Morning journal and courier., 1886-10-27
UNDER ARREST.

Thomas r. Colbert Returns to This
City and Gives Himself Up-Loeked
Up In Default OF 1000 Bonds.
Thomas F. Colbert, a young man about
twenty-four years of age, was arrested yester-
day on the charge of theft of a negotiable
bond of Douglass county, Nebraska, of the
value of 81 200 and a certificate for seven
shares of stock of the Naugatuck Railroad
com any, all the property of Miss Julia NJ
Alling of Orange: The story of the robbery
was first reported in the COURIER over month
ago. Colbert, it will be remembered, was,
when young lad, taken into the family of
Ebenezer Alling, well-to-do and respected
farmer of Orange. He was treated as one of
the family and given fair education, being
at one time student in the Loveridge Bust
ness college in this city. He was always
co nsidered to be an upright and honest
young man. While in Orange he attended
Sunday school and was steady and industri
GUS. A year or so ago he got in with fast
set of young men and began drinking and
betting. He was fancier of horses and bet
considerable on them. He at one time lost
81 900 and to make this up he took the bond
and certificate, the property of his benefac-
tor. The theft was discovered and Colbert
left town to escape arrest, leaving his wife
Minnie, whose parents reside on Orange
street, this city, opposite the High school, at
Mr.. Alling's house. Since that time he has
Z
learned from friend that Mr.. Alling would
have to settle for the amount of the property
stolen. Filled with regret and remorse for
what he had done to his benefactors, and
having spent all mis- money, he determined
to return and give himself up. Monday
evening he came into Chief Bollman's
Office and inquired whether warrant had
been issued for his arrest. As the chief had
not heard of it he told the young man to call
around next morning. The chief was sur
prised to see him enter the Office again yes
terday morning. He was placed under ar
rest and taken before Mr.. Alling in the city
attorneys Office. He upbraided Mr.. Alling
for causing his arrest and especially for in
serting the theft of the bond in the
complaint, alleging that it, the bond, belong
ed to him and that he had witnesses to prove
it. Colbert acknowledged that he did wrong
in regard to the certificate, and stated that
he returned to save his benefactors from loss,
hearing that they must bear the loss of the
railroad stock unless he confessed to taking
the same, thus giving the railroad company
the necessary proof which would permit them
to issue new certificates to Mr.. All1ng.
Colbert claimed that the bond alleged to
have been stolen was his own, having been
given him by Miss Alling when she had
fit of illness. By the gift he was to have the
use of the bond while she lived and became
owner of it at her death. To this Mr.. Alling
assented and wished to have the bond
charge stricken out of the complaint. Mr..
Geo. A. Root of W.T.. Hatch & Sons banking
house said that the forgery could not have
been passed off on the house had not the &C
cused been trusted agent of the Allings in
previous financial transactions Lawyer
John W. Alling is counsel for the Allings.
Colbert's father-in-law, John E. Williams,
who formerly kept a stable in Westville,
paid for Colbert's dinner. The accused was
| locked up in default of obtaining $4,000
bonds.
The Water Street Bridge.
City Engineer Hill says it would be i'm
| practicable to build the bridge over the rail
road tracks at Water street unless the Derby
| road track was removed. Mr.. Hill thought
| that the Derby road could connect with the
| Consolidated road at another point, and that
the connection ought to be made elsewhere.
The bridge could then be easily erected. The
| Consolidated road is opposed to crossings at
grades such as the one at Water street, and
| it is probable that they would not oppose the
hridoa