St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-06
THOMSON In Tolls.
The Missing Electric Light
Man Probably in Sheriff
Beams Clutches.
That Official Now in San Fran
cisco, Armed With the
Warrant.
Thomson Wanted to Square
Up His Building Assoeia-
tion Shortage.
The Amount Believed to Run
Something Upwards Of
$4,000.

Last Friday evening Sheriff Bean
started for San Francisco, armed with
the necessary papers for the arrest of c.
j. Thomson, the erstwhile electrician
! and eX-school inspector of st. Paul. 1t
is expected that he has his man in Gus
tOdy by this. and is only awaiting the
acquiescence of the prisoner or the
reQuiSition from the governor of Cali
fornia before returning TO the scene
of Thomson's downfall. Thomson is
wanted to explain his peculiar methods
of bookkeeping while acting as secretary
of the Peoples Building society, posi-
tion which he held ever since that
organization was started. He is 'shy"
to the tune of several thousand dollars,
but the exact amount is not exactly
known. He has already acknowledged,
in letter sent to one of the officers of
the society, that he had appropriated
$4,000 of the society funds. but it is
thought the amount of his enbeZZle-
ment will be nearer the $12, 900 mark.
The Peoples Building society was one
of the most f1Ourishing OF the kind in
the city. Its officers. aside from Thorn
son, were ali men of the highest probity,
and its membership was large and con-
tinually increasing. Thomson, bv rea-
son of his extremely suave manner and
remarkable glibness of tongue, had
worked himself into the confidence of
all his associates, and not shadow of
suspicion had ever attached to him un-
til after his haSty exit from the city
over year ago, when an examination
of his books disclosed the true condi-
ton of affairs. Just previous to his de-
parture Thomson, much to the surprise
of his friends, who thought him finan-
cally solid, became insolvent and
was forced to make an assignment. He
had been in the insurance business, but
having secured the agency for the sale
of some electrical machinery for Gin
cinnati firm he branched out into the
electrical business on large scale.
Insurance and electricity did not seem
to go we'll together. especially as the
former was somewhat neglected for the
latter. for which he appeared to have
penchant. The assignment followed.
Thomson remained about the city for a
short time, afterwards assisting the
assignee in unraveling the tangled
skein of his double-headed business,
! but all of a sudden disappeared. At
the time, it was hinted as
reason for his disappearance that
the man had become demented
because of his troubles, but
CnOSG NllO hlteW 1IOHiSOl 1IltllIdlClV
and looked deeper than the surface be-
came suspicious that there was some
thing criminal behind his hasty depart
ure. And credence was lent to this
view OF the matter when few months
later it was learned that Thomson was
in British Columbia. Then it was that
the officers of the Peoples Building So
ciety began to fear that all might not be
well in Thomson's relations with the or
ganizaton as secretary, and very cur
sorry examination revealed the fact that
he had been carrying on a systematic
steal fer long we,
the society 1"0 feheld within the
past few mo Fe cd view to ascer-
taining what was,-s.ss to be done under
the circumstances, but until now no
definite conclusion has been reached.
Some thought it advisable to avoid the
scandal which the publication of
Thomson's misconduct would result in,
and that the matter SHOULD be settled
quietly, each stockhOlder assuming his
proportionate share Of the shortage.
Others were opposed to this. ana IN
sisted that Thomson sSould be hunted
down and punished fft his perfdious
Thomson was in San Francisco. having
departed from British Columbia. and it
was was from there that heS wrote the So
ciety, acknowledging tat he was a de-
fauiter in the sum of $4,000
He had no idea, however. that GRIM
inal proceedings could be instituted
against him. believing that the affair
would be quieted for the good name of
the society. But in this he was mis-
taken, as he no doubt realizes ere this.
1t is understood that Thomson is en-
gagged in the insurance business for
some Western company, and that his
family is living with aim.