St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-20
The American Express Com
pany Charges a Shortage
Of Over $4,000
To a Cashier to Whom It Gives
an Excellent Previous
Record.
Cashier Piatt Says It Is Mere
1y a Case Of Clerical Diff
ference,
Though the Company Ayers
1t Had Experts Examine
the Books.

RumorS of highly sensational char
acter were afloat yesterday with regard
to an alleged serious shortage in the ac-
counts of Cashier Richard f. Piatt, of
the American Express company. Some
statements placed the deficit as high as
5000, and others at amounts gradually
less, until the neighborhood of 5000
was reached, and then the limit was
found. The stories thus circulated
were set in motion, probably, by the be-
ginning of an action to recover 1000
by the American Express company
against Cashier Piatt, who, said the COM
plant, had fraudulently appropriated
money to his own use. Those claiming
to know something about the matter
stated yesterday that in all PROBABILITY
$1,000 would not cover the amount OF
the defalcatiOn. which, on a thorough
examination of the books, would be
found largely to exceed that sum. In
quiry of the officers of the company
shows that Mr.. Pratt is not acting as
cashier for the company at present. but
is ill at st. Joseph's hospital. About a
month ago Cashier Piatt fell i'll and
went to Chicago for surgical aid. On
Joseph's hospital. where he is, at
this tine, almost convalescent.
After his departure. whether as
precaution. or Oh suspicion of wrong.
Manager a; lerton went into an exam
nation of the books of the cashier. and
found that shortage of $1,000 existed
therein. 1t was suggested that an error
might have been made in calculation,
and nothing was said until the accounts
mad been carefully gone over a second
time. Still the books refused to balance.
There was 5000 to be accounted for, any
way it was figured. Although the Of
ficerS of the company were averse to
speaking of the matter at all, it was as
certained beyond doubt that the
amount named is the outside figure of
the shortage. A representative of the
GLOBE called on Mr.. Piatt at st. Jo-
seph'S hospital yesterday afternoon. He
was found eating hearty dinner. and
stated that he would be about again
in short time. When informed
OF the ruin0rS concerning him
| Mr.. Piatt said that there was no founda-
ton for them other than the American
Express company had began a.civil ac-
ton against him to recover 5000, al
legged to have been misappropriated.
THE facts are" he continued, "that
have been in the employ of the com
pany for fifteen years. and for the past
ten years have been cashier under Ath-
! .erton. There never was a whisper
| of trouble in all that time. In
June last my books were closed up
and they showed balance to my credit
of three cents. As soon as l fell ill, Tor
some reason, don't know what, they
began an examination of my books.
The men employed Oh the work don't
know stheir business, and there is Ia
mistake somewhere. For a week OF
two officers of the company have been
coming here, making no definite
charge, no definite demand, but
merely limiting at dark things.
The filing of that complplaint
yesterday. and the naming of the al
legged shortage as 5000 was the first
had heard of the amount supposed to
be missing. There is no doubt that
these people are mistaken. l haven't
| the least idea how such deficit could
exist, and am confident that it does moi
| exist. Things will probably assume g
| different complexion when | am vel
! enough to attend to business"
/ An officer of the company was asked
1 last night whether it was the intention
1 to place Pratt under arrest Oh his recov-
cry from his present illness. No salts
factory reply conld be obtained, how
ever. He might be arrested and he
might not. 1t was all according 10 the
future turn of events. Expert account
| ants are now working with the books i'll
| order to establish beyond all doubt thai
no error in calculation has been made.
ii. V. Rutherford, who has been EN-
| ployed as attorney by Mr.. Piatt, was
seen last evening. He said that MIR
| Piatt was an old and trusted employe OIL
the express company. The mistake ha6
been that when Mr.. Piatt was compelled
| to relinquiSh the duties of the office, ths
| work was placed in the hands of per
sons not familiar with the complicated
| arrangement of figures which the books
| necessarily present. 1t is to settle the
| question of legal liability for the exist
ing shortage that this action is brought
The alleged miSappropriation of funds
exists, if at all, only in contemplation
| OF law. by reason of Mr.. PiattS position
| as head OF the department.
1t was authoriIatiyely learned from
the company that Cashier Piatt was re
| lleyed of his Office about a month since
! and that experts were put upon the
| books Immediately upon his removal
! The company ASSERTS positively tina
| there is shortage of some odd dollars
over $1,000 which MIR. Piatt should bt
able to explain. 1t claims further thai
it has been very lenient with Mr.. Plat
! on account of his ill health. and gives
| him an excellent record as an homes
man and an efficient and Trustworthy
| officer. He is under heavy bonds to thu
| company and it will therefore suffer n,
] lOSc