St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-03
TOO MANY WOMEN.
ConfifenFiaG Clerk i'm CEiraEo
Lived Ezig II aud is short 100000

Lived Zig IL aud is short SIO0, 600
CHICAGO. Dec. 2.-The most sensational
as well as the heaviest defalcation which
has taken place in Chicago in many years
probably during its commercial history
has just been brought to light. Miner T.
AmeS, the millionaire coal marchant, is the
victim, and Theodore S. Mize. his conf
dental bOokkeeper and cashier, the Secre-
tary of the Chicago u MInOnk Coal and
Coke company. at 143 LaSale street, is the
perpretrator OF a robbery that is estimated
at SI0O. 900, and may exceed that amount.
From his position as bOokkeeper. cashier.
confidential clerk and secretary of the coal
company, MiZe had absolute control of the
moneys of the company and
the private funds of Mr.. Ames.
Mize is one of the best known
men in local business circles, having a very
extensive acquan ntance and has also been
one of the most popular men of his set 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 all old friend of the young mans
father, Edward Mize. formerly of Akron
o., but now living in this city. Theodore
has been in the employ of Mr.. Ames since
1872. Within a couple of years of the
time he entered Mr.. Ames' employ he be-
gan a systematic course of robbery, cover
ing up his dishonesty by false entries upon
the books and by other schemes. At
first his stealings were comparatively
small, but he soon began operations on a
more extensive scale, and of late years. it
is rumOred, his peculatiOns frequently
reached the sum of $1,000 in single
month. About a month ago Mr.. Ames dis
covered that something was wrong" with
the money accounts. A brief investigation
convinced him that large sums were miss
ing. 1t is said that he then taxed MiZe
with dishonesty. and declared that he
w ould engage experts to go over the books.
Mize at once weakened, broke down and
confessed his guilt, and that he had been
rObbing his employer for many years. He
begged for mercy, and promised restitution
so far as it lay within his power. Since
then all his property which could be found.
including a fine house on Ellis avenue had
been turned over to Mr.. Ames. Mize could
not be found last night. but he is believed
to be stopping at present with his father.
Bes deS the eXtravagant manner in which
he and his wife lived, it is asserted that
Mze at various times supported
THREE OTHER WOMEN,
on whom he Iaylshed money with a gener-
Gus hand. To reporter last night Mr..
AmeS said:
] am in hopes that the shortage will prove
a great deal less than you have been in
formed. l could not tell you exactly what
the amount will he if 1 wanted to, for don't
know myself. l an having the accounts eX-
amined, but iU will be several days yet before
they are in condition that we can tell for GER
tain how they stand. Besides, Mr.. Mize has
made partial restitution by turning over his
property TO me. The matter is very painful
to me, and ! regard the feelings of Mr.. Mize's
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 claimed that Mr.. Ames had promised
to keep the matter quiet, and that young
MiZe went to the office regularly as if moth
ing 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, 1915 Ellis avenue, to his
employer. and this, together with what his
parents gave, made a balance in favor OF
the son. Mr.. MiZe stood at the Office door
looking glOomily out as reporter entered.
''I!ion't wish to say anything now," he said,
''untl have talked with Mr.. Ames. There