Evening journal., 1897-09-06
AFTER THE $500.
A Question Raised as to Who
is Entitled to the Reward
IN THE FOBD-swINDLE CASE

DETECTIVE WITSIL, SOME SAY, IS
ENTITLED TO IT - OTHERS
CLAIM W. T. MEARNS SHOULD
GET TT-AN INTERESTING CUES
TION.
If it be true that the government has
offered a reward for the capture of the
gang which has been looting various
post offices throughout the country,
and of which Ford, who was captured
here by Detectives Witsil and McVey
is the recognized leader, there is a
question who merits the reward.
Postal Inspector Moore Saturday told
a Journal man chat if the government
classes idhe robbery of the Belmore
post Office as a robbery" then the
government will pay a reward
Postmaster George of Belmore, in
giving his testimony in the case said
that Ford and three men entered theI
post office, and while his attentions
were given over to some other business
Ford and the three men stole The money
order book, which contained nearly D.
600 of the blank money orders. Surely
Ford did not take the book in a mis-
take, for his purpose of entering the
post office was robbery. He did not re-
turn the money order book, and how
can the United States government es-
cape chasing it as a robbery? 1t is a
robbery, pure and simple and bold
one at that. BY that robbery at least
dozen or perhaps a hundred business
men have been buncOed by taking
bogus money orders received from Ford
or members of his gang in payment for
goods. 1t was by the purchasing of
goods that Ford and his gang secured
money.
The question now raised is who is
entitled to the reward. Some say De-
tective Witsil, some say w. T. Mearns.
But there is another man in the case
who should come in for some of the
reward, if any is 10 be given. That one
is James Wright, the Market street
clothier. 1t was through Mr. Wright
that Mearns discovered that he had been
buncoed. Mearns became suspicious
and notified the detectives, and Ford s
arrest followed. The rest Of the story
has been given.
Ford was arrested some time ago in
Pittsburg on the same charge, that OF
| passing bogus money orders. He was
put in the patrol wagon, and while be-
ing taken to the police station, it is
said, that he slipped thirteen money
orders, made out for $25 each, under
the cushion seat of the patrol wagon
When he was searched at the station
house nothing that would lead the Off.
GERS to believe that he was a crook was
d. found on his person. He was arraign
! ned next day before a city magistrate
who fined him S. for being disorderly
: He paid the fine and left The town
The next day the Pittsburg Officers
discovered that they had let escape Z
man who detectives all over the coun.
try were searching for, and they them
selves had a picture of Ford, but they
didnN know it.
Detective Witsil Saturday Afternoon
received a letter from Charles B
Thomas, a postal inspector of st. Louis
Missouri, asking for a description o
the man Ford. who he arrested 70
passing a bogus money order on w. T
Mearns.
The letter says that from the decrip
tions given of Ford in the newspaper
leads the st. Louis authorities to be
lieve that Ford once worked that TOW
, under the name of "E. b. Morgan"
Concerning the reward a JouIna
reporter spoke to w. T. Mearns Satur
day: do you think you are entitled &
= it?" he asked him.
: = Well" replied Mr. Mearns, hesitat
e ingly IF there is any reward and
o can be proved l am entitled to it, I Ger
, tainly would be glad TO get it. I woul
be a fool to refuse it,"
I The same reporter saw Detectiv
:; Witsil. but he declined to talk abou
the matter. The reporter called upo
o Mr. Wright in relation to the matter
e but he.was busy and could not be seer