Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-11-10
AN UNCOMMON DEFA Utter.
THE DOWNFALL AND ADVENTURES OF A
TRUSTED SERVANT.

THE DOWNFALL AND ADVENTURES OF A
TRUSTED SERVANT.
AT Sutter and Jones streets stands
one of the mos. superb residences in
all San Francisco II is nearly new,
and built of wood, like most houses
here, but is imposing in architecture
and magnificent in finish. 1t strikes
one ms being the residence of gentle
man of unlimited means and refine.
ment, Everything about IL is neat,
The furniture is rich and elegant, but
quiet in design and color; the library
is filled with wcll-selcctcd books, and
the pictures arc works of art. The
only effort at display that seems to
have been made is observable in car
riagc block which stands on the curb
in front of the grand doorway. This
block is of white marble and bears in
glaring gilt tasteiully arranged mon
ogram, formed Of the letters
~. NJ"
-. NJ stands for John Miller, late
Secretary of the Contract and Finance
Company, whose remarkable deialca-
tions, running through series ofyears,
have been the talk of the Pacific coast
for month past.
In many respects Milleri is one of the
most remarkable criminals on record,
and certainly one of the most auda-
cious scamps ever fostered by the Pa
cifc coast Scraps of his history have
from time TO time been published, but
nothing like connected narrative of
his vilainy has yet appeared. He had
lived here from eight to ten years,
highly respected and courted by the
best society. lie was gentlemanly IN
his manners and in his business per-
feet giant lie was pillar in one OF
our leading churches, and few weeks
before the crash came which hurled
him from his pedestal, was chosen Su-
perintendent of its Sunday school. He
had worked his way from clerk Of
the Contract and Finance Company to
the Office of secretary at a salary Of
5000 a year, gold, and was regarded
in business point Of view as the peer
of Stanford, Hopkins Crocker and 9th
ers who form the Central Pacific com
binaton.
Besides the $4,000 income he was
known to be rich and TO have married
q lady in Sacramento who had likewise
q large fortune Hence his luxurious
home and the evidence ofwealth around
him excited no other comment on the
part of his neighbors than that Miller's
lines were cast in pleasant places.
A SUDDEN CRASH
/ One day there came a little voice
into Leland Stanfords private Office
which spake word or two into his
ear Before the evening of the next
day Mr. Stanford knew that John Mil
ler's name was not John Miller but A.
r. Woodruff, that he had wife living
in Lynchburg, Va, and that every dol.
lar of his wealth had been stolen from
the Contract and Finance Company.
Such revelation created a futter in
the Central Pacific Office, but the Sc.
orct was well guarded. Stanford and
Crocker at once went TO work to in
vestigatc the actual extent of the dc.
ihlcation. They hoped TO do this with
out arousing Miller's suspicion, but
failed. Ono day he came to Mr.. Stan
ford and said quietly that he was not
feeling well and he believed he'd run
up to the McCloud river and catch
some trout.
Repairing to his mansion he packed
n small valise and asked his wife to
make ready to accompany him as far
as Sacramento. The next morning
both went to Sacramento.
Meanwhile an examination of Miller's
accounts was begun, and the first thing
the expert struck was false entry of
$4,000. Then Stanford knew the fish.
ing trip was blind The telegraph
was set to work to catch the fugitive
Every train on every road under Cen
trail Pacific control was boarded, but
for long time Miller could not be
found. Accident, however, brought
him in contact with a baggage master
at Marysville who knew him and point
cd him out 10 the conductor. His ar,
rest quickly followed. lie took mat
tcrs very coolly, saying he guessed
there must be some mistake. He was
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