The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-23
A Young Man From wheeling Arraignet
In New York.

A Young Man From wheeling Arraigne
In New York.
N. Y. World Of the Goth. . --5
Frank a. Barr, well dressed yOun
man, OF highly respectable appearance
was placed at the bar OF the Court Of Ger
eral Sessions Tuesday, to answer Charg
OF embezzling 500 from Robert Morrison
Of No. 40 Lispenard street. Barr is abou
twenty-nine years OF age and came to thi
city u few months ago from Wheeling, "
Va. He had with him excellent testimc
malls as to his character from the proprit
tor Of the Mountain House, CressoI
Springs, Pa, of which he had been genera
manager for six years; from Mr.. Hawk, O
the Windsor Hotel; from Mr.. Stricklan,
lluas, OF the Pennsylvain Railroad, AM
from other persons, all OF whom wrote U
him with expressions OF the highest r.
gard. Mr.. Morrison engaged Barr rs col
leCtOr and bOOk-keeper, and was well salts
fled with him until the early part OF OoCto
Der, when he discovered that Barr had EN-
bezzled some Of the money he had receiv
eAt-tS COlleGLDE' ulIu llutL ulutlc lusS elltIle'
in the books to avoid detection. On Octo.
Der l4th, Bar was arrested and committed
for trial. After his arrest he made con
fession to Mr. Morrison.
When Barr was arraigned in court and
called on TO plead, he became very pale
and his eyes filed with tears. He said he
was guilty and begged Judge GiliersIeeve
for mercy, saying that he did not intend to
steal the money, but had only used it to
get back money OF his own that he had
lost at gambling, and that losing the money
he had taken he took more in the hope OF
being able TO get his accounts straight
He first felt the passion for gambling three
years ago, when some OF his friends per-
suaded him to Join them at cards, and
since that time he had been constantly
unfortunate and unhappy on account Of
his passion, and had lost comfortable in
come and good position. He reached
Pittsburgh, he said, twelve years ago, with
only s. in his possession and without n
single friend or acquaintance in the city.
In 1873 he was graduated from the West
ern University of Pennsylvania, and was
ut once elected to Il prOiessorship. All that
time he earned in various ways between
three and four thousand dollars u
year, and had many dear friends in
Pittsburgh. This lasted for about two
years, and then he learned to gamble. lie
began by losing, and, continuing to play, he
lost all his savings and then all the money
he earned. He neglected his friends and
his duties, and, finally threw up his posi-
ton because his work Twas not exciting
enough" for him. He had followed various
occupations since that time. When Mr..
Morrison engaged him he had some money
with him, and about week afterwards
man induced him to enter gambling
house to "watch" him play faro. This was
the first time he had been in agambling.
house in New York. He became interest
ed in the game and played, losing what
money he had with him. The next night
he visited the house again, and lost all his
money. Then it seemed to him that he
could not lose on the third night and so he
took $40 from the money drawer and
went thirltime to the house, thinking
that he would certainly be able to replace
the money in the morning. This money
was lost, and ut the end OF the week Barr
had taken 500 from the money drawer.
~ was nearly Wild" he said, "because
only took the money to win back what
took the first time, and all this time Mr..
Morrison was treating me so kindly that
felt as il ! would 20 crazy. One night
called at Mr.. Norrison's house to make
clean breast OF it, but he was not at home,
and on my way back stopped at a gam
bling house and won SIPS. felt then that
could win enough money TO pay him
back, and thought that 1t would be fool
ish to make a confession and ruin myself
when l could pay the money back without
letting any one know had taken it. The
next night won again and had within $40
or $50 OF what had taken. Theday after,
l went to the gambling-house as soon as !
could get away from the store, and then |
lost all the money had gained"
Barr then told how desperate he was
when he lost NIL his money, He said he
pawned his watch and diamonds, and
thought at ono time OF taking all the
money in the store md abSConding with
it. Before he did anything he was arrest
ed. In conclusion, he said that he thanked
Mr.. Morrison for causing his arrest, as he
felt now that il he had been at liberty u
short time longer he would have COM
mitted a worse crime. lie asked Judge
Gildersleeye to consider that he had al
ready been imprisoned in the Tombs a
month.
Judge Gildersleeye commented upon
Barr's story before passing sentence, and
that he would send himto the State Re-
formatory at Elmira, where he would have
an opportunity to do good rs an instructor
to the uneducated prisoners. Barr thanked
Judge Gildersleeye, and said that hen he
was released he would do everything in
his power to repay Mr.. Morrison the
money he had stolen.