Information Sheet

R Western Detective Association.

1165 Flyer, 1878.

One folder.

This is a flyer advertising the Western Detective Association at Versailles in Morgan County, Missouri. Officers of the firm, which was incorporated on 11 March 1878, were William A. Mills, J. F. Morris, R. F. Walker, Max Joachimi, and James M. Handlin.

According to this flyer, the purpose of the Western Detective Association was to secure “the assistance of an honest, energetic and reliable man at each postoffice in the West.” There was a one-dollar membership fee to join, after which compensation was realized by sharing rewards for the capture of criminals and the return of stolen property. The Association would distribute bulletins concerning wanted fugitives and property to its membership, who would be issued commissions and badges.

According to Articles of Association filed with the Missouri Secretary of State, the firm was capitalized at $5000 in fifty shares of $100 each by the officers listed on the letterhead of the flyer. The focus of its investigations would be “more especially horse thieves.”

One of the incorporators, Max Joachimi, was born in Germany and served in the 97^th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. He came to Versailles in 1877, operated a mercantile establishment, and was elected mayor in 1881. He also served as a deputy United States marshal, which doubtless was a considerable advantage in the detective trade.

The charter of the Western Detective Association was revoked by the Secretary of State of Missouri on 15 November 1889 for “having refused to file in this Department the affidavit as to its non-connection with Pools and Trusts ...” On 30 July 1891 Max Joachimi, the last president of the Association, filed a statement that the Directors had not met for six years, and that the corporation was therefore “dissolved and retired from business.”

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