The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-08-17
HI. EckrOth Arrested.
A CoLUSBrA CoUNTIAN IN TROUBLR-A CASE
OF MISUNDERSTANDING.

There lapguishes In the county Jail for
want Of bail, a man by the name Of Hiram
Eckroth, of Mifflinyille, Pa, well-known
throughout both Columbia and Luzerne
counties as an active business man, but
who lately has, unfortunately, been the
victim Of ill-luck, or his own folly. Eek
roth few years back was known as very
prosperous young man, and probably en-
We'd by many OF his acquaintance for his
successful career, but misfortune cast her
mantle upon him later on and he had the
experience that "trouble never comes single
handed" His first series Of tribulations
came in the form of very heavy costs placed
upon him by q jury in the courts Of Colum-
bia county when the verdict of mot guilty
but pay the COSTS" which, by the way, was
from 81, 900 to 81, 200. Whether this ver-
dict was just one seemed to be question
to many, but while other men under such
circumstances would have given up the
struggle to success in despair, Eckroth
Struggled on with the best prospects before
him until quite recently. Certain rumors
Eckroth says were unfounded but never
theless, they were probably the turning tide
of his life, for they had the effect Of
creating ruption in his family ties, and he
became an alien to them perhaps forever.
These facts we merely mention to show
under what difficulties he had been laboring
and now to come to his present difficulties
we will state it as his side of the story:
Last October Eckroth hired man from
Shickshinny by the name Of G. r. Roberts,
who had been numbering. The latter, pre-
vious to bis hiring with Eckroth, had sent
car load of lumber to Philadelphia parties
who rejected 1t as culls Eckroth then es.
sayed to 60 down and sell this lumber,
which he did, realizing $l0l and the freight
while the Philadelphia parties would not
even pay the freight to have it. In the
meantime Roberts sold something like $3.50
latter returned he proposed retaining the
amount he obtained in Philadelphia to off.
set what Roberts had realized, but Roberts
did not propose to settle that way, and said
he wanted the funds Eckroth retained fol
his expenses, &C., and when the latter re-
fused to comply with the request, he was
arrested for embezzlemeut as bailee, when
Eckroth made a counter-charge and the
cases went before the Grand Jury and bott
ignored, as they termed 1t dog eat dog case
But this did not settle the strife for Eckiotf
was again arrested on the same charge ant
Sid Wilson, of this city, went his bail. /
was the understanding, Eckroth says, tina
his trial would not come up until the SEP
,ember session OF court, as he was told b
Alderman Donohue. Matters assumed
serious shape however, when the case cam
up at the June session when by the nor
appearance of Eckroth for trial he forfeite
his bail.
Wilson, thinking it was game Of tn
former to beat him, promptly had Detet
tives Bull and Holland engaged to ferrt
out the supposed fugitive from justice.
Meanwhile the defendant was enjoying
trip to the West, and on his return stoppe
at Williamsport, Danville and Bloomsbury
and AT the latter place was taken int
custody by Holland, whom he says CAV
him no time to look for bail, but unceremt
niously hustled him oil to the city jail. II
denies it as his intention TO skip his bail
and hopes to be enjoying his freedom b
tomorrow.
Eckroth's case, II he is innocent, is a sa
and deplorable one, and his friends wi
feel sorry Wakesbarre Ne,cs Dealer.