Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-24
THE MissING MILLIONS.


 Facts In the Case The Cyrus
 Field and Bartholomew Interview
 The Missing Defau1ter.
 HARTFORD, Sept. 2s--When' the stir was raised by the disappearance of Thomas F. Plunkett it was understood that MT. Bartho- lomew would be somewhat crippled, but it was believed he could weather the storm. Beside the various other responsible positions MT. Bartholomew occupied he was president of the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West railroad as well as director of the Florida Construction company, both of which have an office at No. 10 Wall street, New York. It was at first unknown whether these companies lost anything by him or not, but it was sup posed they had not as he had no direct dnan- cial management of either. 0. c. Deming yesterday to enquire as to this point and found that his companies had lost about $40, ,000. The treasurer took the case philo. sophically and said@kf Bartholomew had been of more than $40, ,000 service to the company in the past through his able work and that this more than balanced the present loss. MT. Bartholomew was 70 years old and related by marriage to Cyrus W. Field and he had been in business in Hartford nearly 32.
 
 smoked nor drank. He possessed great phy- sical endurance, and often did the work of two or three men, working early and late and finding recreation in change of work. He was always in demand as an adviser and a contributor to help along charitable and other enterprises. He was always a borrower of banks and other concerns, but money was always freely loaned to him. He was inde- pendent about borrowing, and if bank questioned him he went elsewhere to borrow. Of late he began to put up collateral, which, being new feature, gave rise to suspicious. A very few banks declined his paper. The great question is Where has the lost money gone to? In what vortex was 1t swallowed up?
 It is now quoted about the city that Bar tholomew induced Plunkett, who had in herited $60,0 by the death of relative, to let him invest it where, as Bartholomew said, it would quickly double, and that Plunkett let Bartholomew have it, and very soon the whole $60, ,000 was lost. Plunkett in revenge watched his chances, took every opportunity of getting Bartholomew to place his name on notes for large amounts, and when he had realized handsome fortune by his roguery he skipped and left Bartholomew in the lurch.
 It is also now current talk that Plunkett was only the scapegoat and Bartholomew the real rascal. The fact that paper is turning
  whole affair. Until this is fully reported the amount of the stealings cannot be known. It will probably amount to $1 100000 or $2, 900, ,000.
 Grave approximations are expressed as to the condition of some large properties held by Bartholomew as trustee, notably the Will kinson estate of Hartford, and also as to the American Emigrant company, which has an estate estimated at $200, GOO. It was organ ized in 1863 to assist colored families to emi- grate to Africa and in the northern States and received large bequests from philan- thropic persons. It has done comparatively little business for many years.
 The only thing known to Bartholomew's credit is his dealing with the Hartford orphan asylum, of which his wife is president, He held S200,000 in securities, and these he turned over on Saturday night. He also had $4O0 in cash and tried to turn that over, but he could find no one willing to take it and so that is missing.
 His wife holds the fine old family mansion and other real estate in Hartford in her own name and her husbands creditors will find very little to attach.
 The United States bank is said to be the only Hartford bank which escaped loss. Some of the others will lose heavily and banks in many other cities and towns are involved.
 The Hartford Trust company had 8 very narrow escape. Six weeks ago they were on the back of Bartholomew's notes for $25, ,000. President Cutler of the company at that time heard that Bartholomew was borrowing money in large sums, and suspecting that was wrong, asked for 8 statement. seemed indignant, but MT. Cutler persisted and told him openly that any man who was borrowing such large sums was expected to give a statement. Bartho lomew still refused and MT. Cutler refused to lend him any more money. This placed the Hartford Trust com psny on their guard and they refused to lend Bartholomew any more money. As result they cut down Bartholomew's paper from $25, GOO to $5, 900 and are well satisfied to get out of the affair so cheaply.
 The Pearl street bank is heavily involved, but there is said to be no danger. E. S. Ty- Ter, the coal dealer, indorsed Bartholomew's paper for a large amount and will have to put forth all his efforts to save himself. The to- tal amount of Bartholomew's dedication up to date is fully $1, ,000, ,O00, and it is said Aside from the public institutions involved there are large number of personal notes put and several prominent men will be called upon to make good large amounts of money. The dedication is the largest that 1as ever taken place in Connecticut and has ,aused an immense sensation. It is proba- ole that more than one banking and broking concern will be obliged to call 8 special meeting to take measures to save them selves from loss.
 Considering the fact that Bartholomew was rated by Dun & Co. to be worth only from BIO, ,OOO to $9O,OOO it is wonder that he was trusted so far
 Judge Shipman, when seen tonight, said that the substitution of the securities would not cause any lots to the orphan asylum. He would not, however, say that the develop ments of the past few days would not cause a loss to the institution.
 MT. Field And MT. Bartholomew.
 NEW YORK, Sept. 23.-The announcement that Cyrus W. Field is brother-ln. law of