The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-13
JOHN HUNT ARRESTED
For Fraudulent Use of the
United States Mails.
SHOT BY AN OFFICER
Deputy Marshall Trigg As
sumes Responsibility.

| Yesterday John Hunt, colored man
employed at 81 South Topeka avenue,
was arrested at the Federal building for
fraudulent use Of the mails Special Po-
lice Sam Bennett made the arrest. Hunt
tried to get away and Bennett shot him
in the right leg. The ball went into the
calf of the leg and shattered the bone.
DR.. J. z. Hoffman, the designated federal
physician for this point, took the case in
charge promptly and amputated Hunts
leg a little below the knee. The young
man is in the City hospital.
It is charged that Hunt had written a
letter to the parents of William Weber,
at Lynchburg, Ohio, asking for money to
come home on. William Webber's name
was signed to the letter and it stated
that he had been hurt in a laundry here,
that he was in need and his injuries were
such that he could never get well. lie
wanted $40 to get home before he died.
William Webber's father, Chris Web
Der of Lynchburg, Ohio, knowing Mr..
Clarence Fulton, wrote him asking him
to see if William, his son, was in need,
and if so to help him out, and requesting
that If William was not in need to hand
the letter, which purported to be from
his son, to the postofhce authorities,
which Mr.. Fulton, finding that William
Weber was not in need, I'D as requested.
The letters were sent to the postal au-
thorities. The matter came to the atten-
ton of Deputy United States Marshal
Trigg, who thought it better to get the
writer. of the fraudulent letters at once.
Hunt had asked that Mr.. Weber send
him the money in a registered letter in
care of Andrew Thomas, who, he said
was employed at the postoffice. He said
that Thomas was attending to his affairs
since he was hurt. So letter was di-
rected to Andrew Thomas stating that a
registered letter for him was at the post
office. Chief Cubbon stationed a man in
the Federal building who was instructed
to arrest the man inquiring for the let
ter.
In about an hour Hunt showed up and
called for the letter. Mr.. Mccoy, who
was at the window, asked: as your
name Thomas?"
Yes, sir
you'll have to be identified" said Mr.. !
Mccoy.
Hunt started to walk away when he |
was arrested. AS they went out the :.outh |
way Hunt attempted to get away. Of |
fcer Bennett said that he tried to hit him |
with his revolver but couldn't and rather
than let him get away he shot him.
Assistant Postmaster Jewett says that |
this is the method Of making arrests |
practiced by postoff1ce inspectors and |
that any stranger would have to be iden-
tilted before he could get a registered |
letter.
Deputy Marshal Trigg assumes all re-
sponsibility in the matter and says he re-
grets very much that it was necessary
to hurt Hunt
Mr.. Trigg reached Wichita last night on
a late train. He had heard nothing Of
the shooting of Hunt until he alisated
from the train He Immediately took
steps to see that Hunt was well cared
for. When asked concerning the affair,
he said:
81 did not return from Kansas City I'M
til Thursday forenoon, and the case was
laid before me by the city officials and
by others interested in the matter Of in
the matter thoroughly.
arrived at the same conclusion that 9TH
ers had reached, that the man who was
using the mails for the purpose of extort-
ing money from innocent parties could
be captured if prompt action was taken.
After talking with Assistant Postmaster
Jewett, l concluded to write a letter
which would reveal the identity of the
letter writer. I asked the city off cials
that an officer be placed at the window
and when the letter was called for that,
whoever claimed it should be held until
I returned from Winfield. There Is no
question as to Mr.. Benefits action being
the proper one. He started to the 20
lice station with Hunt, and was assault
ed, and when Hunt attempted to escape
ne shot him in order to stop him.
ST am inclined to think that Hunt has
planned this scheme to extort money I'M
der the direction of some one else who
has the ability to keep under cover For
six months past I have been receiving
complaints of work Of this kind In some
Instances parties in other states have re-
ceived letters telling them that relatives
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