The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-04
STOLEN FUNDS REsroaEp.
A0A1zzAs = -
From the fIIl1 Wing. May i.

Il
| One of the most remarkable cases of the
restoration of stolen property ever re-
corded has Just TRANSFERRED in this city.
| It will be remembered that on March 10,
| 1881, over two years ago. 50, 500 belong
ing to the Quincy Coal company was
stolen by Mr. D. H. Howell, the agent OF
| the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy rail-
road company at Colchester. This large
sum was sent to Colchester by the treas
urer of the coal company to pay the com
pany's workmen their monthly wages,
and was inclosed in small envelope with
| the name and amount due each emyloye
marked on the outside TIM whole being
| tied up in single package. The money
was missed soon after it was stolen. How
| ell disappeared and though the case was
placed in the hands of competent detec-
| tives, no trace of the missing man or of
| the funds was ever found A few days
ago Mr. Ii. S. Osborn, the president of
| the coal company. received package
from Howell which contained a consider
able sum of money, and also note ask
ing that this sum be applied ON the
amount stolen On last Thursday morn
ing Mr. Osborn received IA dispatch from
Howell, dated at Hannibal stating that
be would arrive in Quincy on the War
Eagle, and would call ut the company s
office In the afternoon Mr.. Howell. in
compliance with his dispatch walked ino
the office of Mr.. Osborn and related the
story of the theft and of his subsequent
wanderings. He said that when the
package of money came to Colchester the
temptation was SO strong that he decided
to steal it. After opening one of the en-
velopes he realized his position and tried
/ "a a \
without leaving evidence that the package
had been molested. He then decided to
take it all and risk the chances of capture
that night, but before he had gone far he
realized the crime which he was commit
ting, and decided to shoot himself On
feeling for his revolver he found that
he had left it on his desk at
the Colchester depot and then
decided to go ahead and take the chances
of being captured. On arriving at the
Plymouth he left his horse. walked to
Clayton and there took the Wabash train
east and went direct to the interior of
Mexico. Soon after arriving there he
was robbed of s., 900 at hotel. He in
vested the balance of his stolen funds in
coffee plantation and secured a position
as bookkeeper at $50 per month. Howell
states that his life in Mexico was one of
common suspense. He imagined that
every stranger who arrived at the town
where he was living was detective or
some one who would identify him. His
business prospercd, he worked diligently
and constantly his only desire being to
obtain money enough to restore the
amount which he had stolen at Colchest-
err For six months after the crime was
committed his wife aud family, who were
in Alton, knew nothing of his wherea-
bouts, but he finally wrote to them say
ing that at the earliest possible moment
he would come back and restore
the amount which he had
taken. Howell was living in Mexico un-
der an assumed name, and by his industry
and close attention to business gained for
himself the reputation and confidence of
the entire business community where he
resided. Finally the suspense became so
great that he made up his mind to come
back to Quincy. restore the money which
he had taken and give himself up to jus
tice. He has followed this line of con
duct to the letter, making good the sum
which he appropriated at Colchester. and
Mr. Osborn states that the company will
not prosecute him. This is Howell's first
ofrense. and he says himself his punish
ment during the two years of his Danish
ment and suspense has been the worst
which could have been imposed upon
him. He brought with him letters from
Mexico from prominent business houses
him in the highest terms,
and it is probab lie that the lesson which
he has learned will be one which will
prove safeguard against temptation for
all time