Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-01-22
GENE.
LIEUT.. E. P. LOWELL,
Co. G, 103rd U. 8. Infantry,
Goth Division,
American Expeditionary Forces.
William II. Wheeler Returned.

Sheriff Harry D. Cole and Deputy
Sheriff Leon NJ. Small, who left on
Thursday preceding, arrived at South
Paris Tuesday forenoon from Winchester,
Va, with William q. Wheeler, who is
under indictment for forgery In this
county and bad skipped his bail. They
also brought back to Maine Mrs.
Wheeler and an infant son, who went to
Buckfleld where her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Wilson Larrabee, own q place.
In the course Of the trip Wheeler told
Sheriff Cole something of bis move.
ments since leaving Maine. He bad
been definitely located as having been
10 Dover, N. a., early In the fall. Ac-
cording to his story he and his wife went
from there to another place In Now
Hampshire, and thence into Pennsyl-
vsnia. He denied having been into
Vermont as reported.
At Chester, Pa, he got job at q
shipysrd as guard at four dollars day.
After he had been there q while a
man came into the plant one day whom
he recognized as man he had seen at
Buckfield. He told his wife that the
town was no longer safe for them, and
the next morning they got ont. He
worked q week In saw mill at another
town, and was unable to collect bis pay.
They then went into Maryland, West
Virginia, Washington, D. c., and final
ly landed in Winchester without funds,
and secured communications through
the good Offices of priest. It was nee
eesary for Mrs. Wheeler to enter hos
pital, and there son was born to her
on the 9th of December.
Some time later Wheeler presented at
bank in Winchester check drawn to
hts order, purportiug 10 be signed by
Mrs. Annie Larrabee, for $50. He was
told that he would have to have an en-
dorser, and went to the doctor who at
tended his wife at the hospital. he
showed the doctor letter mailed 10
Washington, purporting to come from
Mrs. Larrabse, relating the fact Of their
removal from Baltimore to Washington,
giving more or less family news, and
closing by saying that check for $3.50
was enclosed, with which he was to pay
the hospital bills, etc. The doctor
thereupon endorsed the check.
The bank, however, was supicious,
and when be got back with the endorsed
check the chief of police was at hand
and took BIN to the police station.
There the check could not be found.
Wheeler said that the cashier took It..
The cashier said he did not, but left It
lying on the counter. At any rate, II
bad disappeared, and with it any EVIL
dence against Wheeler In that place.
To explain subsequent proceedings, It
may be stated that Wheeler is wanted In
Washington and In at least two other
towns in that part of the country.
Knowing this fact, Wheeler told the
chief Of police that he was wanted at
South Paris where be bad skipped his
bail. he told the chief of police to wire
the sheriff here that II he would bring
his wife and baby to Maine he would
come with him without requiring any
papers. he said be had two reasons.
he thought he would rather stand his
chance here. and BY coming back he
could save the old people their place,
Mrs. Larrabee being on bis ball bond.
The officers had not had any condition
named to them until they arrived in
Winchester, and they had sufficient
papers to bring him back without his
wife and baby, but under the circum-
stances 1t seemed q reasonable or at
least humane thing, and they brought
back all three of the family. It was q
pretty long trip for an infant not three
weeks old, but he stood 1t we'll, and was
little trouble.
The trip back to Maine was without
notable incident, except that Wheeler
"got bis back up" little on one occa-
sion. The first night he was lodged 10
police station ct Warrington, and
they gave him the regulation soft side of
q plank to lie on. The next night 10
Now York be had q better bed, but they
didn't give him anything to eat. When
he came out he was pretty wrathy, and
vowed he wouldn't 20 . step farther till
the officers had shown. their authority,
but aftorWard calmed down.