The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-30
McGIaufIin and Co.'S Book
keeper MysteriousIy Dis
appears.
HIS ACCOUNTS ARE STRAIGHT
His Wife Thinks He Has Been Muir
dered-The Police Differ
From Her.


that hour Mr.. Bresse, who is member of
the firm, went into lis office and then
found young Smith hard at work arrang-
ing the accounts and checks necessary for
the next days business. Since that hour
he has not been seen, and there is abso-
lutely-no clew to his whereabouts. The
coat, hat, vest and cuffs worn by him when
he left home Sunday morning at 10 o'clock
were found in the office neatly folded up,
as though he expected to don them again
as soon as the days work was finished. On
the copying book was found a small spot
of blood of decidedly fresh appearance.
The police hold to the theory that Smith
was short in his accounts, and thought
that by leaving his clothing and hat and
diSarranging the books the impression
would be created that he had been murdered
and his body concealed. The one objection
to the theory of murder is that $50 was
found in the cash drawer when the police
searched the office yesterday morning, and
it is hardly probable that such an amount
of money would have been left behind by
the robber and murderer.
To offset the assumption of the authori-
ties that Smith was a defaulter comes the
statement of his employers, McGlaufiin &
Co., who positively affirm that the missing
says that he has examined both the cash
and bank books and that his accounts are
perfectly straight.
Smiths wife, who is distracted over the
affair, holds to the opinion that her hus-
band has been foully murdered and refuses
absolutely to entertain any other idea.
She says that their domestic relations were
perfectly happy, and further that his
financial condition was good so there was
no earthly reason for him to leave home
without some kind of an explanation
On top of all this, however, it has de-
veloped that young Smith was somewhat
of a stock Spectator, doing all of his bust
ness through the janitor of the building
where he worked. 1t is claimed by James
Smith, the janitor, that about ten days
ago he paid the missing man $500 as his
part of a stock speculation, and, further,
that young Smith told him at the time
that he was short in his accounts and must
have the money then or be ruined. Smith
received good salary from McGlauflin &
Co., but hardly large enough to warrant
such speculation it is claimed he in
dulged in.
Charles Smith, the missing man, left his
home, 728 Fell street, Sunday morning
about 10 o'clock, telling his wife as he
kissed her good-by that he had tickets for
the theater, and to be ready, as he would
return in time to accompany her. At
IllSQI lie Q1u HOb Out JQlS Qlu not
seem to give her any particular uneasinesS,
and it was not until O'Clock yesterday
morning that she became thoroughly
alarmed for her husbands safety. Accom-
panied by her parents she went downtown,
and, meeting Sergeant Gillen, told him
that she feared her husband had been
murdered, and asked him to accompany
her to the office, 300 California street.
Sergeant Gillen in his report says:
About 3:15 A. NJ. / received information
that c. S. Smith, bookkeeper for McGlauf-
lin & Co, was supposed to be murdered in
the office of that firm. Arriving there, l
found Sergeant Esola, Officer Colon and G.
A. Bresse, member of the firm. Mrs.
Smith and her parents became alarmed
that he did not come home at 2 A. NJ, and
they called at the residence of Mr.. Bresse,
1917 Pierce street, and all went to the office.
Found the Office to be disarranged, the safe
open and about $50 remaining in the small
drawer. The books were scattered about
the floor, and Smiths hat, coat, vest and
cuffs were in heap on the Office counter.
Found a spot of blood on the west wall,
near the counter, and also blood on piece
of paper, The building was searched by
Colon, Knight and Kerrigan. but found
nothing"
The spot of blood referred to by Sergeant
Gillen as having been found at the end of
the counter turns out to be a little red
paint rubbed off the lifting door recently
painted
On the copying-boo spot of blood was
found, but it looked as though it might
have been there some time.
In speaking of the mysterious disappear
ance of his trusted clerk, Mr.. Bresse said:
81 loved him like brother and l cannot
believe that he has been guilty of any
wrongdoing. The first thing l did this
morning was to examine my cash and
handbook, and 1 found everything per-
fectly straight. 1t is hard for me to be-
Geve that he has done anything outside.
81 firmly believe that he will turn up all
right, and when he does his desk is open
for him. believe that the poor fellow is
temporarily insane, and there is a good
deal to back this up, too. Why he had
just started letter to his father and had
only written two or three lines when some
thing distracted his attention and 1 think
he walked out of the Office not knowing
what he did. He left all his private papers
on his desk, which shows very plainly that
he left the office expecting to return"
Whether they find him dead or alive,
you can say that his accounts are perfectly
straight with u.s."
The young wife was craZed with grief
yesterday. She could not remain at home.
but wandered from one friends house to
another in the hope of hearing something
of her husband.
der mOlner looked a1ter the household
yesterday and answered questions put to
her by visitors. my son-in-law," she
said, twas the soul of honor and l feel as
sure as I am living woman that he has
been either foully dealt with or he has
suddenly lost his reason.
"He invariably spent his evenings at
home with his wife and child. If he made
a visit or went to a place of amusement
she always accompanied him. They have
lived economically and 1 cannot, there
fore, see any cause for his taking any
money that did not belong to him.
"He left his wife on Sunday morning at
half-past. o'clock in his usual bright
spirits. He promised to be home to din
ner at O'Clock and | was there to dine
with them. / waited all afternoon and
then went home, thinking that he had
been detained at the Office.
'You can see from that there was moth
ing to show that he intended to abscond.
as has been suggested. 1t has been said
that my daughter knows where he is.
How can any one be so cruel as to even
hint at anything of the kind? If they
could only see her they would feel sorry
for saying so.
81 am at loss to understand why the
janltor should make such a statement 1t
looks to me as if there was a conspiracy
against my son-in-law. Perhaps he knew
foo mueh and I am afraid we will not caa