The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-31
O. w. WALLACE'S ARREST
MAN CHARGED WITH IMPERsONAT-
ING A GOVERNMENT OFFICER.
Dramatic Scene I'm Court When His
Wife Appeared and Explained
that He Is Insane.


yesterday arrested Orrin w. Wallace on
the charge of impersonating an officer.
Some days ago Wallace went to Goshen.
where he represented himself to be a gov
eminent revenue officer. He represented to
the people of that city that the govern
ment intended to remove the revenue Of
ficer from South Bend to Goshen, and even
went TO the extent of employing about
twenty clerks and stenographers. Wallace
put UP at the best hotel, drove the best
rigs to be obtained. and made himself gem
orally popular. The citizens of Goshen
were highly elated over the prospective re-
moval of the revenue office from South
Bend. and the newspapers of that city pro-
mulgated the news in large type.
In his capacity as revenue officer Wal
lace inspected the stores of dealers in
cigars and liquors. not only in Goshen. but
in all of the surrounding towns. Finally he
went to Bristol and insisted on inspecting
the postoffice. The postmaster refused to
allow him to do so unless he could show
his credentials as government inspector.
This was the straw that broke the camel's
back. Wallace declined to exhibit his Gre
dentials, and the postmaster's suspicious
becoming aroused, he notified the govern
ment officials in this city of Wallaces ac-
tons, and an investigation was immediate
ly begun. which yesterday resulted in Wal
lace's arrest as an impostor.
Wallace was arrested in this, city by
Deputy Marshal Branham and was taken
before United States Commissioner Herod
for a preliminary hearing. Commissioner
Herod began his examination in an infor-
NAL way and had not asked the prisoner a
half dozen questions before IL was appar-
ent to every one present that Wallace was
as mad as a march hare. He maintained
that he was the special agent of the gov
eminent and that besides being a revenue
officer, he was also deputy United States
marshal. He admitted he had done all the
things with which he was charged, but was
at loss to understand why he should be
arrested for acting in his official capacity.
When asked to show his credentials as a
government officer he said he did not have
them with him and that they were in the
possession of his wife. When he disclosed
the fact that he had a wife Commissioner
Herod Immediately dispatched messenger
to the address given by Wallace as the
place where his wife could be found. Be-
fore the messenger had reached the bottom
of the stairs leading from the United
States marshals Office, however, Mrs.
Wallace who, it developed afterwards
had been searching for her husband.
put in an appearance. The scene was very
at the floor, suddenly looked toward the
door and saw Mrs. Wallace coming up the
stairs. Pointing his finger in her direction
child, which suddenly beholds its parent
There she is, there's my wife," and just
at that moment Mrs. Wallace entered the
room. Her first words were confirmation
of what everybody present suspected. In
an agitated manner she inquired why her
husband was under arrest. Commissioner
Herod, whose sympathieS were already en-
listed, explained in as gentle manner as
possible, some of the things with which
Wallace was accused. Bursting into tears
she approached her husband and lifting
his face said to the commissioner Don t
Won see can't you understand what is the
matter with him? My husband is insane
and is not responsible for his actions -
Commissioner Herod choked back a sob
and then gently drew the story from the
lips of the wife. She said that in 1897 Wal
lace suffered a sunstroke. from which he
had never recovered. For more than year,
she said Wallace had been mentally ir-
responsible and had not been able to do
anything towards the maintenance of his
wife and two children. Since that time Mrs.
Wallace said she herself had shouldered
the burden of not only providing for her
self and two children, but also for her hus-
band. She said she labored every day that
she might keep them all from starving.
When she had concluded her story Mrs.
Wallace walked over to her husband and
stood smoothing his hair while Commits
sioner Herod debated what was best to do
in the matter. He did not keep them long
in suspense. After ascertaining that IL
would be almost impossible for Wallace to
obtain bond, he announced that he would
release him on his own recognizance, after
having exacted promise from Mrs. Wal
lace that she would bring her husband be-
fore him again on next Wednesday, at
which time the case will be finally disposed
of.
Deputy Marshal Branham. in discussing
the case afterwards, said he had never met
with a sadder experience. II do not see,"
said Mr. Branham, ''how Wallace could
impose upon the people Of Goshen. No one
could look at him the second time without
discovering that he was insane. And, be-
sides. they certainly should have known
there was something wrong when he talked
of moving the revenue office from South
Bend TO Goshen. There is no revenue Office
at South Bend and never has been"