The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-28
Postoff1ce Inspector Clements Runs
Down Confessed Thief
and Forger.
VIM. n. Dean Impersonated An
other Man and Received
300
FricndskIp That Had Its beginning in
Anaconda Ends with nm Arrest
In Dayvilic, NY.

Postoffice Inspector Il. C.. Clement, of tho
Helena division yesterday wired Judge
Bedell, his chief, that he had caused tho ar
rest OF Wm.H. Dean. charged with repre-
senting himself as VIM. Fl. Dunn and
forging the name OF said Damn. thereby
procuring registered letter belonging to
Dunn, and which contained 8l00 in our
rsncy. The history of tho case In brief in
this: In the spring and until July, 1892,
VIM. Il. Dunn and Vim. II. Dean worked
together in the Anaconda smelter. They
first met each other there, afterward
rooned together and became fast friends.
MIR. Dunn has sister. Mrs. +. Graham, an
estimable lady, residing at Anaconda.
Dunn and Dean left Anaconda tho last of
July and went to Elliott. N. D.. whore
Dunn, In the presence of Dean. told the
postmaster not to deliver his mail to anyone
but himself. Dunn and Dean secured
work on wheat farm at Elliott for the
harvesting and thrsshing season. Dunn.
when he left Anaconda. left with his sister.
Mrs. Graham, his earnings at the smelter
(SlOo) with request that she care for The
Same until he sent for IL. Dean knew of
this arrangement and remembering Dunn's
instructions to the Elliott postmaster, went
to the telegraph office at Lisbon, N. D., six
miles away. and sent the following message
over Dunn's signatures: Flora L. Graham,
Anaconda. Mont. Send my hundred dollars
by registered mail here; am going home.n
Mrs. Graham complied and wrote a few
days later to her brother at Lisbon asking
it he received the money. To this letter
she received no reply, because her brothsr's
address WAS Elliott. Not until October,
when Dunn actually desired to 90
home to oomheld. New Brunswick, did
he know OF Elliotts request TO his sister to
send the money. when he learned that he
and his sister had been imposed upon by
the false message A few days after rs-
ceiving the money Dean left Elliott, and
until December last his whereabouts were
unknown. He was finally located at Days.
vile. Oswego county. N. T., and then
Judge Bedell gave the case TO the late In
spsctor Watkins, who intended to start for
Daysville on the first of the present. month.
Mr.. Watkins subsequent illness. resulting
IN death. made it necessary that another
inspector be detailed on the case, and ID
was given to Inspector G. l.. Wayland who.
after procuring additional evidence aoaist
Dean, was on the point OF starting east, when
Chief Bedell found it necessary to send him
in another direction. The case WAS then
above given. The inspector secured a COM
plete confession from Dean. and the
prisoner is now on his way to North Dakota
to stand trial and receive sentence.
Judge Bedell, owing to the small appro-
priation for depreciation work. has only a
small force to attend to the large number
of complaints of Irregularities in the postal
service, but the records of the division for
good and efficient work and for the number
of arrests and convictions ia, territory and
number of inspectors considered, second to
no other division in this branch Of the
service.