The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 20, 1900, Page 1

®eR w - . he yield riated some $3000 f: ent funds, which he was of reckoning e man a his s it attributes es of the same records show that there and that there were six different indictments s name. His friends point ou ement occasfoned ugh the di o acquittal . sirong against Welb ssible to remain com- Some time after ived and » brought e into mous ponds to there is nly marks may not ¢ of his life. ences at first of his pa; 2 the melanc..o place to animated ature of the e In his expression— CA A4 WELBL \Noé.s SOLDIER UNI ure of one that does not forget, »m forgives efly told it was *he story of a re- ble career of meteoric successes ernate fallures—through it all the traces of a strong and compelling e South, of a branches the first Ohi: rwoven egal cour the bar in Dallas e of the himself in hment of riding the from El Paso during Indian out- breaks in the trouble with the Tonkaws ng a troop during the ount of the State leasing men, to quiet the affair. Mr. ed his attention suc- ss enterprises, and com- ted an accumulated ta Clara orchards. The list soon became prominent in Cal- his oratorical power and es making him a pop- ker throughout the the rec of the State mittee he accepted the posi- lector, serving four pol With bkis appointment to office, the nue officer declare, the ill-feeling of take a venomous term of four rs the ch « embezzlement was brought agai im,. with the result of al and Welhurn's subsequent as stated. In speaking of his leavi at that time the ex- ted on the stand: “1 did not run away; 1 was compelled to or resources of by enemies, ed. 1 returned to s because 1 had stanch friends there and 1 knew they would give me a chance. After a there I was continually on the move, and I received no official notice of the indictments against me. While L do not-de ed _there might be fends of the ex-rev began an began t act me, I maintain that 1w notified, and therefore was not :n honor compelled to return. 1f 1 had done so I should not have beln given a fair trial, on unt of the unfair not y give to me by my enemies through the medium of the newspapers. And 1 wish to state,” he continued, indi nantly, “that the newspaper reports ins gated by my enemies, and to the effect that I had been indicied by the Federal Grand Jury, were published full three ; indictment was brought nths before against me.” Having received an honora from service in the war at ( was mustered out in Texas and after a time re-enlisted, intending to go to Manila. s time he = one of the Texas Heavy Artillery men and with them he came to San Francisco to await the salling of a transport Just what the feelings of the unfortu- nate man must have been upon returning to the scene of his former troubles, into the midst of his enemies and the dan- ger of further indignities, can probably / ’/ 7,/1,0 ) ¢ 2 ten by the ex-Revenue Collector. Know- Ing t the eyes of the people he was an embezzler and a refugee from justice, he was in momentary fear of recognition, his danger being doubled by his former prom nce. At every turn he feared to meet e one who had known him. nd with the broad brim of his soldier’'s hat illed down over his eyes he often brus ed past people with whom he had for- merly been on intimate terms, not darin to let himself be known even to th who might have been friends. On 3 g of his arrival the train did. n 8an Francisco until after Y too late for the march to the Pre- with his nine men he took lod g-ho = w : came face t an who had been ere was the T untenance, and strivir < of all, Je#t. some one who nwn him should Be among them. W ays that €0 pel his pe hardly dared fe. whom he b vears. Dressed is soldier’s garb and clean shaved, he waited for the starting of the transport. with just a possible nce of being unmolested. There were a few of the soldiers in the secret and e the charming personality of the man seems to have rend stanch fri s and d officers came to arr came up a etition of the t its close thers dict of acquittal. In O. M. Welburn was a e. no longer account- » whatever. Such he is innocent man down at t. with his fine a mystery to the rn sald to a friend my pocket,” t to work here. and_weeks all rk as [ was qual- ytherwise, but the h that it was im- T just had to fall | etren ate man ‘ew Who admiration for n which he is taking up t £ to do. His practically evidence of e man Is un- over again. is firm in his himself in the a wreck, determi respect is own words ke ex Amself in the eyes of loes not now un- dersta he associates with people and among the the whart s. The respect hem have been a man phy- he is not Th water for we artificial ue and 1s demon- the de- rough gained sieally, P h strated that of his n. and v h warmth tes that he h S h more gen- - the hea where ulne sympath down at the whart t else il The honest words Jim” express the attitude of his pre: 'N..’N‘«r\r.;\:» e and the general opinion of the men down there s that he is a “shamefully wronge man They are ready to champion his se at any time. P B ANt anyhody is lookin’ for trouble.” says «Big Jim." With a threatening was of the hesd, “just lét ‘em come round here an’ v anything agin bur! “gouxfio big fellow is working aw Magy another man. having gome through ek experiences. and with the burden o such a past upon him, whether or not he were guiltiess, would sider his nifs wrecked and W se to struggle. ( Welburn is n hat sort of man. " the commendabla of winning respect he at the bot- tom the ladder. Whether or not it was own fault or the 5f others that ha t his position at hose who ob- n but admire urage. T ask,” sald he, (1t i3 l bl '\,‘\‘ " insases be better appreclated by Welburn alm., se.. than by any one else. Through his excellent military service and his military friends Welb: ad_a brilliant military before him. For obvious reasons he did not enlist under his own name, but chose that of his mother. He had al- ready T to the rank of sergeant, in of nine men. Teeling that his name was a synonym of rascality and moral corruption before the public he had adopted another and was known and honored as Sergeant ——. With his arrival here began a serles of experiences that will not soon be forgot-