National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-09
HE SKEDADDLES.
A COOPERATIVE AGENT ABsCoNDs
And Leaves Mementos Behind Him in tie Shape Of
Dishonored Checks-A Cooperative Store
Closed Until the Cash Account
Can Be Examined.

The members of the Sovereigns' Coop
erative Association an organization comprised al
most exclusively of Government clerks DESTROYS of
purchasing groceries at uniform price, and whose
principal store is located at 1923 Seventh street
northwest, are in a painful predicament, caused
by the precipitate retirement of their manager,
Mr.. A. B. Schofield with all the available funds of
the association, amounting to upward OF 81 ,OOO
This association was formed about four years ago,
and Schofeld has since been in charge of the store
at regular and remunerative salary. At the last
annual meeting in May
AN APPARENT DISCREPANCY
of over 800 was discovered by the auditing COM
mittee, which Schofeld explained was caused by
neglect to entera number of receipted bills. He
promised to straighten up the affair at once, and
when the election for officers was held he was re-
turned as one of the trustees and allowed TO con-
tnue in charge of the store His course, however,
did not give satisfaction to a number of the men,
bers, who did not think that, in view of the short
age revelation, he was proper custodian for their
funds. Last Saturday matters reached
climax, when Schofeld learned accidentally
that he was to be superseded. About
noon he told the cashier to give him what
money there was in the till, he needed it to pay
bills of the association then due He had pre-
viously taken all the money in the SAFE and, with
what he received from the cashier, had upward OF
$500 cash. He did not return to the store again,
but late in the evening his brother received dis
patch, dated in Baltimore stating that he had been
called away on business, and would send further
particulars by mail. Monday morning his brother
in-law, Mr.. Houck, received letter from Schofeld,
in which he said that he had got into trouble and
would not return to Washington. He also re-
quested Mr. Houck to see that his wife was cared
for and to make the matter as light to her as pos
Sible Further in heletter he said that his brother
would be
HEAVY LOSER
by his flight as he owed him 81 200. OF course the
communication created considerable furry, and
an examination into the affairs of the association
was at once begun. Schofeld had taken away the
key and combination of the safe and it was not
until yesterday that it was forced open by lock-
smith. 1t is stated that the association will lose
fully 81 900 by Schofeld's disappearance, and as
his Whereabouts at present are not known, no &C
ton has been taken looking to a prosecution.
Among the victims of Schofeld are MeSsrs W. NJ.
Gait & Co., -four dealers; his brother, Mr.. S. 7.
Schofeld, formerly of Driver & Schofeld
and a lady named Butts. The latter had
loaned Schofeld $780, and had notes
for the amount. She will not lose much
however, as she has attached the furniture in
store recently opened by Schofeld on Seventh
street. Mr.. Gait had accepted two checks for -four
purchased, and knew nothing of the fight of
Schofeld until the checks were dishOnored, when
he instituted an examination, and learned the
story of his rascalty Mr.. S. T. Schofield is out
about 81 200 by his brothers action and wait
ing Saturday for promised $500 when he received
the telegram from Baltimore.
THE BONDSMEN
of Schofeld are Mr.. N. H. Shea and Mr.. Houck,
brother-in-law of the fugitive, and they are re-
sponsble for his embezzlement of the funds of the
association. Ameeting of the association was held
Monday evening, when the foregoing story was
promulgated and Mr. Allen Chappell was elected
manager of the store, to succeed Schofeld. The
exact amount of the deficiency is not known, but
it is presumed to be of such dimensions as to seri
ously jeopardize the standing of the association.
An auditing committee, consisting of Messrs.
Frank Schreiner, James Prince and William P.
Seville, are now making a thorough investigation
in the interest of the stockholders.