New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-24
THE ILLNESS or CHARLES 4. ST. JOHN.

FRUSTRATED BY CARE AND Anxiety - Hls AC-
COUNTS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT.
10 was stated at Police Headquarters yesterday
that tho rooms Of c. A. ST. john. the prcrory clerk.
mad been watched more closely than usual recently
ecau.e of biz serious illness and probable insanity.
Mr. St Jonn has held the position OF property clerk
for about nfteen years His honesty has never been
doubted by the officials best qualified To express an
oulnIon about him. For an annual salary OF $1,000
be performed duties which were very trying 10
man of uervo temperament. His health hes been
failing gradually since about three years ago, when
his only daughter. beautiful little girl died after
n brief illness. lie suffered acutely at times fIOm
rheumatism. and within few months lie has been
kept at home frequently for n day or two at a limo
on account of illness As the custodian of lost and
stolen property, Mr. ST. John has been compelled 70
decide many questions both OF law and oil iact.
by persons TO whom he refused to deliver property
on insufficient evidence.
About three week. ago suit WAS brought by Mr..
ZabrIskIe 20 recover jersey City bonds worth
$4,000. which had been in Mr. IT. JOINS custody
as stolen property for long time. lie clerk had
refused TO deliver the l0nds 10 either one CT two
that II lie gave mp the bonds to one, the other
might sue him. Papers in the suit were sent to the
CorrOrat on Counsel, bg whose advice the clerk had
kept possession Of the bonds 1t If believed by
Nh St. Johns friends that he feared arrest ana per
s,na inconvenience on account OF tue snt and that
this trouble was the last straw which finally broke
Iim down endencv to insanity is believed to bc
inherited from his father. a wcll-known steamboat
captain. who committed suicide about eleven years
Ill.
mary ! . lie probably became partly denented
on that day from the effects OF OYerwork and
suffering. lie wrote out resignation aud ad
dressed IL to President French, OF the Board
of Police He also wrote letter to Chiei Clerk
Uawley 80 rambling and uncertain IN IT'S tone as
10 show that he WAS not IN his right mind Foi
several DAYS afterwards Mr.. 81. John did not
appear at Police Headquarters or at his home and
his friends began TO feel much alarm OH his ac-
count Relatives at length fonnd nm on Wednes
day in stat Of great mental ana physical weakness
i'm Brook n not far from hi- hUme. lie has 5lucc
been under the caro- Df physicians. II was "a ID
Yesterday that lie was believed TO be improving
slowly bat il was doubted if ho ever would be able
10 resume his old duties at Police Headquarters.
Accountants, who were directed recently by the
Comnis siC ners Of Accounts 10 examine the records
in r. gard TO the Police Pension Fund. have been at
work for two daysOn the books and property IN Mr.
ST Joln's custody. Ills safes were opened on
Wednesday and In them were found money and
bonds amounting TO about 100000 including
The bonds Tor the recovery OF which the recent suit
was begun IL was said yesterday that NlTStJOhn's
accounts were correct 80 far as they had been eX-
amined lt will take nearly tlrce weeks TO make
an. inventory of all the al ticles for which he was
respuus bile at the time OF his prOstTatiOn. but
the most valuable OF those nave been found properly
secured ana accounted it IL regarded certain
that here has been dishonesty or careles,ness
the Bureau while the clerk able TO discharge his
duries The Police Commissioners said that they
believed that Mr.. st Johns accounts would be
found to be correct. The resignation of the clerk
will not be accepted until 10 Is made certain that lie
will be unable to perform his duties.