St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-12
THOMS0N'S RE-ENTRY
The Alleged Absconder Will
Be Brought Back To-
day.
His Shortage Large, and He
Is Thought to Have
Planted 1t.
Politicians Reap a Harvest at
the Sons of Herman
Picnic.
Whittier and Sullivan Fur
niSh Texts for the Min
listers.

Sheriff Bean is expected to arrive in
the city today, having in custody q. j.
Thomson, the defaulting secretary of
the Peoples Building society. Later
developments, which more searching
investigation into the books and &C
counts of the society have brought
about, make Thomson's shortage nearer
10000 than $4,000, che sum which he
himself acknowledges he has apprO-
priated. This will be news to the stock
holders. and sad news at that, for
they had hoped that the defalcation
would have ranged at about $4,000
Further investigation but emphasizes
the fact that Thomson was ''out for the
STUFF strictly, to use slang phrase,
and g0bbled up everything in the way
of cash that he could get his hands OH.
Much blame is to be attached to the
stockholders themselves, whose lax buSi-
ness methods in the conduct of the
affairs of the society afforded a wide
margin for just such wholesale dishon-
esty as was practieed by Thomson. In
deed, for several years the election of sec
rotary had gone by default to Thomson,
who was not even required to give bonds
for the faithful and honest discharge of
his dates. Oyer-confdenee in the willy
electrician led the stockholders to throw
down every barrier in his path to sud-
den and illgOtten aff1uence, and he
must have chuckled at the gullibility of
men who would never think of permit
ting such laXity in their own immediate
business affairs. One rule which the
society has established, at least by prec-
edent. and which Thomson avaiIed
himself or to the Queens taste, was the
making, from time to time, of large
number of
Checks in Blank
duly signed by the president, and only
awaiting the signature of the secretary
before taking on the value Of legiti-
mate legal tenders. This was fodder
for G. j., and afforded him a vertable
pasture for enriching himself at the eX-
pense of his fellows.
The query is often heard, what did
Thomson do with all the money he
made?" That he had an income more
than sufficient for man of his station
in life is admitted by those best in
position 10 know, and how he could fail
in business-said to be a paying bust
ness, too--after period of year and
half, for $4,000, is something none
can understand He had several differ
ent sources OF revenue. There was an
insurance business which was good for
at least 81, 500 to s., 900 clear of expenses;
his negotiations of loans could be put
at similar figure. Besides. he was
the general agent in st. Paul of the
Pabst Brewing company, of Milwaukee,
collecting their rents and looking after
their interests here. This must have
brought him something like s75 to 500
per month. His salary as secretary of
the building society was about $3.50 a
year. He had always stated to those
who met him casually that he was
Doing ThriyIngly
in the electrical business. With all
these facts in mind. coupled with the
further fact that Thomson was a man of
no known bad habits, with no eXtrava-
CANT family to support, 1T does seem
more than passing strange that he could
have sunk $4,000 in the hole in period
of less than two years. If the facts are
as stated, two conclusions are inevita-
BILE. Either Thomson was addicted to
gambling, or else he has the proceeds
of his propensity for thieving hidden
away where neither moth nor rust nor
the officers of the Peoples Building
society can get at 1t. The latter theory
is the one most generally entertained
by CnOSe WHO llau al Intimate acQu3lnC-
ance with the eX-secretary. If Thom-
son has the money. and it is hardly to
be believed that he has "blown" any
considerable portion of it, it is probable
that he will make an attempt at settle
| ment with the society. in the hope of
| having the indictment against him
quashed, and thus escaping good
round term at Saltwater.
| The arrest of Thomson, besides bring
ing culprit. ana self-acknowledged
one, to justice, accomplishes another
! good. So long as the offender was
allowed to remain at large, just so long
had other officers of the society to bear
| some of the ignominy of his crime in
having their names coupled with that
of the secretary as partners and sharers
in the nefarious work. Thoms0n's ar
rest will clear up the whole matter, for
| if others were or were not implicated
with him, he will, no doubt, make
known The fact. and thus raise cloud
Of suspicion from honest men, or bring
dishonest men to the punishment they
SO richly deserve.
| $500.
Mems Tailor Made Double-Breast ed
| nit ut No