Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-11
a CLEAN CONFESSION.
Paymaster LofgreeD. or Deere 4 Co..
Tells OF HIS Declarations aud what
Led 60 Them

Paymaster LofgreeD, OF Deere 4 90.
Tells OF HIS Declarations aud what
Led 60 Them
The fall of young Lofgreen paYmaster
at Deere & Co.'s works Moline, whose ar
rest on the charge of embezzlement was
recorded in the ARGUS of last night, is
unfortunate and sad, and it affords a
moral which, while dearly bought, should
be needed by other young men who may
be plunging into a similar fate. before it is
too late. The Dispatch of last evening
says of the case:
The young man is but twenty-on years
of age, the son of Mr.. A. E Lofgreen, the
veteran gatekeeper at the works. and his
arrest on so grave q charge is sad indeed.
Charley bad always been an apt boy,
swift and perfect in mathematics, and at
the age of seventeen. after taking bust :
ness college course. he took charge of the
Fay roll and had presided over it ever
since. his punctuality and accuracy at all
times winning for him the esteem of his
employers But it was the old, old STORY.
The boy fell into bad company, partook
of many of it's evil ways. and under such
influence. his downfall was an inevitable
consequence. considering the great temp
| tatlon under which he found himself
placed in handlit between So, 900 and
$4,000 every week. at the nominal sal
AIRY of $45 per month. the amount he was
| receiving at the time.
When the reporter called upon Charley
in his cell at the police headquarters. the
young appeared TO look upon his trouble
calmly. He showed no perceptible re.
serve and cOnversed much as he did on
every day occasions. When asked to
explain his difficulty he said:
Il don't blame anybody for this trou-
BILE but myself Preferring to let the Law
take its course, made the facts in the
case known to the company myself yes.
terday. For the past week the pay roll
has been in Fred Cooper's hands. and i,
was but a question of short time before
the shortage would have been discovered.
| told MIR. Simmon about it, and told him
to tell Mr.. Mason, which he did. The
stockholders held q conference and had
a talk with me, and / gave candid ex
PLANTATION of the felony. expressing my
determination to face the law The
shortage was S599-though when | come
to think believe that is not all, as there
are two orders at home, the amount OF
which l cannot tell without my book
don't know whether I can pay back the
money or not. My father has some money
and could have probably made things
| all right had l had the courage to tel
him in time. but couldn't do that, and
it is too late now. The money was
taken in small amounts on each payday.
Ii am to go to the penitentiary want
to go right away, and no delays. am
to blame. and must pay the penalty
Even if l should't go TO the penitentiary
| could never remain in Moline
Haven't you any of the money you
took from the company left."
mo. it is all spent"
How was it slent-in gamblingf"
well, suppose 1 got into bad
crowd. Yes. got to gambling and spent
the money. wish now that had never
had the situation have held for nearly
five years. handling half million year.
| was doing it too on small wages. get
ting but $45 month for work that was
worth at least $1O0 a month. have
worked great many nights and Sundays
during the past three years, and every
emplOye Of the works will say that have
worked hard. / have worked day and
night to get the pay ron out so the men
could have their pay before the shop shut
down holidays. and 1 sm content that
they appreciated my work"
Lofgreen had his preliminary hearing
this morning and was held in bonds of
80, 800 which he furnished.