The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-02
MADE A BAD MESS OF 1T.
All Attempts to Cover Up His Trail
Were Abortive.


MARQUETTE, Mich, Dec. Elk
..ut that James Wallace, accused of
concentrating valuable securities be-
,onoiag to his former employer, Ed
varj y. Breitung, the millionaire
ou.ner of mines and lands, was ac-
.ompanied in his flight to England
by a woman, there are no develop
,nants in the case that has caused the
bigoest sensation in years in northern
Michigan Mr.. Breitung is in Chicago
today, having telegraphed he was to
start from there east, where ne has
b4en on business connected with the
alleged defalcatiOn of his confidential
secretary He is expected here Sunday
Arrangements are in progress to have
Wallace extradited. What will be done
with him is unknown. However, it
may be taken for granted that Mr..
Breitungs decision will rest in large
degree on the amount of money re-
ceived and whether Wallace's other
business affairs are shown to be in
good order.
Sucn proceedings, owing to the
prominence of the man involved, the
4 nature of the crime and the spectac-
rgar way in which Wallace sought to
get out of the country, will be among
the most sensational ever witnessed in
this region.
London cablegrams relate that Wal
lace did not sail alone on the Saxo-
MIA from Boston. He was accom-
panied by some woman, the couple
taking passage as Mr. and Mrs. Will
SON. No friend of Wallace here has
any idea who this woman is or
whether Wallace had known her be-
fore leaving Marquette 1t is rumored,
however, that she may be a resident
of Washington, D. c., where as Mr..
Breitungs secretary Wallace has
spent much time and where it is said
he was intimate with a woman whose
identity is not known here 1t is con-
sidered certain that his companion is
not from Marquette.
Wallace's departure on the Saxonia
was learned of before the steamer ar
rived at Liverpool and detectives were
waiting for Mr. and Mrs Wilson,"
They We're Swallowed until it was
ascertained that Wilson was none
other than Wallace, when he was put
under arrest
In the couples possession were
found some $4,000 or more in cash,
and letters of credit Thus most of
the money realized from stocks has
oeen removed. The discrepancy can
not we'll be so large as to make a set
. uement impossible, providing no ad-
uluonal Irregularities are found 1t is
generally commented that Wallace
"Iaoe bunSling mess of the job. The
nature OF the securities was such that
The ShreWdest would have been taxed
10 the limit of his resources TO con-
vert them into money ana escape
"l'hut leaving a broad trail. Wal
Iace's trail was plain enough for the
detective agency and the case was
easy
Wallace first endeavored to sell the
stocks without having them trans
IeIfed but was unable to turn them
MO money in that way. 1t was neces-
S"EE Tor him to have them trans
lerFed at the office maintained for that
purpose. thus leaving a clear record.
lie made but one or two attempts to
N'ue his tracks, one of them being
Ielter in which he announced his in
'ehlion of going to New Orleans.
these attempts were insufficient and
abortve
IeopIe here are puzzled to hit upon
satisfactory motive for the crime.
wallace was moderate in his tastes
ali" careful about money except in
'pe"S OF dissipation. Possibly he
wanted revenge, for because of his ir-
'Vsular habits his resignation had
'een requested. Some people incline
me theory that there must have
en previous irregularities in his con-
u Mr.. Breitung's business. Again
- suggested that Walla may have
=" temporarily irresponsible, but
lis theory does not appear to be at
all feasoble.
wallace is we'll along in years, being
mall OF 90. 1t has been generally sup
''Seo he was not more than 40.
N'oH CRIMINALS WITH PHONE.