The Political Orator Who Was a Wanted Man
L.E. Wilson, a fiery People’s Party speaker in Lewis County, was unmasked as a fugitive and serial bigamist.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
With reference to the blatant orator of the People’s party in Lewis county, L.E. Wilson, who made more noise than anyone else and was particularly severe on the old parties for their alleged dishonesty and corrupt practices, the Chehalis Bee says: About June 15, Sheriff Barnett received an attractive little photo of L.E. Wilson, taken while the gentleman occupied cell No. 9 in the Nebraska penitentiary. A letter explained that he was wanted in Allen county, Kan., for obtaining money under false pretenses. He had secured a $500 loan from Waters Whittaker of Iola by representing himself to be owner of 200 steers, a team and some cows. He also secured money on a team he did have, and then ran the horses off into Nebraska and sold them. This was about two years ago. The letter also stated that in Kansas and Nebraska the gentleman had at least four wives. Wilson secured his position with the Nebraska government by forging a check for $1,500. He held it two years and eight months. From Nebraska he went to Kansas, later to Missouri, where something over a year ago he married his present wife, who is from a good family, in Centralia. Wilson belonged to the Salvation Army, believing doubtless that if anyone needed salvation he did. It was in the army he practiced his oratory on a defenseless people. He made a pretense of gaining a livelihood by selling instruments and machines outside of gospel hours. Sheriff Barnett had his man located some time, and on the 19th Wilson was arrested. On the 20th Sam Herren appeared at the jail and wanted to see Wilson. His request was denied. Mr. Herren shouted to Wilson that he would release him at once on a writ of habeas corpus. Sheriff Barnett was absent, but Deputy Blackwell swore he shouldn't. Herren went to Commissioner Pickens for a writ. Blackwell sent for a team. The team arrived first. Wilson was loaded into the buggy and given a pleasure ride to Oakville. The writ was issued commanding the sheriff to hold the prisoner until August 15, when he is to appear before Justice Hunter. Before that time he will doubtless be in Kansas, as Sheriff Hobart is expected today.
“It was in the army he practiced his oratory on a defenseless people.”
Political scandals featuring colorful, dubious outsiders are as much a part of Pacific Northwest history as they are today. Wilson’s dramatic arrest and the local authorities' attempt to spirit him away before legal challenges could take hold reflects the rough-and-tumble nature of frontier justice.
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