The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-02
SMITH IS STILL MISSING.
No Trace of the Cashiers
Whereabouts Has Yet Been
Discovered.
The Work Of Exporting the Books
of McGlauflln g. Co. Has
Not Begun.

absurd. improbable and unjust" is the
way Eugene A. Bresse of the firm of l.. W.
McGlauhin yesterday characterized the re-
ports that his firm was responsible for the
disappearance of its recent cashier, Charles
S. Smith. 'They say" he continued,
shat we were afraid he might be called
upon to disclose matters relating to our big
deal in wheat, in which the late Senator
Fair is reported to have been interested.
Now, admitting that Fair was behind the
deal, which we do not admit, what could
Smith tell that is not shown by our papers
and books, or what information could he
give that is not in our possession2 If they
can compel him to testify in court they
certainly have the same power over the
members of our firm.
Nothing has yet been done in the way
of exporting the books, as l have had my
time fully occupied in posting them up to
date. The exporting will be done by N.Y.
self. / taught young Smith how to keep
the books and would therefore be most
likely to detect any crooked work in them.
'From what the police say and from
what few facts we know, L am certain that
he was not dealt with fouIly. This leaves
but two theories to account for his disap-
pearance. One that he is an absconder,
which / am much inclined to doubt from
his past record of six years, and the other
that he wandered off in fit of mental de-
rangement.
"As yet there has been absolutely moth
ing discovered to show that he is short in
his accounts and before we can say any,
will have to be checked out for two years
past. Of late he has been working very
hard and has complained of headaches,
and there is therefore considerable proba-
bility that his mind may have become
effected between his close application to
work and the worry caused by his I'M
fortunate speculations.
1.-THE theory of foul play is made fur
Their untenable by the fact that Smith
always kept the Office door locked when he
worked on Sundays or evenings and no
one could have entered without his knowl-
edge, and there were no signs of forcible
entry or of struggle. My personal regard
for him is such, however, that would be
more pleased to find his accounts short
than. to learn that he had met with per-
sonal injury. We shall not prosecute
under any circumstances, and conse-
quently have considered it unnecessary to
ask the assistance of the police to secure
his arrest"
At the home of Smith it was stated that
no news regarding him had reached there,
but more cheerful mood seemed to pre-
walls as the idea wasgrowing stronger with
his wife and relatives that he wandered
away while mentally unbalanced.
Among the theories started yesterday
was one that the firm had heavy obliga-
tons to meet in the shape of taking up
wheat contracts for May delivery, and that
Smith was got out of the way so as to
furnish an excuse for delay. But this was
derided by those who are best posted on
current affairs in the Produce Exchange.
1t was pointed out that McGlaufin & Co.
were now selling wheat and that they were
IN receipt of big sums of money lately.