The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-20


future and uneasiness of those who knew
him was the fact that. at the time Of his
departure. he had o large snm of money for
which the companies he represented were
not responsible. There was one specially
large amount. package of money that
had been handed TO him Just as he boarded
the train, by the late John w. Burson. then
acting cashier of the Cam bridge City Bank,
which was TO be delivered in Indianapolis
Mr.. Burson had taken no receipt for this.
and 1t was not delivered by Gregg
'Burson was q big-hearted man. and
Gregg had his entire confidence. But he
was man of the strictest integrity, and at
the same time had that very proper pride
in himself which leads one TO resent being
made a dupe OF. He turned himself into q
detective with the special mission of find
ing Gregg and compelling him to dIsgorge.
He worked at this some time. but ap2ar-
entity without success. About one month
after Gregg's disappearance L CHANGED to
have business in the capital of the State OF
Iowa. At Davenport. in order to get there.
had TO take stage, and this route took me
through West Liberty. where | knew Gregg
had an uncle. AS the stage had TO remain
there some time concluded 10 inquire of u
few citizens as TO whether or not the alb
sconding Gregg had been there. / was
told that he had. and that soon afterward
there had come there o tall. st9op-
returned to the East. This de-
scription fitted Burson, and on my
return he tacitly admitted my charge that
he had overtaken Gregg, and that his bank
had not lost anything. DR.. l.. X. johnson,
who was a distant relative of Gregg. after
ward told me that he saw and talked with
him abont two years after his disappear
ance. Gregg told him that he had
been In South America; that he
had there made enough money to reim-
burse all his steaiings. and had started
for that purpose. He had, however,
been shipwrecked and lost all but barely
enough money TO bring him to the United
States, and that he was then on his way to
see near relative who lived at Washing
ton. The Doctor allowed him to DEPART
without disclosing his identity. Mr.. Bur
son was not man 10 compound felony.
His conscience was doubtless clear that he
had done the best he could for the bank,
and he had allowed old friendship
10 make him lenIent to the offender and
give him q chance To work and refund his
ill-gotten gains. Gregg's wife, very
estimable woman. believed him dead. but
afterward, having doubtless been informed
to the contrary. l believe she secured u di-
vorce and removed to the northern part of
the State"
Another mysterious disappearance was
that of Richard Beal, q young attorney of
this city. ''Dick" Beal. as he was popular
Iy called, was a man of considerable abil-
ity. Every one had thorough confidence In
him. At the time of his disappearance.
about dozen years ago, he was nearly
thirty years old. One morning he failed to
appear at his Office. That was all. He just
dropped out of sight. He was engaged to
marry an estimable young lady. and il was
departure and the cause. But she did not.
Some time afterward it was disclosed that
he had made certain collections, and had
appropriated trust funds.
Several years afterward Joshua Florea,
an attorney of this city, received letter
from Richard Beal containing money to
pay off all these obligations IN full. The
letter stated that he had worked and strug-
gled hard and had finally succeeded in
getting money to pay these debts: that he
had intended TO return, had started to
come to this city. but his courage had
failed him and he had not been able to do
so. 1t seems that Beaps incorporation
of funds came about through relative
who had held al office of trust. This rela-
tive had come to Beal and told him that
he had taken certain funds. and that I'M
less he was able to make good his shortage
the penitentlary stared him III the face
Beal took the trust funds and
collections he had in his hands and gave
them to this relative with the clear under
standing that they Were to be repaid in a
very short time. This the relative had
failed to do. and Beal had fled to escape
punishment and disgrace. The suppositiOn
is that Beal went to Australia, and that
with the money in hand TO make restitu-
ton he returned to this country, probably
10 San Francisco. but, changing his mind
went back 10 the island continent. Moth
ing more has ever been heard of him.
Leven T.. Miller, once q prominent law.
yer of Williamsport, this State. disap-
peared from the Grand Hotel, in this city,
about twelve years ago. He was stoppin G
at that hotel, and getting up one morning.
at o'clock, complained that he could not
sleep. was not feeling we'll and would take
walk. He never returned. 1t was ct first
thought he had returned to Wllliamsport.
But he had not. and his family did not
know of his whereabouts. Gen. Dan Nc
Caulay interested himself in the case. He
was well acquainted with Miller, and
they were friends. Sewers were ex-
plored, the river was dragged, and
every possible effort was made
to find him, but without success. -Four
or five years went by. At last a gentle
man turned up who said he had seen Miller
on a Red-river steamboat in Texas; had
spoken to him. but Miller had denied his
identity. 1t was Miller however. He had
located In a little town in Texas. where he
was practicing law under another name.
His family had reioined him and he was. to
all appearance. a thriving, honest citizen.