long since in this county.
| Be sure and call and inspes
La Crosse Lumber Co.'S. stock.