Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-03
RUINED BY A FAST LIFE
n CONFIDENTIAL CLERK ROBS
HIS EMPLOYER.

Wine, Women and song Among the
Allurements Along His Path to Dis
gr"ce-the Aggregate of Fis Embez-
ziement Prob ably Over &10O,OO0-A
wife and Trio Of Mistresses.
CHICAGO, Dec. 2.-The most sensational
as we'll as the heaviest defalcation which
has taken place in Chicago in many years
probably during It's commercial history
has just been brought to light. Miner
I. Ames, the millionaire coal merchant,
Is the victim and Theodore S. Mize, his
confidential bOokkeeper and cashier, aud
Secretary OF the Chicago ana Mnonk Coal
and Coke Company, at No. 142 LaSalle
street, is the perpetrator OF the robbery :,
which is estimated at 100000. and may
exceed that amount.
From his position as bookkeeper, cash
Ter, confidential clerk and secretary OF
the coal company, Mize had absolute con-
troll OF the moneys OF the company and
the private fund of Mr.. Ames. Mize is
one OF the DesL known men in local busi-
ness circles, having very extensive ac-
qualnJance. .anG he also has been one of the
most popular men OF his set. He was
member OF the Union Veteran Club and
ApoliO NluOs UOAuS q singer Oh mUcD
ability.
THE OLD STORY.
He 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 Mlze, formerly of Akron, o., hut
now living in this city. Theodore has
been in the employ of Mr. Ames since
1877 Within couple Of years from the
time he entered Mr. Ames' employ he be-
gan systematic course of robbery,
covering UP his dishonesty by false en-
tries upon the books and by other schemes,
AT first his stealln&s were comparatively
small, but he soon began operations on
more extensive scale, and of late years,
1T ls rumored, that his populations fire.
quently reached $1,000 in single month.
THE DISCOVERY.
About week ago Mr. Ames discovered
that something was wrong with the money
accounts. A brief investigation con-
Vinced him that large sums were M issing.
1t is SAID he then taxed Mize with dis
honesty and declared tnat be would en-
gage experts TO go over the books. Mize
at once weakened, broke down and con-
fessed that he was guilty and had been
rCbblng his employer for many years. He
begged for mercy and promised restitu-
tion so tar as lay within his power. Since
then all his property which could be
found, including a fine house on Ellis
avenue, have been turned over To Mr..
Ames. Mize could not be found last
night, but ~ believed to be stopping Tor
the present with mis- father. Besides the
eztravagant manner in which he and his
wife lived, it is asserted that Mize at
various times supported three other
women, on whom ne layished money With
a generous hand.
A COLLECTORS REGULATIONS.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 2.-Glrard Farar, col
lector for the firm Of Evans Bros, whole
sale tobacco dealers, was arrested last
night on charge OF embezzement. A
member OF the firm states that the amount
collected and-nUt accounted Tor Dy Farar
they already know to reach 81, 500, aad the
examination of mis- books had not yet
been completed.