The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-24
Lost $4,000 Betting at the Bay
District Track.
CLEAN RECORD FOR MANY YEARS
His Service to the Oregon Improve
ment Colnpany-An Enviable
Reputation Ruined.

: confessed erbezzier of $500 belonging to
The Oregon Improvement Company. This
monev..6e lost during the last two weeks
at the Bay District track
His downfall was sudden and pathetic,
and the exposure made by himself yester-
dav m0rnfng was not so great a shock to
the euiLEit as to his employer and asso-
cistes.
Two years ago Carson entered the en-
pCy of the Oregon Improvement Company
as collector. Immediately prior to that
tine, he had served the AtchiSon, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railroad as freight solicitor
in this city. He came here four or five
years ago from the South, bringing an un-
broken record Of good character, evidenced
by letters of recommendation from each
succeeding employer. dating back TO his
first work, nearly twenty years ago.
Though his title with the Oregon I'M
prOvement Company was collector his po-
sition was in fact much higher. He occu-
pied confidential relations with the
manager, John L. Howard, who had the
fullest confidence not only in his integrity
hut in his business judgment and moral
courage. In addition to collec ting bills
CARSON kept the company advised as to the
standing and business conduct of custom
ers, and whenever new account was to
be opened he investigated the matter, and
in most cases his recommendation. one
way or the other, guided the action of the
company. His judgment was sound.
OFTEN on steamer days his collections
amounted TO $4,000 or more and his re-
turns to the@caShler were always correct
TO a cent. At the end of the month he
and the manager went over the list of
unpaid bills, he explaining the CAUSE of
non-payment and advising what course
should be pursued with the delinquent.
His recommendations, based on his keen
Judgment, we're always sound. Apart
from this. he was attentive to duty up to
TIVE weeks ago, and then suddenly, without
temptation, without excuse. without rea-
son. he tore down q reputation and
DESTROYED a character which he had de-
voted a lifetime TO build up.
1t was not a case of wine, women or
cards, but a sudden loss of moral sensi-
hlity.
The week before last the manager was
in Seattle on business, and in his absence
Carson ''Dlayed the races" at the Bay
District Track. He is under bonds in
$1,000, guaranteed by the Pacific Surety
Company. Information came to the
surety company that Carson bad bought
pools at The track and 1t repeated the
Information to Mr. Howard last Friday
AFTERNOON.
Yesterday morning. soon after office
hours, Mr.. Howard called Carson into bis
private office and the story of the en-
1s<ZkItlant came cut for the first time in
to9inwing Iaconic conversation:
ny on've been playing the races?"
= Eyes, SIT"
'.'6rning business hours?"
Yes. sir.
Did you win or lose?"
Your own money!"
Any of the company's money!"
''Yes. Sir"
How much ?'
over $1,000.
Carson thereupon made out complete
list of moneys which be had collected and
not turned In. 1t footed up little over
$780, e..
Wallace Everson, president of the Pa
cine Surety Company, was sent after He
sent to Morse's detective agency for an
officer, and Captain Callundan responding,
took Carson in charge.
The: disclosures and the arrest of Car
son were ike deluge of ice water upon
all engaged in the Oregon Improvement
.Company,s Office, from the manager down
to the messenger. They knew Carson was
no natural thief. but man among men.
He is not only Southerner by birth and
education, but had the true Southern idea
of honor-not the counterfeit notions
which men of coarse fiber display In place
OF the genuine. He was instinctiveIy a
gentleman.
He asked for no mercy" said Manager
Howard to CALL reporter, "only he
wanted to get through with the punish
ment as quickly as possible. His only re-
quest was that ne should be spared the
preliminary Imprisonment. He was ready
TO undergo final sentence and punishment
lie asked IN manly way to be released
on his own recogniZance. 1 won't run
away and l won't commit suicide, he SAID.
POnlG n ha VA 10 y
a judicial view Of his own case recognized
clearly The breach of trust and the ruin Of
his character and reputation. 1 am a
thief he said, but no coward and even
Ia his digrace | could not help admiring
his moral courage. His confession, coming
so suddenly and UNEXPECTEDLY. fairly took
away my breath, and have been sick IN
mind ever since In all my business ex-
perience This is the first case of dish onesty
l have had to deal with"
From fellow employees it is learned that
the motive OF Carson'S first step from the
path Of iectitnde was the desire to aid his
two married sisters living in San Fran
cisco. His salary was S100 month, and
these relatives have been more or less
charge upon him. He played the races
last spring and won a little money. Since
then. and up to two weeks ago he did not
of Manager Howard he went to the track
and lost, first his own money. then the
company's, and in his efforts to recoup.
became more deeply involved. These
losses drove him to drink, and. while under
the influence of liquor be was reckless.
and the money took wings.
To add pathos to Carson's downfall, his
widowed mother is lying very i'll at Mem
phis, and il is believed tina. if the news of
his crime reaches her. the effect will be
fatal II was this fact that prompted him
to ask that the Formally of arrest should
be dlspensed with
Carson's manly bearing under arrest.
ana his previous good character, affected
MT. EVerson's sympathies, but his duty as
president Of the Surety Company was para
mount anu he will let the law take its
course.
Carson was taken to the new City Prison
ana placed In a petty criminal cell with
thirteen others, one Of whom was negro,
ana another half.crazy man. Upon the
solicitations of friends Chief Crowley re-
moved hlm TO one Of the rooms Of the old
Receivng Hospital
The prisoner declined to make state
ment In his own behalf when requested
last fada nigh, ito to do 50 by CALI reporter.
marked. ''Mr. Howatd In whom, con-