Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-30
.HIGHFLYER WALTON IN JAIL
Boston Young Man Who Spent His Sweet
hearts Money,
WIDOW THOMPSON SECURES HIs ARREST
Omaha Police Aid in Bringing
Romance to n Showdown,
but settlement f. Not
Certain.

= Thomas ". Walton. who cut such a swath
in Omaha during the fall and winter Of
the last year on money alleged to have be-
longed to a sweetheart and bride that was
to be in Boston, is an inmate OF the city
Jail. She who caused his arrest is Mrs.
Elizabeth Thompson, the rich widow,
sweetheart and bride-to-be, Of Boston, who
arrived in Omaha yesterday Imorning.
Walton was arrested at the Merchants
hotel by Detectives Savage and Dunn. He
had been there several days, coming from
Council Bluffs where he has been stopping
under an assumed name.
Yesterday afternoon ]. W. Gilbert, at
torney for Mrs. Thompson. filed a COM
plant against Walton charging him with
embezzlement, the amount being a few
dollars more than $500. The complaint
was fled in Justice Carson's court in Coun-
ell Bluffs.
Met as Lovers Meet.
Mrs. Thompson and Walton had a long
drawn-out conference in the latter's cell
at the city jail last night. The two met
as long-separated sweethearts and not as
nemies-at-la Mrs. Thompson, whose
avordupois is too sufficient to allow her to
enter the door OF the cell in the usual way,
had to side" in. But her reception was
none the less cordial because Of this. Wal
ton recognized her instanter and with a
cry of Joy sprang to meet her. He was
enveloped in two large sleeves made In the
manner Of kimonas aud his two hands peeped
out beneath them on each side. A long
drawn-out kiss, a few "Tommys'' and "Liz-
zies'' and the two had met after an absence
of almost a year.
Mrs. Thompson seated herself upon a
large arm chair and Walton occupied the
seat of honor on the right arm of the chair.
The conference continued for several hours
and upon 1t depends whether or not Wal
ton will be prosecuted.
At 10 o'clock the conference came to a
close. Walton won out. Mrs. Thompson
announced to the desk sergeant that she
had agreed to give him a chance to return
east and settle up their financial difference.
HE is too young to send to the peniten-
tiary," she said, "a good boy with a prom
Using future, gone wrong, is all. 1 won't
prosecute him this time" She then went
on a hunt for the proper authorities to
secure Walton's release.
waItOn's swath in Omaha.
Walton struck Omaha by storm last fall
and Immediately became a general favorite
in society circles. He had money to burn
0NeN hchNh ~ NONNAVPVu
that the money on which Walton was cut
ting such a swath belonged to Mrs. Thomp-
son, to whom he was engaged to marry.
The facts came out when A. c.. Burwell. q
partner IA Inc drug business OF which
Mrs. Thompson was the head, came to
Omaha after Walton,
In October Walton had been sent by Mrs.
Thompson to Logan, Ia, there TO dispose
Of a farm which she owned. He was to
return in time for their wedding, which
was then shortly to occur. Walton didn't
return. He sold the farm for $500 and
Of this sum 32,675 was sent to the waiting
widow.
Before Mr.. Burwell arrived in Oman
Walton had left. The last heard Of him
was in Kansas City, where he had accom-
panied 1--WE Omaha young women June IL.
The girls returned home June 20 without
Walton, and until recently NO further trace
Of him was found. The Boston widow
finally called upon the police to assist her.
Walton was located several days ago and
the widow was notified. Yesterday morning
she arrived in Omaha and Walton's arrest
followed.
widow May Not Prosecute.
Walton is about 2s years Of age. smooth
faced and boyish looking. He wears the
latest style clothes and is handsome. His
deserted sweetheart is past 40 and weighs
over $50 pounds. She was stylishly gowned
and her fingers were adorned with costly
diamonds. She is not sure whether Walton
had stolen her money or whether he eX-
pected to return 1t to her. She stated that
she would not marry Walton II he was a
criminal.
, When Walton came to Omaha last fall he
represented himself to be the agent Of q
sporting goods house. He was a frequent
visitor at the Omaha club and was a gen.
eral favorite at the Elks' club. At one time
he was arrested on complaint OF a young
woman, but the case was settled out OF
court.
Claims widows Consent.
One who was intimate with Walton dur.
ing his high flying in Omaha said that Mrs
Thompson wanted Walton more than she
did the money he is alleged to have en-
bezzled. He said Walton had several letters
from the widow in which she practically
gave him the farm he sold or the proceeds
from the sale Of it. She did this beca0s,
she was troubled with heart disease and
feared that II she died during Walton's alb
sence he would not get the money. In ont
letter she said: This letter is better thar
a will for you. No one can beat you out o.
the money"
y Mrs. Thompson said the reports in after
9 noon papers that she was past 40 years o
> age were untrue. 81 am only 49," she said
Z land Mr.. Walton is SO. AS to my weigh
I the papers differ. hut I cannot enlighteI
the public as to that for / have not weighed
a since / was is years Of age"
Mrs. ~Thompson's attorneys say they IN
. tend to prosecute, and the time OF the hear
ing will depend upon whether or not Walton
Q will return to Iowa without requisition pa