The morning call., 1894-03-28
BELLS FINANCING
Involves Him in Serious
Trouble.
An Insurance Agent Who Has De-
velOped Penchant for His
Employers Coin.

| Francis V. Bell young man about town
! whose claim TO a standing in the business com
munlty Is based on some ability he possesse,
| which runs toward insurance and 10 whom
/ social recognition came several years ago whet
! lie passed as the captain of a swell military
organization, is In serious trouble.
Captain Bell as hnancier Is not the "howI-
Ing success" that many people suppose him and
thervin IN lies the secret OF his difficulties
1t il several years since Bill first became
known To san Franciscans. He Was in the em
p!oy OF General w. Ii. l.. Barnes al the time
and attended 10 that genllemau's financial IN.
terestS.
success, but for some reason or another he
cOuid never keep his accounts straight. In CON
sequence VI this serious failing when lie and
GtnerAl Barnes severed all business relations
Iheie was quite a lively seance ana much was
SAID concerning thousand dollars or 81 which
tie attorney asserted bad en paid 10 Bell
assets.
After parting company win the lawyer Cap.
tam Bell connected himself with the Mer-
chaDts' Retail Company OF Chicago, and took
charge oil Ae concerns local business Interests
he continued IN the management of the
Chicago conIbany's affairs for some time, aud
then quite suddenly began 10 look around for
another proposition.
Bells retli ement from the Merchants Retail
Company proved a surprise 10 his friends for
they considered the position which he held
Qulte a slnecufe.
When questioned relative TO the matter he
explained that he had grown tired and felt that
a chaDsc would do Dim good. A law firm in
tie city offered very dlneIent explanation of
the affair
Thus lrm dLd the legal work for the Chicago
Merchants Retail Company, and one 0ay a
telegram was received ordering the arrest of
Bell. A shortage in his accounts was given as
the IeasOu.
he arrest was not made, however Friend.
Came 10 Bells rescue and pledged The return
OF the money taken by him and Ine matter was
allowed TO rest.
The American Employers' Liability Insur
snce Company next pI oviGed Bell with chance
TO earn a livelihood, and he remained In that
concerns employ until just a few days ago.
Then additional financial difficulties arosr.
Robert ii. CoiquhOun, the coast agent Of the
company, made an investigate lOn into the affairs
o1 MI. Bell. The result Of which proved quite
startling ana Indicated the existence OF an
The discovery completely foored Mr.. Colqu.
noun, IOf he had entertained the idea that Ills
agent was very honest fellow. aud thinking
thai perhaps he had made a mistake decided
10 call IN some outside assistance.
John Curtin, the detective, was The assistant
chosen aud lie went 10 wOIk with d will. In a
short lime he accumulated an abundance OF
evidence to prove that Bell had been al his old
tricks again ana then he sought an interview
Will the latter.
The consultation did not last long. but IL was
full OF business. When IL concluded the young
man of military title was again out of a lob
and In addition TO this misfortune was also
DuTQcueu Win lnr QlnculL Task OF nustliug
about and raising very falls sum OF money in
short space OF time. His future In this COM
munlty hinges somewhat on his ability 10 laiSa
the amount required, for If he falls 10 make a
settlement WIN The insurance company there
is every krlih0Od that he will become involved
In legal complications of grave PROPORTIONS.
Incidental 10 tie discovery of Bells short
comings as an insurance man Is a little sc, ne
which was enacted In Justices courtroom on
the day on which the interview with Curtin
was held.
A local collection agency had the late pro-
prietor OF fashionable boarding house up on
an order OF examination TO show cause wny
certain bills were not paid.
Til woman professed abj-ct poverty and tes-
tilted that the only Thing which might be con-
veTted into an asset was a claim for board that
she held against Francis V. Bell.
The bill was for several hundred dollars. but
the woman xpressed belief that 1t could
never be collected.
"Mr. Bell sneakrd out Of my house at mid
night" she * iained, land carried his Trunks
along. He never came near me again and
when i went after him he totally Ignored me
so hardly think he will make an effort o nav
bis bill"