The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-09
A HYPOCRITE'S DOWNFALL.
He Salts Down @25, 900 on a Weekly Sal
airy of S25-A Charitable Rascal.

He Salts Down @25, 900 on a Weekly Sal
airy of S25-A Charitable Rascal.
Charles Miller. a pous young man. until
recently employed by the Baptist Book Con-
Germ. has been found TO be short $4,000 to
that institution. The book concern was
managed by C. Il. bearing, who, previous to
the purchase by the church people, ran the
establishment himself for several years.
Miller was one of his most trusted clerks.
according to a Louisville dispatch to the
Cincinnati Enquirer, and no suspicion was
felt OF him when the receipts of the estab-
lShment ran low. II was attributed to
dizziness of trade. and Miller was allowed
to continue his ihefts, which are now
known to have extended over several years.
When the church PEOPLE bought the book
store Miller was also employed by them,
and stood high in the favor of the new pro-
prietors on account of his lrreprOachable
habits and devotion 10 church work.
His piety was far-famed, ana many orders
came to the store from churches and Sun
day-schools owing to Miller's high standing
in church circles. 1t now seems that Mil
ler's biggest hauls were made on these very
orders which his sanity reputation brought
him. His method WAS very simple. No ac-
count was kept of his sales by the house,
and when he would receive big order for
Sunday-schO0l books or Bibles he would
give the purchaser receipt, and then put
the money in his own pocket Instead of in
the drawer. Tie sale of religious books
seemed to take on boom, and the proprie-
tors were pleased with the rapidity with
which Miller would clear up the stock. Mil
Ter was likewise pleased, and mis- wealth on
S25 a week salary grew with astonishing
rapidity. He bought house in GarvIn place.
fashionable locality, bought stocks and
bonds and speculated in real estate. He
was fast becoming q solid citizen In a finan-
cia, as he had always been in religious,
sense.
The mans nerve was astounding. He
made no secret of his rapidly acquiring
wealth without visible source, and at the
same time kept up public deyotOnS, for
which he was famous. The propretors
noticed Brother Miller's worldly prosperity
without envy. but with much as tonishment.
A man who could give away thousands
year 10 charity and church work Q0r he
divided his stealings with the religion which
cloaked HIM and still had money to invest
in houses stocks and bonds, all on S25
week, seemed capable of miracles. Now
the good old Baptist deacons who con-
trolled the book concern are strong heliev-
ers in efficacy Of faith, but they were not
prepared to believe that the Savior could be
outdone by bookstore clerk. An inveSti-
CATION and watch we're inaugurated in De-
cember last. This soon resulted in the ex-
posure of the crookedness. Miller confessed
his crimes and turned over to the book COM
pany $4,000 in stocks and real estate. This
left him, however. $4,000 short, but in con-
sideration of his family his robbed employ
ers did not have him arrested nor make the
matter public. He has since been living
here, as usual, employed as an insurance
agent. He has young wife who was re-
Gently for the first time appraised of her
husbands shame.