The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-27
INNOCENT MAN IS
ARRESTED BY
MISTAKE
Local Authorities Ran Down
Wrong Wilson
EASILY PROVED AN ALIBI
Was Not in Town at Time Alleged
Fraudulent Subscription Was
Taken

Sheriff Godfrey arrived here on the
noon train today from Rutland with
Edward Wilson, the young man who
was arrested in that city Saturday
night on the suspicion that he was
soliciting unauthorized subscriptions
for the Saturday Evening Post. The
young man was taken to the Office of
States Attorney w. j. Meagher where
il required but few minutes to dis
cover that the authorities had,
through strange combination Of cir
cumstances, arrested an innocent per-
son. aS&
Wilson easily proved that he was
not in Bennington at the time the
alleged fraudulent subscription to the
Saturday Evening Post had been Sc
cured of Richard A. Rawson Of the
Bennington County Savings bank. A
young man who accompanied Wilson
testified that his friend, who strange
ly is engaged in soliciting magazine
subscriptions had been in Rutland
since Tuesday and gave a history of
his movements for the few days pre-
ceding that date. Mr.. Rawson also
stated that the man under arrest was
not he who secured the Post sub
scription.
The man wanted by the local auth
critics was in Bennington last
week soliciting subscriptions for the
Saturday Evening Post. In his trips
about the village he solicited sub
scriptiOn for the Post from Richard
A. Rawson of the Bennington Coun-
ty Savings bank He Is alleged to
have offered Mr.. Rawson a years
subscription to the publication for
the regular price $3.50 and in addit'
ion a premium to be chosen from a
submitted list OF books. Mr.. Raw
son selected an edition Of Poor Rich
ards Philosophy" by Benjamin
Franklin
Mr.. Rawson had previously been
purchasing the Saturday Evening
Post each week from Charles Cole,
son OF II. ]. Cole The boy complain
ed to his father that he had lost
customer and the latter at once
became suspicious that the agent was
an impostor The contract made
with its agents by the Curtis Pub
fishing company specifies that none
of its agents are authorized to offer
premiums OF any kind ard that such
an offer is sufficient evidence that the
person making such an offer is not an
authorized agent. Mr.. Cole at once
sought out Mr.. Rawson and obtained
the receipt given for the subscription.
The receipt further convinced him
that Mr.. Rawson had been the victim
of an unauthorized agent and he COM
municated with the Curtis Publishing
company. He at once received tel
egram from the publishing company
ASSURING him that Wilson was not
only an impostor but that he had been
making the company considerable
trouble
Mr. Cole also spoke to ]. A. Evans.
the local news agent who sells the
Saturday Evening Post and Mr.. Ev-
ans sent telegram to the publishing
company. He received the following
reply:
'Oner is fraudulent w. ]. Meagh-
er, states attorney. also telegraphed.
We recognize offer as made by motor
ious fraud agent. Real name Raster
Also works under name Wilson. Get
in touch with Meagher and police au-
thorities Immediately. We offer re-
ward hundred dollars for arrest and
conviction Of Raster. Curtis Publish
ing Co."
While he had been subjected TO not
a little annoyance and discomfort, Mr.
Wilson took his arrest philosophical
! ly. He realized that he had been
made the victim OF a mistake brought
about by an unusual sequence OF cir
cumstances and was not inclined 10
criticize any Of the persons who had
been responsible for his arrest. He
has been resident OF Bennington at
different times and is known to many
persons here. When he shook hands
with States Attorney Meagher just
before leaving the Office he said, You
leave IL to me II ever meet the other
Wilson there will be something do
ing" "All right replied the states
attorney, when II happens telephone
me at my expense"