The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-03
ANOTHER BIG DEFALCATION.
The Thief, However, Is Not a Moral and Re-
spected Citizen, but Wretched Sinner

CHICAGO Dec. 2-The Inter Ocean this morn
ing says: 1.-THE most sensational. as we'll as the
heaviest defalcation which has taken place in
Chicago in many years, probably during it's COM
mercial history. has just been brought to light
Miner T. Ames. the millionaire coal merchant
is the victim, and Theodore S. Mize, his con-
fidential book keeper and cashier, and secretary
of the Chicago and Minonk Coal and Coke Com
pany, at No 142 Lasale street, is the perpetrator
of a robbery that is estimated at $780, 900, and
may exceed that amount. From his position as
book-keeper, cashier, confidential clerk and sec
rotary of the coal company, Mize had absolute
control of the money of the company and the
private funds of Mr.. Ames. Mze is one of the
bestknown men in local business circles, having
a very extensive acquaintance, and has also been
one Of the most popular men of his set. He
He was member of the Union Veteran Club
and the Apollo Club, being singer of much
ability. Mize is handsome, stylish and talented,
but IN this case it is the old story-wine women
and ruin. His employer, Mr.. Ames, had known
him from infancy, being an old friend of the
young mans father, Edward Mize, formerly of
Akron, o., but now living in this city. Theo-
dore has been in the employ of Mr.. Ames since
1872 Within a couple of years from the time
he entered Mr.. Ames's employ he began a sys-
tematic course of robbery, covering up his dis
honesty by false entries upon the books and by
other schemes. At first his stealings were COM
paratlvely SMALL but he soon began operations
on a more extensive scale, and of late years, it
is rumored, his populations frequently reached
the stiff sum Of ST 900 in single month About
a week ago Mr.. Ames discovered that something
was wrong with the money accounts brief
Investigation convinced him that large sums
were missing 1t is said that he then taxed
Mize with dishonesty, and declared ne would en-
gage experts to go over the books. Mize at once
weakened, broke down and confessed that he
was guilty. and had been robbing his
employer for many years He begged
for mercy and promised restitution
SO far as 1t lay within his power. Since then
ell his property which could be found including
a fine house on Ellis avenue, has been turned
to Mr.. Ames. Mize could not be found
last night but is believed to be stopping, for the
present, with his father. Besides the extrava-
CANT manner in which he and his wife lived. it
is asserted that MiZe at various times support
ed three different women, upon whom he Law
ished money with a generous hand. To re-
porter, last night. Mr.. Ames said 4 am in hopes
that the shortage will prove great deal less
than you have been informed. could not tell
exactly what the amount will be if ! wanted to,
for / don't know myself. ] am having the ac
counts examined, but it will be several days yet
before they are in such condition that we can
tell for certain how they stand. Besides Mr.
Nize has made partial restitution by turning
over his property to me. The matter is very
painful to me, and regard the feelings of Mics
family as of more account than the loss of the
money. His father and have been close friends
for thirty years. ,"
The father and mother of Mize were seen at
their residence. They admitted the truth of
some of the charges but said the amount taken
had been grossly exaggerated They claim that
Mr.. Ames had promised to keep the matter quiet
and that young MlZe went to the Office regularly
as if nothing had happened. They said that he
had overdrawn his account and then, when Mr.
Ames returned from Europe, Theodore confessed
and turned over his residence to his employer
and this together with what the parents gave
made balance in favor of the son. Mr.. Mize
stood at the Office door, looking gloomily out,
a reporter entered.
81 don't want to say anything now" he said,
until have talk with Mr.. Ames. There are,
as you know, always two sides to every story,
and this is no exception to the rule"
SIS there any basis for the statement that you
embezzeG $780, 000"
''As said before, prefer to await my inter
view with Mr.. Ames before say anything. The
matter was arranged with him satisfactorily, and
our relations have continued undisturbed. and
will until / find that he is responsible for this
publication"
Estimates tonight of the defalcation of Mize
make the matter worse than at first stated, the
amount being now placed at $l12 600.
The developments reveal a state of
affairs sad in the extreme-a whole family
ruined by the recklessness Of a son, who has
brought a gray-haired father from afluence to
poverty; from health almost to the verge
of the grave. The homestead of the
aged parents, the home of the sister
and brotherin-law, the residence of the embez-
zler, the jewels of his wife, and his very birth
right and heritage, all have gone to satisfy the
claim of Mics employer and save the
son from the penitentiary To-day
transfers to Mr.. Ames were recorded for all
the property enumerated, and Theodore S.
Mize, jointly with his father, signed away all
right and title to the share of the fathers prop
erty that would revert to him by the provisions
of the fathers will, already made. The brother
of Mize. who is in Atchison, Kan, also came
to his assistance.