Omaha daily bee., 1884-06-17
FLYING FERGUSON.
The Mayors Private Secretary Arrest
ed at Lincoln,
he Now Regrets His Action.

As stated in yesterday mornings BEE,
Alfred Ferguson, the young man who
has been in Mayor Vaughan's office,
skipped out IN Saturday for parts un.
known. 1t appears that he has for
sometime been badly "mashed" on a girl
who was at work at Mrs. Gray's restau.
rant on Bryant street, and he induced
her to ySin him in his fight. On Friday
night he was with her ordering a wed.
ding dress made by Mrs. Metcalfe.
and oil Saturday the two proceeded to
Omaha, and as appeared from the hotel
register, they occupied a room as hus-
band and wife. Young Ferguson ap-
piled to Mr.. Kimball Saturday for a pass
to Denver, the name of w. II. Vaughan
being signed to the order. Mr.. Kim.
ball telephoned to this side of the river
to see if it was all right, and learning
that Mayor Vaughan was away from
home, and feeling satisfied it was not his
signature refused to give the pass.
Mayor Vaughan returning Saturday
night was informed of the action of his
faithful secretary" and began tele.
graphing to Denver and other places to
head the young man off. Yesterday he
telegraphed to Lincoln and Mr.. Train,
who used to have charge of the tele-
phone Office here, and who knew Fergu-
son, very readily recognized the young
man, who happened to be there, and had
an officer arrest him. Young Ferguson
still had the woman with him but she
was not arrested. Last evening Chief
Skinner started for Lincoln to bring the
young man back.
Young Ferguson is about twenty-five
years of age. He is an orphan boy, who
was sent out here from New York with a
number of other boys for whom homes in
the west had been found by the charitable
institution having them in charge. He
worked in q butcher shop at Red Oak for
a time, and then came to city, where he
was waiter in a restaurant, when Mr..
Vaughn got his eyes on him. He is
q smart active young fellow
and thinks himself still more so.
Yesterday Mr.. Vaughan received a let
ter from young Ferguson dated at Oma-
ha. In this letter the private secretary
expresses great repentance and says that
he got to gambling, and in this way lost
500 which he took from the safe in the
Office, it being the amount of money COL
lected for old fees, etc., during his en-
plyer's absence. After losing this he bor-
rowed and tried to get a stake to replace
the 500, but lost most of the borrowed
money also. He said nothing In the let
ter about his feminine companion, but
begged Mr.. Vaughan to forgive him
and take him back, promising that he
would hereafter make a man of himself.
Hehas been very o~fficious andfull of cheek,
and has not made many friends, 80 that
little sympathy Is now expressed for him.
Still, as a clerk, he seemed to answer
Mr.. Vaughan's purposes admirably. He
will probably reach this city in charge of
an officer to-day, and Mayor Vaughan
says that he will not press the case against
him if he will 60 to work at manual labor,
and stick to it until all the
debts, borrowed money, etc. are
up. If not, he proposes to pros
ecute. II he is sincere in his determine
tson to make a man of himself Mr..
Vaughan says he feels like letting him
show the honesty of that determination
by giving him a chance to work with
shovel or stone hammer until all the
money he has borrowed around town is
paid up.
What is to become of the girl does not
seem 30 apparent. No one seems to
know whether Ferguson has married her
or not.
Ferguson is said to have numerous
creditors here, and it will take him some
time to work himself out at 81. 80 a day,
in accordance with Vaughan's plan.