Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-26
VANDERBEEK IN HIDING,
The Young Embezzler in San
Francisco.
He Has Given Up the Idea
Of Shielding.
The Story of His TransgressiOns Told
by His Mother.
She Is Urging Her Son to Give Him
self Up-A Pitiful Tale of Ad-
vsrsity and Consequent
Wrong Doing.

By the Associated Press
SAN Francisco, Dec. pa morning
paper states that Milton G. Vanderbeek,
agent in Santa Ana for the Singer Sew
ing Machine company, who disappeared
about two weeks ago, and for whose ar
rest on the charge of embezzlement a
warrant has been issued, is in hiding in
this city. Vanderbeek had written let
ters to lis relatives telling them that he
was going to commit suicide, andehey
were greatly alarmed about him. His
mother is a professional nurse in this
city. Last Friday morning young Van
derbeek presented himself at his moth
er's home, informing her that he had
been in the city week, but being re-
duced to his last cent and not daring to
show himself in the streets, he wished
to see his mother once more before he
died, and beg her forgiveness for all
that he had done. He told her that he
had once attempted his life, but failed,
and that he would try again.
The history of his tranegression comes
from the lips of Mrs. Vanderbeck her.
self. She was very much affected while
telling the story and broke down re-
peatedly.
II was 80 glad to see my boy, and Pm
sure if you knew him you would not
think him wholly bad" she said. LET
me tell you our history. We came from
New York. 1 myself am a trained
nurse and graduated at a New York
hospital. My son Gillie, the younger OF
the two, left home four years ago and
obtained a position in Los Angeles.
Milton and followed little over year
ago, and, having a little money, l set
him up in the cigar business in which
he bid fair to prosper until we werb
obliged to sell out by reason of the
property being wanted. Milton then
obtained the position of agent for ths
Singer company at Santa Ana, and from
that time till now always thought that
he was doing well. came to San Fran
cisco and my boy wrote to me con-
stantly, saying that he was making q
fair living. see now that he deceived
me, and that his expenses were more
than his receipts, otherwise he would
not have 80 erred.
"When my poor boy came to me on
Friday night, got him to tell me his
story. He said Mother, I never made
good living in Santa Ana. made
certainly from 500 to $25 week at first,
but then 1 had to pay Office rent and
keep two horses and a buggy. Then
my earnings fell to $40 to $l5 a week
and gave note for some money bor-
rowed on the installment principle.
But could not meet the payments and
at last, one day, sold machine and
kept the money. l always meant to
make it up, but everything went against
me and got deeper and deeper until
detection was inevitible. l had also
forged the name of the company on two
checks, which I passed on friends, so 1
had to 60. l resolved on suicide but
was too great coward. I would have
given myself up but I could not
bear tine thought of my friends
in Santa Ana seeing me in
Jail. wandered about, l don't know
where, till came to San Francisco.
This was to be the end, and on Tuesday
night on retiring to rest I carefully
closed the windows and the door, and
turning on the gas, lay down to die. By
what means failed, don't know, for L
woke up in the morning as usual
"Milton further told me that he was
still resolved on suicide, but I talked
him out of it, and he has promised for
my sake not to attempt it again. per-
suaded him to take little money from
me, but he is in terrible plight, and I
don't know what he will do"
Mrs. Vanderbeek is bringing strong
pressure to bear on her son to give him
self up to the authorities, and it is more
than likely he will do 30.