Our Past Is Present December 15, 2017

December 15, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            A new version of the worthless check game was perpetrated in Junction City in 1915 by a stranger who gave his name as A.J. Wilson. This Mr. Wilson was immaculately dressed, wore a diamond stud and carried a suitcase.  While in the Mayden Feed and Cole Store, he ordered two tons of coal to be sent to his home.  He gave his address and wrote a check for a considerable amount and received $17.50 in change.

            When the deliveryman delivered the coal he found there was no house at that address and an investigation began.  It was found that the check was worthless and the man had taken a streetcar to Manhattan. Sheriff Harbes was notified and caught the next interurban in hot pursuit.  This Mr. Wilson, as he called himself caught the same car and the sheriff was convinced he had his man.  It seems Wilson went to Fort Riley on the first car and not directly to Manhattan as had been thought.  At Ogden the Sheriff, with his man in custody got off to catch the next car back to town.  As they were going from one car to another, Wilson slipped out of his overcoat and in the darkness dodged behind a building. He jumped two fences and disappeared into the cornfields.  His overcoat and grip were brought back to Junction City.  Six pictures of Wilson were found in his grip.  The pictures showed Wilson in a fighting pose, sporting a regulation boxing ring costume.  The Sheriff commented that Wilson appeared to be more of a sprinter than a boxer.  The next day’s newspaper reported that Wilson had been captured in Manhattan and taken to a Shawnee County Jail.  Wilson had committed identical offenses in Topeka and so was turned over to the authorities there, which saved Junction City about $200 in costs to keep him in jail and prosecute him.

            Well… that is today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.