Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-31
THE TOWN sYMPATHlZEs.
Archer's Crime Kills Business Dead in
Belafr.

From the Baltimore American.
A large number of friends called on Mr..
Stevenson Archer yesterday, but no one was
admitted to see him. Several large palm leaves
were left at the house by some friends in re-
membrance Of the day and large quantities OF
flowers were sent No business of any sort is
discussed in Mr.. Archer's room, and if he asks
about any business matter his question ID
eyaded. He has not as yet made any statemen:
in connection with his wrong doing. just when
the matter will be brought before him no one
knows, as it all depends upon his condition.
His doctor is more hopeful, but he is by no
means out of danger. His daughter Daisy re-
turned home Saturday from school at George
town. Belair suffers heavily by the affair.
Business is dead and the town looks as if it had
been visited by plague or some other calam-
itv. Groups of men stand round the streets
talking the matter over in low aud bushed
tones. The feeling shown is wonderful. There
is not one man in the town who believes Mr.
Archer a defaulter, and they all believe the
matter will be Strengthened out and Mr.. Archer
will again resume his high and trusted posi-
ton. None dare to speak of the defalcation
in any way that would reflect on Mr.. Archer
There is scarcely family in or around Belair
that is not affected by MIR. Archer's wrong do
ing. One widow had placed her fortune in his
hands TO invest. She is now without a cent
There are numbers of other such cases. SO
great was the trust in Mr.. Archer that laborers
and the poorer class of people would save small
sums and place them III his hands TO keep for
them instead of placing the money in bank.
\ laboring man related. with tears in his ewes.
how he had saved up 81, 800 and had placed il
in Mr.. Archers hands to invest and now that
he had lost it, II left him without one cent in
the world. So great is the affection of the
people for Mr.. Archer that there is not one
who has been ruined by the defalcation who
would not willingly do everything in his power
to help Mr.. Archer. He was always generous
to fault, bk his business was carried on in a
borrow money from him and he never kept
any record Of it. Last summer a merchant in
Belair went to Mr.. Archer and obtained the
loan of 81 800. When paid Mr.. Archer had
forgotten about ii and had not kept any record
of it. Several merchants IN Belair have large
accounts against Mr.. Archer. butcher has
an account Of sl.l00 against him for meat used
at Hazel Dell. A grocer has an account OF $500
for groceries. Both say they will never pre-
sent their billa
A report is in circulation that during the
last Judge election in Hartford county Mr..
Archer was very free with money and a large
sum was used by him. Last night a secret
meeting of the Belair water works committee
was held to determine whether the works
should continue, as some Of the company had
sustained very heavy losses by Mr.. Archer
Messrs J. T. C. Hopkins. Joseph NJ. Street. s.
A. williams and Allan Hoffman are Mr..
Archer's bondsmen. The company will not
be affected to an extent that will compel them
to stop work. It was decided to keep right on.
Bids win be opened today and the contracts
given.
No allusion was made to Mr.. Archer,s down.
fall in any of the churches Prayers were Of
fered up in every church for him and his
family, but his name was never mentioned.
The financial loss to Belair and the county will
greatly affect the town and it will take Year, TO
recover even the loss to business