The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-09
POKER AND DRINK.
POSITION LOST AND he IS GONE,
The RaisAavsa Z 80 sshsvn Rail way Lav.
yer Dismissed BY Ceapantes fer
Iooee Financial AeehoAA

For several months the peculiar transac-
tons Of prominent railroad attorney At
Fairaaven have been . cause Of anxiety 10
many Of his friends. several OF whom are
now mourning his absence from the state.
For several years III. y. Thompson has oc-
euraei leading position At the whaicom
county bar. and has high reputation
throughout the state rs . lawyer. For the
past three years he has been the attorney
Of the Fairhaven Land Company. presi-
dent of the New Westminster southern
Railroad Company. secretary Of the Fair
haven southern Railway Company and
attorney for both companies. as we'll as
director Of the Portland & Puget Sound
railroad. In most Of J. J. Hills early
operations on this Coast he has occupied
positions Of trust and confidence. With
these credentials TO favor he has secured
considerable credit. which he used in such
way q. TO arouse the suspicious Of his
supes,ors in ofi5ce, and. as matter Of pre-
caution. all the actual power attaching to
his official connections with tho Great
Northern interests was taken from him.
Finally. over month ago. Thompson's
actions became so irregular that he was
dismissed from all official connection with
the above named companies. This fact
was withheld from tho newspapers at the
time. bu. il was announced yesterday by
General Manager Shelby, Of the Great
Northern coast lines. inasmrca as fresh
instances of Thomrson's irregularities are
coming to light. He has been absent from
Fairhaven for several weeks and his where
abouts Is only sur:nised from the fact that
. 500 draft on a Fairhaven bank was
cashed by him in San Francisco the other
day, but was dishonored when presented
for collection. II is said that one Of
Thompson's friends accepted collateral
which was held in trust BY Thompson for
s.. 600 loan, and many other friends are
in grief because Of their confidence in him.
As attorney for the New Westminster
Southern road Thompson 50 mismanaged
its Affairs as to involve that company in
recent right-of-way troubles at South
Westminster.
Thompson is man OF brilliant parts. .
good lawyer. q splendid conversstionalist
and an eloquent speaker. His downfall is
due to convivisl habits and . passion fos
poker. A few weeks ago his wife obtained
divorce from him, although he has q
family Of three daughters, the oldest 10
years Of age. The story is told Of him that
he got into game of draw with . British
army officer not long ago at New West
minister and succeeded in losing 81, 800. all
in bank checks. After resting awhile and
taking . lunch the officer Wanted to press
his luck. and Thompson consented to s.gn
q few more checks. By aud by the cards
began to come Thompson's way. and as he
had plenty Of paper TO bet with he was
soon more than even on his first losing
and when the game was over. by clever
work in making change and occasionally
sailing away a big bill, Thompson had
81, 500 in money. while the thick-hcaded
officer had Thompson's checks for 81. 800.
which were Afterwards discovered to be
worthless.
About year ago. when Francis Murphy
was out here, he made Q convert Of Thomp-
son, and the latter delivered several lee
lures on the evils Of intemperance. which
in power and eloQuence quite eciipsed tho
best efforts Of the evangelist himself