The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-09-02
Prominent Indiana Republican
Politician Caught by a
Postal Detective.
USING AN INSPECTORS PASS.
Had Been Defrauding Railroads
for Nine Years-Trap Laid
for Him-He Is Now
Under Arrest.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington, Sept. 1.-The Postmaster
General has received Information OF the
arrest at Greencastie, Ind, of Jesse w.
Weik. formerly an Inspector In the POST
Office Department, on the charge OF using
the Federal commission issued to him In
1921 for the purpose of defrauding railroad
companies of transportation
Weik is 4 resident of Greencastle- He
is well-to-do and Is prominent in Republic
an politics IN Indiana. having been a deie-
gate to the National Convention In ST.
Louis four years ago. and candidate Tor
Collector Of Internal Revenue under Pres
sdert Mckinley. The President appointed
TO this place the nephew of Richard Thomp-
son. formerly sergeant-at-arns OF inc
House of Representatives. In spite Of this
disappointment. however. Weik has con-
tinued to work for the Republican party.
When he was detected by n Post Office de-
tective in the act of using the expired
commission. and realized that he would be
arrested. he leaped from the rapidly NOV
ing Vandalia train, in which he was riding
from Greencastle TO Indianapolis, and was
severely hurt. He made his way back 20
cireencastle rea ching there blood-siained
and delirious and was taken into CUSTODY
on adyices from the detective. who had
left the train at the first telegraph statloh.
The technical charge against WEEK Is I'M
personat.ng a Federal officer and gaining
thereby a valuable consideration" 90.
Weik's Plan.
The inspectors commissions are issued
annually. They are good for transporta-
ton on all lines carrying the United states
mails. BY presenting the old, out-of-date
commission, probably exposing II quickly
10 the gaze OF the railroad conductor. not
allowing him 10 scrutinize the tine or lts
expiration, it is said that for almost nine
years Weik has been enabled to beat the
railroads.
Recently information reached the depart
1nent at Washington that he was travelling
on an expired Post Office Inspectors COM
mission. A detective. really Post Ofics
Inspector himself was assigned to work on
the case. He went to Greencastle, repre-
sc1ting that he was investigating the title
Of certain property which he desired to
purchase weik dabbles in real estate. and
the Inspector soon had made his ac-
quaintance. For two weeks the officer
Su4es cnmmsaiOn On xasn wcs Neik was sup
posed to be using.
one morning Weik announced his inten-
.ton OF going 10 Indianapolis. The lnspec-
tors opportunity had arrived. He would
take the same train, and II Weik flashed
the commission he would see it.
Weik was careful to seat himself at the
extreme rear end of the coach. There
we're no seats behind him. so the Inspector
was compelled to occupy one across the
aisle. When the conductor appeared. the
Inspector paid his fare in cash. Appar-
entity Weik had not suspected that he was
being Swallowed, for he pulled forth the
old commission. The conductor was salts
fed and passed on. Now was the Inspec-
tors chance. Leaning over, he said to
Weik:
"I see you are a Post Office Inspector"
Yes" replied Weik.
DO YOU operate in this districtT'
Yes. I've been here several years.
Jumped on the Train.
The Inspector went after the conductor.
explained the circumstances to him and
asked him to collect n cash fare from Weib-
The conductor sxpostulated- saying that
Weik had been riding the commission
for many years.
Weik realized what was up and. while
the conductor and Inspector were arguing,
opened the vestihule door between two. cars
and. although the train was going at the
rate OF twenty-five miles an hour. leaped
from the steps. He was stunned when he
struck the earth, but recovered himself
sufficiently to walk back to Greencastie.
There he was arrested. His injuries were
such that he was compelled to so to bed,
but he was constantly guarded.
Wcik was n student OF GncOin's hiog-
rap aphiss. and. in collaboration with q former
friend OF the martyred President. wrote a