The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-04
SHORT IN HIS ACCOUNTS.
Why Fred Church Left the .. 1. Co..
Coal ONCE.

Coal ONCE.
IL has come 10 light that the reason
why Fred j. Church recently retired from
his position as cashier at the Oregon I'M
provement Company's coal bunkers 10 o.
ranch near Lake Cushman, is that
shortage had been discovered in his ac-
counts. The revelation was made on Au-
gust II, when the accounts were checked
up, and Frank T.. Burns, the coal agent,
confronted Church with a shortage of leo.
He was given time to make II up and ala
so through the mediation OF friends VINO
appealed to his relatives in the East. He
was then succeeded by John Gibbon. and
retired 10 Lake Cushman. telling ms
friends that as soon as he had proved up
on his claim he would so to Honolulu TO
take a good position which had been offer
ed him by George X. Carter.
According TO the statements OF those
who appear To be familiar with Church's
past. this is not his first experience of the
kind. They say that when he had charge
of a wharf run by Hoyt & Terry, some
years ago. a shortage Of about $4,000 was
discovered in his accounts. More recent
", he lost position with the Novelty
Mil Company, but no definite cause is
known, although of course rumor has
been busy.
Few young men were better known or
better liked In Seattle than Fred Church.
OF n strong athletic physique. good fig
ure and engaging manners. he quickly
won friends among both men and women.
He was leader In all athletic sports, and
was an active member of the athletic
club being a member of the football team
and having been chosen to row I'm the
four-oared crew last summer, though cir
cumstanccs prevented him from taking
part I'm the race. He was chairman of the
gymnasium committee Of the club. and
the arrangements for the indoor meet of
last winter and for the numerous smokers
devolved upon him. lie devoted a good
deal Of energy to this task and made the
events successful.
Church is n son OF tho noted artist OF
that name. After two years at Princeton.
during which he had several college
scrapes he left there without graduating
and was sent 10 Harvard. He remained
there only a short time and was finally
sent West 10 shift for himself He made n
good beginning on his arrival In Seattle.
but was too susceptible TO female charms
to the allurements OF the gaming table,
and to convivial pleasures. and these ap-
pear 20 have been the cause of all his
troubles. In the latter part Of 1893. while
he was employed by the Novelty Mil
Company. he was married TO Rella Rae
Ruff. whose virtues and accomplishments
might have wrought such a change in his
habits as would have been the making OF
him. But she died suddenly soon after
their marriage, and before he had recov-
cred from the shock he was attacked by
typhoid fever He recovered only TO find
himself again alone and out of employ
ment. Faithful friends came 70 his aid
and after about a years idleness. during
which he earned little money by coach
ing football. he obtained the position, last
fall. which he has just sacrificed by HIS
last return to his old habits and by ap-
propriating the funds of others 10 secure
means 10 crafty them. His late en-
ployers have not only shown extreme con-
sideration for him by simply requiring
that the shortage he made good without
prosecution. but have refused to make
known the particulars. The facts. how
over. are beyond question as stated above.