Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-02-21
WHOLE NO. 1853
QUICK DETECTIVE WORK.
Recovery of the Effects of
Somers j. Bates Which Were
Stolen in San Diego, Cal.

recovery OF the Effects of
Somers j. Bates Which Were
Stolen in San Diego, Cal.
An article appsased in the PIONEER
recently stating that the personal eff
fects of the late Somers J. Batss
had been stolen by some persons un.
known--the articles being missing
from his trunk on it's arrival at Bridge
| ton.
The trunk bore the seal OF Wells.
Fargo & Go, San Diego, Cali, which
showed that the goods had not been
abstractsd while in transit
Mr.. George Barnard, the Unitsd
States Express Co.'s agef here, seeing
the item In the PIONEER, at once
clipped 1t, and without waiting for any
complaint to be made by the relatives,
but with keen sense for justice,
put himself in communication with
Wells, Fargo & Co., San Diego, Gal.
Mr.. Barnard reasoned that this COM
pany, for Its own credit, would AXE an
active interest In the robbery, and he
reasoned correctly, for the result of
their proceedings is that all the missing
articles excepting his watch, arrived
here Saturday night and were de-
livered by the United States Express
Co. to Mr.. Bates relatives this morn
ing and the culprit Is In the hands Of
San Diego police.
Mr. Bernard deserves large credit for
his prompt and energetic action In the
matter.
Among the articles returned was
draft for one hundred dollars.
1t appears that when Mr.. Bates AZ
rived In San Diego, exhausted and
dying, he naturally asked an express
may to take his trunk, and evidently
put himself In the hands of the express.
man who took him to his home.
This mans name was Thos. Hollern,
and wheu Mr.. Bates died Hollern:et-
tsmpted to get the underts sker to cash
draft drawn in Mr.. Bates favor, for
800. The draft not being endorsed
the undertsker refused to cash 1t, but
kindly sent that draft on here to Mr..
natss' relatives, it arriving here by
letter before the body did. The draft
received here Saturday night was q
second draft, Mr.. Bates having with
him two drafts of $100 each.
The following letter received by Mr..
Barnard Is explanatory:
SAN DIEGO, CAL, Feb. 9Th, 1895.
Mr.. &. B. BARNARD, ETC.
Bridgeton, N. J.
Dear SIR Replying to your favor
of the 1st inst, regarding the personal
effects of Somefs Bat IS, deceased. i.
l desire first to say that this man.
Thos. Hollern, is not an employe of
this company or even of any of the
local express doing business here. He
has a wagon of his own and stands
around some certain corner in the
business part of town, picking up q
quarter now and then, and it is my
impression that most of said quarters
ignorant man as one can fnd any
where
Yesterday both members of the firm.
of johnson g. Co.. one of my assistance
(who has known Ro,tern for sometime
and worked" on Hollern for some
time and induced MIN to give up the
following named articles: one hand
beg, one quilt, one chinchilla yers
coat, one light overcoat, one soft hat,
one silk cap, four silk handkerchiefs,
one fourth. hand tie, two white shirts,
one scarf pin, one gold pen holder
(brokeD) and one draft, No. 41429, for
one hundred Q00) dollars, on Mer-
chants National Bank of New York,
favor Somers j. Bates, issued by the
Cumberland National Bank, of your
city, all of which send to you by to-
days express. Hollern still denies
that he has the watch or anything
else that belonged to Mr.. Bates, and
have turned your letter over to the
chief of police, j. w. Brenning, to
whom l would suggest that you re-.
quest the relatives of Mr.. Bates to
write, giving the best possible descrip-
ton of the missing articles; also in
structions as to what stsps they wish
taken. ~
You may rest assured that johnson
s. Co., as we'll as the employees of this
company will do all In their power to
recover or assist In the recovery of the
stolen articles.
Yours truly,
]. r. BEARDsLEY, Agent.