Publisher’s Note: In one of Marshall’s earliest scandals, its first postmaster, a Mr. Wakeman, was accused of stealing cash from letters in 1874. The following article, first reporting the allegations, was published Feb. 19. Later in 1874, a grand jury convened to review the investigator’s finding and declined to indict Wakeman on any charges. While he did quit his postmaster position, he went on to practice law in Marshall and later served as a judge for the town. A portion of this article will be featured in the new book: “The Sesquicentennial: Cultivating 150 Years of History in Marshall and Lyon County.” Books can be ordered for $44.95 by calling The Independent or filling out the form included in an advertisement in today’s paper.
(Feb. 19) – From the Winona Republican: “For some few weeks registered letters arriving at Marshall have been rifled of their contents while a few have never been received at all. The first contained $200, to Mr. Elliott, but the money was non est. Other letters had $90, $23, $15, and a few more, making five registered letters in all that had fallen into the hands of someone other than the intended party. Two special agents of the Postal Department went to Marshall, the first being Mr. Van Luvan, of lowa, who is deserving of special credit in tracing the affair to the fountain head and fastening guilt upon the Marshall postmaster, Mr. Wakeman, whose connection with the robbery has occasioned the greatest surprise among friends and acquaintances.
Wakeman denied having received the $200 letter, but said he supposed he was able to pay for it, and was given an opportunity to pay for the $90 letter which he proceeded to liquidate with some reluctance. As these were the only lowa letters involved, Mr. Van Luvan’s jurisdiction ceased, and the remaining cases were turned over to Agent J. T. Williams who will get as much money to the losers as possible, and Mr. Wakeman will probably be arrested.”
We have no doubt the writer of the above thought he had good authority for the statements made therein, and it was his duty as a journalist to brand Mr. Wakeman a thief. But when he has thoroughly investigated the subject, he will undoubtedly find he has been very hasty in making such unqualified statements, and there are two sides to the story. We’ve been able to ascertain the facts, and we believe our opportunities for this purpose equal, at least, those of any of our exchanges. Several registered letters have been missing, but all involving the Marshall office have come to light but two. One of these was from Cresco, lowa, to Mr. Elliot at this place, and purported to contain $200. The money wasn’t received and it’s quite certain either the “20 new ten dollar bills” were never put in the letter, or they were abstracted at the Cresco or the Marshall office, and there seems to be as much evidence in favor of either conclusion. The “$90 letter” hasn’t been liquidated, nor is there anything pertaining to its log which implicates Mr. Wakeman. As regards his “friends and acquaintances,” while all blame him for gross carelessness in management of the post office, not one we know, hesitates to say he doesn’t believe Mr. Wakeman took a dollar of the missing money. Mr. Wakeman has not been arrested or confessed, still has charge of the post office, and refuses to pay one cent of the missing money until proven the money was lost through his negligence.
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