Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-27
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WELL WATCHED.
How the Guarantee Companies Ike ep
Track OF Their Clients--A De-
famltcr Arrested Within
FOur Hours.

Clason Graham drew the money on
check for $S6,G00, signed by his employ
ers, Spencer, Trask ~ Co., oil brokers,
and took train for Canada, but WAS
stopped on the way only four hours
later, both man and money being back
in New York the next day. The quick
ness of suspicion and action in the case
of u man whose reputation has been
good, was due to the fact that he had
given bonds to the firm for honesty, and
his bondsmen were one of the several
guaranty. and fidelity companies that
have lately come into use here in New
York. These concerns insure employers
against loss through the thests of en-
ploycs, and relieve the latter of the often
difficult task Of finding available friends
to take the risks, Not less than 5000
men are already bonded in this way by
the companies, among whom brisk rivalry
has already arisen. Visits to their Offices
s how large premises and numerous
clerks, indicating far more than would
be requisite for merely making out the
papers and dealing with the customers ny
to the point of completing the bonds.
The explanation is that the most elabo-
rate systems of watching the insured
men, and registering their habits, is in
operation; and already the extent and
thorOughness of the espionage has be.
come an acute nuisance to its subjects
TO feel that his every action may be un-
der surveillance by u spy, is annoying in
many cases wherein the man is well be-
haved and much dislike of the new order
of things has developcd but there Is no
escape, because the existence of the
companies provides so reasonable an eX-
cuse for individuals to decline to be
bondsmen that there is no escape,
THE CLASS OF RISKS
Railroad employees, bank clerks, court
officers and all sorts of financial officials
are chiefly the men involved. Before
making the bonds the persons character
are investigated as fully as possible; but
that is no complete protection, for one
company has already lost $40, 900 through
West Side Bank, and Teller +. j. Dictc-
r!chs, of the Laclede bank, st. Louis, both
OF whom were above rcprOach and one
seemingly pious, The preference is for
employees of institutions subject to State
investigation annually rather than the
hhndlcrs OF money for private firms.
Nearly all the men in the New York Post
Oilicc, and over half those in municipal
offices of finance are now included in the
risks The charges range from to per
cent on the amount OF insurance, The
principal business is detective. Every
insured person is watched, and very
closely, too, if the slightest looSeness OF
conduct is observed. In the instance OF
Clason Graham, II detective reported
that he was becoming lounger about
town at night, and apparently wIs
spending more income than his salary
could provide. At the n.1ment when he
cashed the biz ch"lk sgy had him in
sight, and 4tu not quit him until he took |
tho Cars, Then the detective telegraphcd |
to the company thathe was going to go,
too, and would look for orders at Spring. |
field, where the train would make It's first |
stop. Hasty iuquiry OF Spencer, Trsk d |
Co, brought ont the fact that Graham |
was absconding with S!6,O0J, and word |
was wired to Springfield to arrest him.
A NEW FEATURE.
A feature of the new business is reg. |
istry, called the List OF UnrclIables, IN |
which the particulars OF every obtuinable !
case of probable on actual mlsdoing by |
IN insured man are noted. The books of |
one establishment contain about 10000 |
names, another 1900, and there are not |
less than 5O,0Ol altogether thus recorded, |
including railrOaders, bankers, public of.
ficials and other fiduciaruS The amount
OF money stolen by trusted employees is
not dreamed OF by the public, "a proved
by the aggregate OF nearly $500 900 paid
from one Office. But the bonded men
are aware of their positions, and con
seriousness of being under scrutiny has
becomeOne OF the common sensations OF |
their lives.
III you suffer from lOOSeneSs of the bowels
Angostura Bitters will surely cure yol,
IlNT sI aNaat tas Il