The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-06
CAUGHTONT CHANCE
A RAILROAD FREIGHT DELIVERY
CLERK NEATLY TRAPPED.
The Surplus Stock Made to Return a
Snug Profit. But 1t Didn't Hold Out
Tho Delinquent Has to Disgorge
and IL Dismissed.


at is the SAME old story, another good
man gone wrong. Another trusted EN-
ploye, victim 70 temptations which his
moral sense Of right was not strong enough
to resist, and stands convicted before those
he served for faithfully, as they
thought." This was about the reply de.
tective gave an APPEAL reporter yesterday
afternoon in answer tothe question "What
have you got that is newt" Then came
the story:
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad COM
pany has been missing many valuable
articles Of freight lately, and there have
been complaints from the consignces II
happened in the item OF what is known US
'short and over frcigh,s." For instance
q broker or merchant orders fifty sacks Of
collee and only forly.nine sacks come, the
road is responsible Tor tho shortage. On
the other hand, which IL frequently the
case, an order of lfty-ono sacks would
come. A note Is made OF it and regular
debit and credit account OF such kept bo-
tween the railway company and the
mercantile firm, which Ut the end of GER
tain time is balanced up, and IL there il
any loss the road has to pay for II.
The case in point is that OF the chief de-
livery clerk OF the above road who, in such
transactions Us described, To ut least two
firms-Mcssrs. Ellis, Thomas Il Hill and
Gorsuch q ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that
he individually, and not the railroad com.
pany, was responsible for shortage IN
iroights On ono or more occasions
he represented where the consign.
ment was short that he had &c
mako 1t good. Then followed
several consignments Of over freight; he
had IL delivered TO the firms and collected
the overplus in value of the article, which
in this instance was several sacks OF cotioo
How long this practice has been in vogu,
with the faithful l2) delivery clerk is no
known. But recently this railroad com
pany made Mr.. j. s. krcss lis local lrcigh
agent. lie has been with them only |
few weeks, but II did not take him long e
catch on" 10 the double dealing oil hi
delivery clerk, ut least he had strong sus
picions, and accordingly employed de
tectivo 10 work up the ease. Within tire,
days the detective had located diileren
articles of freight thus sold by the deliver.
clerk, which had Melted him the snuI
sum Of SOS. The evidences Of guilt wer
conclusive. The officer laid them bcior
Mr.. Kress, and he at once hernandez
that tho guilty clerk bo arrested
and that lac would prosecute hir
for larceny. Before, however, the Office
should make the arrest TIE agent wishe
TO confer with the attorney Of the road
the attorney, in the kindness Of his hear
took into consideration the long years ,
service Of the clerk with the company; ,
his sweet and happy family in their coz
home out on fernando road; Of the man
friends and good standing Of the pilierin
clerk, against whom for the forty ycar ,
his life the breath of SANDER had nc
touched. Would the clerk make good hi
shortagc2 Most certainly he would. "Thc
let him 20 acquitb before the law, said III
attorny. Mr.. krcss acted ON this advice
the delivery clerk made good his shortag'
was discharged irom tho company's &c
vice and there will be no prosecution.