The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-11-12
AN UNCOMMON DEFAULTER.
q Sac hPoVs ~ GJa1I and AlVen-
GureS OF a. Trusted SERVANT.
MARRYING TWO WIVES, LIVING TWO
LIVES, AND STEALING TWO
MILLIONS.
A COmmOtiOn in the Central Pacific
Railroad.
lcor. New York sun. ]


San Francisco, Oct. 12.-At Sui
ter and Jones streets stands one OF
the most superb residences in all
San Francisco. 1t is nearly new,
and built of wood, like most houses
here, but il is imposing in archi-
lecture and magnificent in finish.
1t strikes one AS being the residence
of gentleman of unlimited means
and refinement. Everything about
il is neat. The furniture is rich and
elegant, but quiet in design and col
or. The library is filled with well
selected books. and the pictures
are works of art. The only effort
at display that seems TO have been
block which stands on the curb in
front of the grand doorway. This
block is of white marble, and bears
in glsring gilt u tastefully arranged
monogram formed of the letters
81. M"
y. M" stands for John Miller,
late Secretary of the Contract and
Finance Company, whose remarka-
BILE defalcatiOns, running through a
series of years, have been the talk
of the Pacific coast for a month
past.
In many respects Miller is one of
the most remarkable criminals on
record, and certainly one of the
most audacious scamps ever foster
ed by the Pacific coast. Scraps of his
history have from time to time been
published, but nothing like q con-
nected narrative of his villainy
has yet appeared. He had
lived here from eight to ten years,
highly respected and couFted by the
best society. He was gentlemanly
in his manners and in business a
perfect giant. He was a pillar in
one of our leading churches and IA
few weeks before the crash came
which hurled him from his pedest
al, was chosen superintendent OF its
Sun, day school. He had worked his
way from a clerk OF the Contract
aud Finance Company to the office
OF secretary, at salary OF $40 QUO a
year, gold, and was regarded III a
business point of view AS the peer
of Stanford, Hopkins, Croker and
others who form the Central Pacific
combination.
Besides his $4,000 income, he
was known 10 be rich and to have
married lady in Sacramento who
had like wiee large fortune. Hence
his luxurious home and the cyl
dence OF wealth around him eXcit-
ed nc other comment on the part
of his neiyhbors than that Miller's
lines were cast in pleasant places.
SUDDEN CRASH.
One day there came q little voice
into Leland Stanford's private of.
flee which spake n word or two in-
to mis- ear. Before the evening o.
the next day MIR. Stanford knew
that John Miller's name was nol
John Miller, hut A. Il. Woodruff
that he had vi living in Lynch
burg, Va aud that his wealth had
every dollar at il, been stolen iron
the Con- ract aud Finance Company
Such \ revelation created q fiuttel
in ths. Central Pacific once, but thu
secret was well guarded. Stanford
and Croker at once went TO wort
To l. vestigSte the actual extent o
the delaication. They hoped 10 dc
this without arousing Miller's sus
picion, but failed. One day hG
came 10 Mr.. Stanford and said Qui
ruy thai he was not feeling wei
aud he believed he'd ran up to TIL
McLloud river and catch some
trout.
| Repairing TO his mansion hI
back Il small valise and asked hi
wife TO make ready to accompany
him as tar as Sacramento. Thu
next morning both went to Sacra
meutO.
Meanwhile an examination o
Miller's accounts was begun, anC
the fret thing the expert strucl
was false entry of $4,000. TheI
Stanford knew that the fishing tri[
was blind. The telegraph was sc
Io work to capture the fugitive
Every train on every road unde
Central Pacific control was boarded
but for q long time Miller could no
be found. Accident, however
brought him in contact with 3 bag
gage master at Marysville, whC
knew him and pointed him out Il
the conductor. His arrest quickl,
followed. He took matters verN
coolly, saying he guessed there mus
be snme mistake. He was taken {,
San Francisco and confronted wit
Stafford and Croker. After
brief interview he asked to see hi
vile. An officer was detailed &
escort him to his house. ArriVin;
there, Miller asked permission L
retire for 3 moment. When he re
turned he whispered word to hi
heart-broken wife, and che quieIl.
went out of the room. In q mo
mel she returned, and to Miller
great dismay exhibited and gave q
the officer q package containing
$4,000 in greenbacks, over $500
in United States bonds, and lot o