The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-05
6. s. MERRILL.
Stories Told of the Lately Deceased Man
ager of the Milwaukee & ST. Paul Rail-
way Illustrating His characteristics.


Some ten or twelve years ago there
was employed in Mr.. Merrill's Office =
clerk in whom complete confidence was
reposed. He was intrusted with many
of the corporations secrets and given
the handling of funds in large amounts.
Unfortunately. the young man COM
mcnced sowing his wild oats. found his
salary insufficient to support his ex-
travagance, and frequently distracted
small amounts from the railway COM
Dany's funds to meet the deficiency.
These amounts gradually increased in
SIZE ltil the young man, realizing the
position he was in. made one grand
haul and left for parts unknown. His
departure led to 4 discovery of ali his
pteulations. The information was COM
mr.nicated to Mr.. Merrill, who, after a
lr1ments reflection. sent for the COM
uany's special agent, and ordered that
q, lficial to institute a search for the alb
sent clerk.
Follow him." said Mr. Merrill. Ito
| China if necessary, and bring him back.
Keep this matter quiet and spare no
expense in bringing the young man
| oack to this Office.
The few other persons who knew of
! The enlightenment were en- Joined to strict
secrecy. and very few ever learned of
The facts. Any inquiry which might be
made regarding the Young mans abb
sense was met by the reply that he was
taking his summer vacation. but just
where was not known.
In the meantime a diligent hunt for
the young man was in progress. He
was traced to Detroit, and from there
through Canada to the Atlantic coast.
where he sailed for Europe Just twelve
hours in advance of the special agents
| arrival. Authorities on the other side
of the Atlantic were cabled, and the
Young mans arrest ordered. This was
successfully accomplished, the clerk
was returned to America and trans
ferred to the custody of the railway com
pany's agent. To that official a full
| confession was made, and, finding him
self completely in the company's power,
| the Young man calmly contemplated his
fate. expecting nothing less than State
prison sentence.
He was quietly taken before Mr.. Mer-
rill, who. TO his complete surprise, APP
preached him pleasantly, took him
warmly by the hand, and said: We'll,
back again | see. Sorry you staid so
loag, as we needed you. Had good
time, though, hope, Now, c.,
YOUR desk is Just as YOU left it. No one
has disturbed a paper, and you can get
to work at once. Here. look over these
accounts. and see that they are properly
checked
The young man. dumbfounded at the
reception, as in fact was the special
agent. burst into tears, and could not
fully realize the situation. until Mr..
Merrill again broke in with: Come.
what are you doing there? Get into
that chair as quick as you can and
check those accounts. And, by the
way. don't want to ever hear a word
regarding certain events of recent date,
which Won perhaps Know OF"
The Young man did 90 to work. be-
Gan new life. attended to his duties
Is he never had before. advanced him.
self in rank as railway employee, made
good to the company the amount he
had stolen. and several years later left
the company with as good a letter of
recommendation as any man ever re-
ceived. He to-day occupies a promi-
nent position with one of the leading
railways of the country, and for it thanks
his old employer. S. S. Merrill.
Manager Merrill's regard for faithful
employees is well illustrated in the fol-
owing incident: A colored boy. who
had some time previous served As por
Ter on Mr.. Merrilrs private car. and
who had rendered excellent service in
that capacity. was accidentally killed
Upon learning of the accident Mr.. Mer-
r:ll Immediately gave orders that every
necessary arrangement for the funeral
service and burial of the young man be
made, his own purse contributing to that
purpose. The day of the funeral
CHANGED to be an unusually busy one at
the General Managers office. and from
early morning the place was fairly
Desieged with callers DESTROYS of making
contracts for rail. ties. spikes and
other supplies, representatives of yari-
Gus corporations, and individuals having
personal matters to attend to. Mr.. Mer
rill disposed of them as fast a he could,
but as the day moved on into the after
noon there was vet more than half
dozen in waiting. AScertaining the
wants of each, he granted an audience
to those with whom a meeting could not
be conveniently postponed, and then,
glancing into the waitng-room, he said:
''Gentlemen. you must excuse me to-day. |
have not time to consider your cases this |
afternoon, as must attend funeral"
And in the midst of the lOwly but |
honest-hearted people who were present |
at the faithful porter funeral was Man |
ager S. S. Merrill.
The purse of Mr. Merrill has scores of |
times been quietly opened to the relief |
of poor and needy persons, and it will |
never be known what amount he has |
distributed in this quiet manner. Sew
eral years ago subscription paper was |
circulated in the Milwaukee & st. Paul |
general Offices to raise few hundred |
dollars for the relief of deserving per-
son. 1t Glanced thai Mr.. Merrill was
out of the city AZ the time. and before |
ne had returned the required amount |
had been raised and turned over to the |
person for whom it was intended. A |
short time after that Mr.. Merrill heard |
OF the transaction. and Immediately |
summoned the person who hal circu-
lated the subscription paper.
How much did vOu put me down |
for?'' inquired NJ. Merrill. drawing mis-
pockei-book. Nothing. Do Won mean
to say that YOU permitted that list to BE-
closed without my name on il? Now
l. II -