Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-21
FESTIVE YOUNG BUCKEYES.
The Story Of a Dayton, o., Safe Rob-
berry.
How a County Auditor Happened to be
$1,000 Short.
In the Hands Of a Detective, and Out
Again.
Mayor Howell on a BIackmaiIing
Scent.

Disclosures of a somewhat startling na
ture were made here yesterday, linking the
name of Nashville with that Of Dayton,
c., through tie sequel 70 a recent sensation
in the latter place. Charles W. Dryden, d
youthful son Of the Auditor Of Montgomery
county, o., in which Dayton is situated,
taking advantage Of his relation to his
fatheras clerk, appropriated 5000 Of the
public funds il his keeping; and in CON-
pany WITH a Soung associate named
Chris. HeeklerOpi, disappeared from
Dayton congratulating himself on
the prospect Of good time
generally. The auditor the next day re-
placed the amount stolen and made an ef-
fort to conceal the deed Of bis son from the
the public, but without arail. That
son of a long tried official Of high social
standing and the son Of arOther very
wealthy and equally respected citizen
should turn up missing, was something
that aroused The pUhlic curiosity and, still
more to be dreaded the ciiriOsityI Of the
newspaper reporters. And so the whole
thing beezIse Known; and tine Elder Mr..
Dryden, offered a reward Of 500 for his
sons capture.
On the 4th inst. two young men turned
up in this city, registering at the CONNER
cial Hotel as Q. w. Sehaeffer and E. Am
ber, Cleveland, o., who, BY their lavish use
of niOueY, socn attracted General attention
and excited suspicion. They remained III
the city till the 1lth-abOut a week. On
arriving they met young Mr.. Frank Knecht,
of Dayton, who happened to be in the city
on visit Of a sentimental
character, if We have not been
misinforned. They told him that a rich
uncle Of Mr.. Schae1er had died recently,
willing Nir 8. fortune OF fifty thousand
dollars, and invited him to 90 IN with them
for a high old time. And such time
they had beyond all cavil, as they managed
to spend at least $500 while here. Their
spendtbrift habits caused a deal Of criti-
cism, especially as they were strangers and
seemed 70 have no particular business or
purpose in view.
Schaefier and Amber resolved 70 60 70
Memphis on the night Of the llth, and Mr..
Knecht accepted an invitation to 60 with
them and spend a day or two there, after
which be would return 70 Nashville. On
account of events which transpired on the
train they took, however, he did not accom-
pany them any further than Milan, at
which place he ''ShOOk' them and ndreturnedto
Nashville. He states that he was apprized
for the first time, Of the robbery in Ohio,
after they got on the cars and the circum-
stance which led 20 tie dis Uyery was the
arrest of Dryden, alias Scnaelcr The
arrest was made on the Northwestern road
soon after leaving Nashville, by party
representing himself as q detectiTe, accom-
panied by two other men. The detective
showed a copy Of a Cincinnati paper Of the
morning before, giving an account Of the
affair in Dayton, aud Offering the 500 re-
ward. The three parties who surprised the
young men were be afterwards learned,
detective WIn. Funston, Of this city, and
Mike StrOmier aud y. Howard, two gam
blers. The detective took Dryden into
another car from the sleeping car, where he
was arrested, and Howard, pretending TO
be the friend Of the young men,
told them he could get them out Of
the difficulty with $500. Knecht states
that the money was paid to Howard; that
DRYDEN was released, and that Funston,
Stromier and Howard got of the train at
Gillen Station.
When he returied and learned that they
were back in she city, lie went Before JUS
tice Cassetty and swOre out warrant for
Howard on the charge Of highway robbery.
When the officer set out serve the paper,
Howard could not be found, and Knecht
says Funston was in the Office at the time
the warrant was taken out.
Capt. Yater was made aware Of the
whole transaction and on yesterday brought
it to the Mayors attention. An investiga-
ton was instituted against Funston on the
charge Of black-mailing. Enecht made a
sworn statement, substantially tie
same as that we have attribu-
ted to him already Funston
denied the charge emphatically, and hur-
ried down to Justice Cass7tty's Office and
took out a warrant against Knecht for per-
iurys Mayor Howell bad this dismissed
Immediately, however, upon representing
that the affidavit made by Knecht was an
extra-judicial matter. Funston was per-
mitted to 90 aFJer witnesses, by whom he
said lie could prove LiS innOcen e.
He took wish him the assurance that he
would be allowed fair opportunity TO clear
himself, but that the investigation into his
case should be a thorough one. The Mat
ter stands in this shape, we believe, further
action being postponed till tomorrow.
Knecht left for Dayton last night, ha7-
ing given his statement in writing.