Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-27
WIRELESS WILSON
DIES SUDDENLY At
THE FEDERAL PRISON
Was Taken III Sunday Night
About 8 O'Clock and Expired
in the Prison Hospital Two
Hours Later

Christopher Columbus Wilson. Of New
York. better known throughout the coun-
try as Wireless" Wilson. because Of his
former connection with the big wireless
syndicate whose operations led to his
downfall. died Sunday night at the Unit
ed States penitentiary. He was taken III
at 7:5o o'clock and died at 1910 Urae-
mic poisoning was given as the cause
of his death.
Colonel Wilson was sitting in the Il
brary at the prison. smoking. when 9th
er prisoners in the room noticed some
thing wrong with him. He was found
TO be desperately ill., and was taken to
the prison hospital where shortly after
wards he lapsed into the coma which
ended with his death. He was 81 yeas
old.
The spectacular career OF the prisoner .
made him probably the most notable
among all those confined at the prison.
the pardon and release Of Charles n.
Morse by President Taft putting Colonel
Wilson at the top Of the list He was
convicted in New York of using the
mails with intent to defraud. in con.
nection with the organization Of his
wireless company. and sentenced to serve
three years in the federal prison. Hs
was received at the prison on August
q. 1871
1t Is reported that the funeral arrange
ments win be designated by the deceas-
ed mans daughter. who is married and
lives in Pennsylvania. He is survived
also by his former wife. whom he d.
vorced to marry his yorng stenographer.
ROMANTIC WEDDING.
He is survived by his present wifs
and a baby boy about year old. Not
little romance has been woven about
the arrest and conviction Of Colonel
Wilson. He was engaged to marry his
young stenographer. and she was pres
ept in the Office when postoflce inspec-
tors first raided the place and put the
president of the United Wireless COM
pany. Of New York. under arrest
Colonel Wilson gave bond the same
afternoon and that evening he and the
22-year-old stenoerapher were married
The trial dragged along for nearly q
year. Finally the promoter was con-
victed and sentenced to three years in
the penitentiary. Just one week after
sentence was pronounced Mrs Wilson
announced the birth Of bouncing baby
boy.
Francis x. Butler. general counsel ana
a director in the wireless swindle. was
convicted of using the mails to defraud.
at the same time that Colonel Wilson
was tried. and the former is still serv-
ing his .two-year sentence in the federal
prison.
Prison officials said today that Colonel
Wilson had been enjoying good health
up to the time he was stricken. The
coloners young wife has been notified
and the body is being held at the prison
awaiting instructions.
LIBERTY CAUSED PROBE
Colonel Wilson was taken to New York
last May by one of the prison guards
to testify in the bankruptcy proceed
ings instituted against the United Wire
less company. Several postponements
of the case necessitated his being held
in New York for more than a month
and it became known that the guard
was allowing him great deal OF person
al liberty during that period. Instead Of
being kept in the Toombs he was per-
mitted to stay in a private house. On
one occasion, It is said. he was seen
near his former haunts. in Wall street.
The department OF justice took no-
tice of these reports and ordered an
investigation. AS a result, the guard
was dismissed and early last month
Wilson was returned TO the Atlana PEN
tertiary.