Wells Fargo Never Forgets

Charles

You remember the posts about James B. Hume, Wells Fargo's chief detective, who tracked down the bad guys and brought them to justice. There's a very real, human side to the story of law enforcement in these times, which is usually forgotten. People favor "Gunfight at the OK Corral "-type stories over lowbrow larceny or inept outlaws. Or the round-the-clock action by agents, determined to nab dangerous people because it's the right thing to do.

On June 19, 1884, Wells Fargo's transport in León, Mexico , was robbed. Agent Thompson in León detailed the incident in a letter to the superintendent. Thompson left the León railroad depot as usual that evening, with his clerk and driver named Alberto Romero and an armed guard provided by local police. A few blocks into the three-mile route, the wagon turned onto Calle Honda—"hardly a street," Thompson wrote, "more of a watercourse and the spot is very lonely."

There, several bandits opened fire and swarmed the wagon. The mules were terrified, the guard fell wounded, and Romero cried out that he was also shot. Thompson emptied his pistol, and a policeman on foot joined the firefight. Outnumbered and outgunned, they dove for cover. The thieves made off with the treasure box that contained $500 in cash. Alberto Romero died at the scene.

When things calmed down, the entire neighborhood came to aid the victims, and local police sprang to action. Local businessmen provided a substantial funeral for Romero, Thompson wrote,

"a number of whom attended in person. I take it these demonstrations are a compliment to the dead boy, but also to the Company, which has acquired a reputation of being the only foreign enterprise in this country which gives good service to the public.

"The boy had earned the goodwill of business men here by his activity, intelligence and obliging disposition."

Thompson was authorized to give the wounded guard a $15 "gratification," which had, he wrote, "a very good effect throughout the country."

J.N. Thacker, Hume's top assistant, was sent to León to investigate the incident for Wells Fargo. Thacker's report details his unrelenting efforts to find witnesses and nab the gang. But Thacker's report also tells of his intelligent collaboration with law enforcement and political machinery. Thacker worked closely with local, state and federal police. Each level pledged its cooperation as Thacker showed his determination to let Mexican officials do their jobs. Thacker was even able to work with the Mexican presidency  in his quest.

On July 14, 1884, Thacker reported that several people had been detained, questioned or convicted in the case. The final case against the robbers, Thacker wrote,

"will come to a close within a week, and the judge has given me to understand that he will Sentence (the crook) for a term of three years to ... Penitentiary."