The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-11-03

sr. LoUis. Oct. 2..-Louis J. Silva
the trusted cashier and secretary %
the Rainwafer- bradford Hat Co. j. o
defaulter Ia al extent exceeding 81 90.
300, and detectives are searching foi
him.
The Rainwater- bradford Hat Co. has
failed in business a. "A result Of this ri.
gantic embezzlement. and its affairs
have been turned over TO Christopher
4. Ellerbee "a assignee.
Behind these proceedings there is q
story that Will be more than a min,
days sensation in the commercial
worlc. {. q. Rainwater, the head OF
the firm ~hankruptei by an arch EN-.
bezzler. is known wherever ~. Louis
commerce has spread. Further than
that his reputation as "A pushing.
active. enterprising citizen is known
throu ghout the financial and railroad
world
j. is TO the multiplicity of Maj. Rain
water engagements outside of his hat
business, which had grown To $780,
600 a year. and the demands upon his
time consequent upon their Importance
that his present misfortune may be at
tributed- Merchants Bridge "A nd
Merchants Terminal affairs not only
required close application. but eces-
stated frequent absences from the
city. He has always been considered
a close and secretive man. given to
strong likes and di>likes. as men of
positive character always are.
To this trust he owes his ruin and
impoverishment at the end of a half
century OF ceaseless toll. He trusted
Louis J. Silva as he would have trusted
himself. He had reared him in bust
ness. and elevated him step by step
from an Office boy at s3 per week to
cashier and secretary of a concern do
ing $500. 900 business annually.
Strange a. il may seem. Mr.. Rain
water was the last man in 1t. Louis to
learn that his handsome, popular cashier
was known to all the touts and gam
blers at the fair grounds and East 1T.
Louis race tracks as a high roller
and to several brokers on Third street
ass daring and dashing Spectator in
cereals and stocks. He led. 10 a GER
tain extent. a double life. Inveterate
gambler as he was down town. out at
his lovely home on Gates avenue. in
Cabanne place. he was a leader in so
ciety and a model domestic man.
All money coming into the firm was
received by him. He duly entered the
receipts into the cash book. but appro-
priated the funds and gave no credit
on the ledgers to the customers
1t was in May that Mr.. Rainwater
began TO notice that collections were
unusually slow. He spoke TO silva.
who explained that times were a little
dull in the country. Then he would
add: These people say that they
have M money. / will enter suit il
you say so"
Mr. Rainwater said no. Then the
financial ~stringency set in in earnest.
Eastern manufacturers who looked on
Bradford a. g~ilt-edged. were
pressed for money. n they wrote to
demand it. Country collections were
reported slower than ever. In despair
Mr.. Rainwater would order suits EN-
tered in certain cases Strangely
enough before the attorney could act.
Mr.. Silva would notify Mr.. Rainwater
that the delinquent creditor had sud-
denly come forward and made a settle
ment- II was not until late in August
or early in September that Mr.. Rain
waters suspicious were aroused.
One day while in New York city with
q st. Louis gentleman on business Of
mutual interest he received a couple Of
kilograms which, contrary to his Gus
tom. he did not pass over to be read.
lie seemed much worried The next
day he received another. The news
was bad. He turned TO his friend and
said:
I'm afraid shat my book keeper has
been robbinE ne
"lou are afraid? DO YOU believe ito-
II don't want 10. ! would have trust
ed that man 10 the end of the world.
Experts at work on the books report
things in a bad way
The next day the two friends ca me
home. Last Tuesday morning he met
his friend, and said in a despairing
tone: Z
That scoundrel has robbed me of
over : 100, 900. How much more | can't
tell. 1t may lie si25. 900 or $3.50. 900, or
itmay he s115. 000-there is no telling
lie then admitted that over three
weeks ago he charged Silva with his
enlightenment The cashier broke
down and pleaded miseraDlv for mercy.
and offered to turn over everything he
had. He made transfers of all the
property he owns. ..HIe seems TO have
1t all over town. said Mr.. Rainwater,"
but in vestigation shows that every foot
and every brick Of il is heavily encum-
bered. and our equities in it, all told,
will not exceed 81. 900"
The transfers had been made out
and signed by him. but lacked his
wife's signature. They were vent out
TO her. but. she knew nothing Of his af.
fairs. and refused to append her name
10 the paper that made her a pauper.
On Tuesday night last Attorney
Overall. with a notary. met Silva. in
the presence of his wife. He had told
her some story that the firm was in
trouble. and that her signature to the
deeds was necessary. rs a matter Of
form, TO tide them over. or some story
like that. At any rate. she signed the