The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-01-23

one Oh Jut agents hHCW VI LIS WIO1S
doings, and is liable to punishment.
Mr. Mcconnell secured all of the let
tiers which Powlison wrote to his spe-
cial agent, some two dozen or more,
which contain some damaging evil
dence against him.
Mr. Mcconnell spoke to Powlison
about the matter Monday, and the
latter admitted that he had kept S120
to pay up small bills, intending to re-
turn it without anyone being any the
wiser. He denied any other wrong
doing. and seemed aStonished that he
should be suspected. They discussed
the matter every day, until yesterday
Mr. Mcconnell demanded and received
the private account books. Though
many of the entries were erased, still
the books show that
$3.50 WORTH OF GOODS
was embezzled. and Powlison finally
confessed that he had taken
that much. He seemed very re-
pentant, spoke of his nights de-
voted to PRAYER Though he had
slept like log the night beforel, and
burst into tears. His arrest was de-
termined upon. but was postponed for
some reason until to-day. a warrant
was issued for his arrest, this morn
ing. on the charge OF grand larceny in
the second degree, in stealing a cloak
worth 49, He could not be found any
where. and nothing has yet been heard
of him. His last interview with Mr..
Mcconnell was. at $50 o'clock last
evening. He had purchased $40 to so
worth of ribbon at the ribbon sale,
for shipment to his agencies. and de-
sired Mr. Mcconnell to purchase it.
The Investigations already made
render it certain that the embeZZle-
mentS amount to from $4,000 to S., 900.
1t is impossible to ascertain what
amount he has pocketed from cash
sales in the store, but it is thought to
be a large amount. The other clerks
had begun to suspect this. as custom
ers would wait for Powlison to attend
to them. as he would make reductions
in prices.
"REMINISCENCES.
PoWliSon went TO one of our citizens
for assistance. and to him made some
very damaging confessions, which
blacken his character, and prove him
to be villain Of the deepest dye and
professional swindler. This gentle
man had aScertained something of his
past. and in this manner was able to
secure the confession. While in bust
ness in Kansas. before coming to Man
kato. he swindled his partner out of
5000. or stole it, causing failure. He
swindled his uncle out of $500 or more,
in Michigan. He was brought up in
Michigan and removed to Kansas
three or four years ago. He got into
an unpleasant affair with young
woman. and to settle it stole or en-
beZZled $500 from Michigan young
lady. He was in jail in Kansas for a
month. in connection with some mat
ter. Mr.. Mcconnell believes that he
is a professional thief and fraud. II
caught. there is evidence, he believes,
to indict him on fifty counts for grand
larceny in the second degree, which
would be sufficient to place him be-
had the bars during the remainder OF
his natural life. The chief of police
is telegraphing in all directions this
afternoon. to ascertain the mans
whereabouts. This afternoon Mrs.
Powlison found six letters addressed
to her husband, confirmatory of the
Kansas ScrapeS.
Much sympathy is felt for Mrs. Powl-
ison. To her the shock is great one.
She knew nothing of her husbands
raScality until yesterday, when the
been deceived by her husband, when
he was engaged in his nefarious deal,
ingS. Living above the store, he would
go down at night to Go up and ship
the goods, while he made his wife be-
lieye that he was working by the Or
derS of Mr.. Mcconnell. She took the
broadcast and most honorable stand
possible. and when the blaekneSS OF
PowfiSon'S character was made known
t } her. beyond dCuot. she ranCunceC
him, and refused to ADMIT him yeSter
day We understand that she will at
once commence proceedings for di-
yorce and the resumption of hel
maiden name. In the meanwhile she
will reside with Mr.. and Mrs. j. q. a.
Marsh. Her married life has been q
very happy one, until this matter came
to light. and no husband was ever
more devoted than hers. PowliSOn left
without leaving any word to his wife
or any money, though he owed no bills
in the city. She deserves and Will re-
ceive the sympathy Of all.
Powlison did not make many fast
| friends among the young men. He
rather avoided their acquaintance. i
anything, though lately he has taker
! a more active part in society.
| There could be no particular motive
| for the embeZzlement. While it Wa.
rumored that he was living faster thar
any clerk on $50 month could. ye1
| but a small portion of his stealing:
was spent in this manner. He has eyi
IDENTITY secured his profits in some man
ner. He made some promises OF resti
tuition, and promised to be on hand a
eight o'clock this morning. Mr.. McCon
nell hopes TO secure the return of ;
portion of the goods at the differen
agencies.