The Unmasking of 'Julius the Fugitive'

In 1879, a short, thick-set, large-headed man appeared in Walla Walla, rented a building, and introduced himself as 'Julius Leifman,' a representative of a San Francisco hide company. He flourished for several months until a man arrived from California and reduced his standing. Shortly after, he became a clerk for a grocery firm, where he displayed such business sagacity that he essentially became the head of the house. In the spring of 1882, Julius went on a buying expedition in the north country. While at Dayton, he was arrested as 'Julius Wallick,' a man wanted in Fort Griffin, Texas, for embezzling between $2,000 and $4,000. He was confronted by his wife, the daughter of a prominent merchant he had swindled years earlier. Julius had moved to Fort Griffin, entered the merchant's employ, gained his trust, and eloped with his daughter—all while making off with the old man’s wealth. After being released from arrest because no officer would travel to Texas for the reward, he returned to his grocery job, only to be found later purloining goods from a drummer in Portland and eventually fleeing with money entrusted to him by laborers in the Pend d’Oreille country.