The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-02
WILL PLEAD GUILTY.
Tom Skaggs Has Returned to
Give Himself Up.
HIS TWO YEARS OF WANDERING.
Missing Agent OF Northern Pacific Ex-
press Yields to Conscience-Msny
Paliiating Circumstances.

Thomas La Fayette Skaggs, the default
ing agent OF the Northern Pacific Express
company, has returned to this city to re-
ceive the penalty of the law. This morn
ing he will plead guilty and throw himself
upon the mercy of the court.
okaggs, who Is now only about IS years
OF age, IS about five feet eight inches tall.
and is slightly built and very youthful in
appearance. His face is smooth, and dark
ruddy cheeks make him look very boyish
IN spite of certain lines of care and anxiety
about the eyes.
The story of his fall and of his final
giving himself up to Justice is strange and
pathetic. His early life was spent in
Eugene, Or, where ne was in the employ
OF the Northern Pacific EXPRESS Comnanv
At last he became the agent there, and he
showed such marked aptitude for his
work that he was transferred to Portland.
from there ne was sent to Seattle and put
IN iuil charge. Since he was good
LOOKING and extremely affable in
manner he made many friends
ana became one of the most
popular young man of the city. A
social disposition led him to seek CON-
partnership, and since he was hardly moro
than a boy, he did not use the discretion
OF man in choosing his friends. Little
by little he fell into fast ways and neg
lected his work. To add to the burden on
him his health began to break down. and
ne went to the hospital suffering from
some acute stomach trouble. Tosease his
pain he took morphine, and as a result he
became in measure victim of the drug,
SO that even were he disposed to keep the
affairs of the office running straight he
would have been unable to do so.
When the rush of business came lust be-
fore Christmas, 1889, he became COM
pletely tangled up in his accounts, and
matters became so chaotic that he could
no longer conceal from the general officers
OF the express company the condition of
the Seattle branch. Though he had
abundant opportunity to take large sums
OF money and valuables he did not do so,
but on the very day he disappeared he
turned over to his cashier two diamond
rings valued at $500 each.
On December 81, 1885, he left the city.
For day or two his failure to come to the
office excited no suspicion, and for several
days after his friends grew anxious about
him nothing was said in the papers, for
everyone hoped he would return safely
and explain his absence. Finally, on
Wednesday, January 6, 1890, the Posr-IN-
TELLIGENCER published the fact that he
was missing. Some believed that
he had been foully dealt with, for
superficial examination of his
books revealed nothing out of the
way. His room at the Mallory building
was found to contain his clothing and
s,,ey eli - oI III
to return. But since not the slightest
clue could be obtained the anxiety of his
friends deepened into dread, and the dread
into despair; for he was given up for dead.
A month or so after he had gone
charges of embezzlement were pre-
ferred against him, and the
grand jury found an indictment
against him. The amount of his shortage
was placed at various sums from $500 to
$780, but the real amount was SSSO-a
sum which he could easily have made up
had he had sufficient control of his mind
to stop and give the situation calm con-
sideration.
Since leaving Seattle he has learned that
the way OF the transgressor is hard. A
first he went to British Columbia, and
after knocking around in Canada for
time he attached himself to travelling
circus, giving his name as I. III. Cooper.
AS ticket-seller. agent, general roustabout,
ETC., he went over large part of the
United States, but at no time has he been
free from the fear of arrest. The disei-
pline of his trouble has led to reform,
however, for he is now broken completely
from the use of morphine, and is in Other
WAYS reformed man.
Though he had successfully escaped de-
lection so long that his crime was almost
forgotten, he could not escape from his
conscience, and so a few weeks ago he gave
himself up to the authorities and decided
to stand trial. Last Friday he arrived in
this city with Inspector J. w. Bowman, of
Chicago, who is in the employ of the
American Surety Company of New York.
Since coming here they have been stop
ping at the Rainier hotel, Skaggs having
registered as +. ii. Cooper, of Chicago.
Trusten z. Dyer, an old friend of Mr..
Bowman, has been employed as counsel,
and be will present the case in the court
this morning, when Skaggs will offer the
plea of guilty. The time since Friday has
been spent in negotiating with the various
parties interested in the prosecution.
Inc northern Iacihc ESpieSS Noih-
pany is fully satisfied and will
not push the case, for the
transgresslon of Skaggs was so
small, and so evidently due to indiscre-
ton rather than deliberate purpose. The
American Surety Company, of New York,
is also satisfied, and its agent, J. w. Bow
man, left for Chicago last night. So, as
the case stands there is little doubt that
the appeal for mercy will meet with re-
Spouse from the court, as it certainly
should, and light sentence will be imposed.
Premiums to Railway Men.
Premiums have been awarded as follows
L. L. SnnttIa I MIA Shnra e Eastarn RaII-