Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-03

NOW IN k1oUez4Aof WoST1oppe0.
LONG SERIES OF POPULATIONS BROUGHT TO
LIGHT-A FOREMAN WHO APPROPRIATED
$4,000 or HIS EMPLOYEES MONEY. g
case has recently been developed by our de-
scheme. however mgenioSsiy laid, to gain sesiff
dishonesty by short cut, rather than the old
and sure Ego Slow manner, is almost sure to
meet with overthrow and bring confusion and
shame to its originators. Some two weeks ago
one Of the Junior partners Of u lumber firm in
this city called upon Detective Sargent and
stated chat for some time past he had entertained
SOMETHING WAS GOING ON WRONG
about the business of the concern; that he had
made a careful examination Of the books and
found il impossible to reconcile some serious dis
crepencies, and had Reluctantly come to the
conclusion that there must be in their employ
ment some unfaithful servant, and desired the
services of that officer to his discovery.
Mr Sargent consented to q trial of working up
the job, and after Informing himself fully as to
the number Of hands employed by the firm,
their names, residence, pec9niary condition,
the manner in which the business OF the lumber
yard was conducted, he concluded that the fore
man of the yard Whose name it Is deemed best
TO w1thhold) was the man he wanted. After
acquainting Chief ClarvOe Of the case, he took
Detective McElfresh in to assist him in the exc
eution of the plans which he proposed. The
manage ment of the lumber yard for some years
had been entrusted to this foreman, steady
and industrious man, and 80 great was the con-
fdence reposed i'm him, that all cash sales of
during the absence Of the firm, have been left
entirely in his hands, an account of which, with
all moneys, was required to be rendered at the
Office at the close of each day.
THE PLAN PUT IN EXECUTION BY THE Dg-
TECTIvE OFFICERS
was to engage a countryman with a four-horse
team, and to furnish him with money to pay for
lumber to be bought at the yard. Each note
they took good care to mark in such a manner
as to be able to identify 1t. The cOuntryman
was then dispatched with his marked notes late
Dft
with orders to purchase a load of boards, and
pay the cash down without requiring any bill or
receipt. 1t was planed for the purchase to be
sibiiity Of the money being given out in change,
and stationing themselves convenient to the
Office of the yard, after the foreman had turn
ed in the receipts of the day, and took his de-
parture for home, they quickly stepped into the
office. when the package of money turned in by
the foreman was handed them. Glancing over
t, not one Of the marked notes was found. They
ed man, and at the corner Of 9Th street and
Pennsylyania avenue stopped him, and inform
he WAS IN CUSTODY.
Both being strangers to him he demanded what
right they had to interfere with him on his way
TO his home peaceably, but was told that Major
view with him at police headquarters. He, with
some hesitation, went along with them, and soon
was closeted with these officers, who were not at
i ~, SLOW s. IN elng MN why TINS was thus On
charge, but ON searching him upwards of one
hundred dollars in greenbacks were found on
his person, and among them every one of the
rked notes paid by the cOuntryman for the
lumber, corresponding to the list of said notes
which the officers had retained. At first he did
Tot understand why the money was closely
scrutlnized by the officers, but il soon became
apparent. and he declared that ii was his inten-
ton to turn the money over to his employers the
next day, and that he never dreamed of appro-
Iriating it to his own use. This statement the
officers considered
TOO THIN,
and his asseverations OF honesty went but little
he was the cause Of the heavy discrepancies be-
fore mentioned. The whole matter was now
charged upon him by the officers, who told him
that he was IN fair way to the Penitentiary,
and completely broke down, and the result was,
after some of the members OF the firm were
sent for, and after protracted interview in
presence of the officers, he
OWNED Up TO A SERIES OF EMBEZzLEMENrs,
covering term OF nine years and amounting to
about $4,000. He was completely unnerved,
reparatOn in his power, offering to turn over all
his possessions and leave the city IL they would
consent not to prosecute him, pleading that he
had wife and family depending upon him for
support; that his wife was in such a state Of
health that his incarceration in prison would be
the cause of her death, sc. The intense distress
manifested by their old foreman SO wrought upon
the Junior members of the firm that they soon
relented and finally consented that if the proper
officers would consent to a settlement without
criminal prosecution they would agree to It.
District Attorney Harrington was sent for and
after a recital of what had transpired, he con-
suited with Judge Fisher, and together with
Major Richards, they went before Chi ( Justice
Cartier and laid the whole matter before him,
and in view Of the pentence of the man, his
offer to give up all, the delicate health Of his
wife, the earnest desire of the firm, and all
things considered, the judge
CONSENTED TO A SETTLEMENT
as suggested. The officers then returned to
police headquarters, and Mr.. Harrington ac-
quainted the guilty man of the conclusions ar
rived at, when it was arranged between both
parties to the case that list of the effects of the
dishonest foreman should be made out then and
there, and submitted to a third party who should
be entirely disintertsted in the case as arbitra-
tor, and all abide the decision.
The list submitted showed the man to be
owner of three houses valued at S12 900, a farm
worth $4,000 and other smaller effects. The
losers expressed their desire rot to be too exact
ing, and the judgment of the arbitration was
that deeds to the city property should be turned
over tn the firm, together with his notes for
50 900 to the firm, the farm to be retained by the
man. The decision was readily assented To by
the firm, and the affair was thus settled. This
is the first case placed in the hands of Mr. Sar-
gent after his appointment ON the detective
force, and he was congratulated on the success
full termination Of il by all cognzant of the
facts.
EVERYBODY will he Interested i'm the Societv