The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-16
DRAWN BACK BY REMoRsE.
Defaulter's IrIon's Conscience Forces Him
to Return

From the n, Y. STAR
In the soiled and ill-ftting garments of q
common sailor, Frank NJ Irion, the defaull-
ing clerk of the city court Of Birmingham,
Alabama. arrived here yesterday on the steam
ship Egyptian Monarch from London. AT
quarantine three well dressed men boarded
the steamer and walked forward to where q
gang of sailors were busy in the forecastle
They were Deputy Marshal Bernhard and two
officers from birmingham, who had been wait
ing to arrest Irion on his arrival.
"Well Frank, can this be your asked one
of the officers, approaching tall, welcomed
young man OF so years, who advanced from
among the sailors with his cap in his hand as
they approached.
YES responded tho young man, "and I'm
glad you've come l want to go back and
suffer for my crime. My remorse is terrible"
"Then l arrest you, replied the officer.
There was stir among the sailors, who
could not understand why one OF their num-
Der should be seized by the officers of the law.
"Thats all right, boys said the prisoner
turning to his rough companions; 81 deserve
arrest, for I'm n criminal" Hot tears ran
down his cheeks and his fellow sailors seemed
almost equally affected.
When the steamer arrived at her dock at the
foot Of Twcnty-fourth street, North River,
Irion was taken ashore a willing captive. The
officers took him TO a hotel
The story of Irons career since he fed from
for thousands of dollars, as told by himself, is
remarkable as o romance. Some fourteen
months ago he was trusted and respected as
clerk of the city court lie moved in the best
circles of society and was member of several
social and intellectual clubs. He became a
defaulter and fled,
An examination of his accounts showed
systematic course OF deception and fraud.
Iron rambled over the western country and
gradually spont every dollar he had when he
iaft A 1ahanea FINALLY he reached San Hiram
cisco without money o. friends and besot with
q growing fear that detectives were following
him everywhere. In desperation he shipped
before the mast as common sailor on an
English ship bound for Liverpool. Even at
sea his fears did nos desert him. Added to
his dread of capture, he was possessed with a
horror of passing his life branded as criminal.
Tho voyage was feariully rough one, and
in rounding Cape Horn Irioa became i'll. For
weeks no was too sick to work and at timoS 1t
was feared he would become insane. More
dead than alive he arrived in Liverpool, whore
no left the ship and proceeded TO London de-
termined to place himself in the custody of
the United States consul and be sent back to
birmingham to atone for his crime.
He arrived in London in the early part Of
Sentcmber and went direct to the Office of
Consul General Waller. To him he made q
fun confession and begged 70 be sent back to
America. ne consul II, placed me matter IN
the hands Of Martin Waller. Vice-consul, who
secured him n berth as q common sailor ON tho
Egyptian Monarch.
Oh tho day the Egyptian Monarch left Lon
don for New York, a cable was received by
Consul General Waller asking him 20 arrest
lrion on his arrival in London and hold him
a prisoner til tho arrival OF an oticer from
Alabama. An answering cable informed the
authorities IN birmingham that lriou was on
his way 70 New ork
ON the voyage IrloI worked well and cheer
fully. one Of his fellow sailors in describing
him said, "he was Just Ike srsy OF us sailor
men. From the way he worked about slip IL
( seemed az Il be must have boon a horn salt
l Nc liked him because he WAS n real gentle
Z man. lie was the most Intellectual sailor
I over saw, tcu. Such Things no knew Why,
| he was posted on everything. We never sus
pected thar he was a teiugce nom justice
although lao said once OF twice that rouior5e