Telegram-herald., 1891-12-20

II vas announced late yesterday af
ternoon that Manager John e. West OF
the Western Union Telegraph Office in
this city nAd resigned MS position and
ithat be would oe succeeded by P. v.
Mehan, "a old employe of the Office.
His fellow employees admitted that this
WA true, but they knew nothing Of Mr..
Vests future intentions. Some surprise
wAs created by the announcement aud
m attempt was made To interview Mr..
West He VAS fonnd NJ the Owashta-
nong club. OF which he 10 . member,
shortly after 6o'clock. but at the same
moment Sheriff Mcqueen came in and
spoke privately to him, and the two
wens out together. They were seen 10
eater Montgomery q Bundy's Office
and afIerwsrd went prowiIng about
together as If searching for bail. All
inquiries on their trail were met with
professOns Of ignorance, bat word by
word the truth was wormed out.
Ho is shsrt In His Aecsauts
Mr.. West had been arrested on .
eaplas charging him with being = de-
fanlter TO the amount OF s606. 50.
It MAS learned that there had been
an acknowledged shortage in his re-
turns since October. and the company
had been pressing him to square his
accounts. The delay in so dong ex-
cited suspicion, and . sharp demand
was made for the deficiency. About
ten days ago MIR. West wrote 10 the
Chicago office ard made . clean breast
OF the matter tie owned up tie exact
amount OF his shortage and said that
he nsd no means, but would gladly
work for the company IN any capacity
until the debt xas wiped out. Gsaerst
Manager c. Corbsts aud his sssistant.
T. J. Clancy, came on Friday, and
West was requested to re-
lssgn. which he Immediately did.
p. v. Mehan. who has been In
the employ Of the company for ten
years, was appointed as manager TO
succeed him. As the money was not
forthcoming caplas was taken out be-
fore Judge Grove, and West was placed
under arrest until he could secure bail.
Sheriff Mcqueen was called upon at IL
O'Clock. but his mouth was closed as
ti..hs as a bear trap. The jail was shai-
'ewed. however. and just before Md
night three mcn we're seen to enter the
door. They held brief Consultation
an the sheriff's Office. and the two
younger men were seen TO agn . pa
per.
An Affecting Scene In the jail.
A moment after Mr.. wes. was
brought down stars and an affecting
scene took place between him aud the
youngest OF the trio. The four men
tneu came cut, and West and his young
friend. who sas sfterward learned l.,
s- Fred q. BEARD. went up to the for
mefs boarding place, NJ. 295 Foun-
tain street. and the others went away
IN another direction liz was then
learned that TIE bond for 81 900 had
hecn signed by Fred c. Beard and Al
bert {. Kent.
West - 6ns app sring young man.
and cue of ,sTs ability. He 10 about
- years OF sgs aud mas worked for the
company sssen years, having Fisen irosE
che bcttom round Of the ladder to his
pres-ot resp ssabIe snd lucrative po-
Gaon.
Ne csn Noe expisfs ~.
Hs said when questioned in regard to
the shortage. that ne could not tell
wnss ne had done With IL He had no
idea what had become of the money,
but 10 was gone beyond doubt.
West ~ Gngie man
and 10 very popular amoog
large circle of gar young men about
town. His rapid rise IN the world
turned hls head, snd hs downfall may
be attributed 10 bss attempt 70 travel in
Zoo fast eiAss- II . the old, old story
OF . young man Of hstterins prospects
vhose head has been swelisd by aud
den prosperity. and he downfall and
disgrace followed - . natural eonse-
ausaes. The unhappy young msn has
psrenfs in Ohio who are we'll ~ do. but
esthsr frsm o seuse OF shame or IN .
spirit OF wsnton recklessness be mas
neglected g. cali upon them for help TO
clsar away shis blot upon his life rec
ord, and new hls dlsgrace must Be