Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-25
"A, GREAT SUR PRISE
Charles Clinton Gardner Charged With
g Being Defaulter.
Was . Thoroughly Trusted Cashier in
the Freight partmcnt of the
Pennsylvania Railroad.

| known today that Charles Clinton Gardner,
for nineteen years past the cashier of the
| local freight department of the Pennsyl-
4 vania railroad. had fed from the city and
stands charged with being defaulter to the
extent of 5000. Mr.. Gardner was last seen
In this city September 10. He is thirty-eight
years of age and Is man Of peculiar ap-
pearance. being over six feet tall and quite
slender. wearing a dark sandy mustache
and beard. When but nineteen years old he
was given position of trust by the Pennsyl-
vania railroad. and by hard and Industrious
| work earned promotion to the position of
cashier. He was probably trusted to as
great extent as any person in the employ of
the'company.
1t Is stated that about a fortnight ago
| Gardner announced that he was going to
| take vacation. and he has not been seen
at the office since that time, his fellow
clerks thinking that he was at his summer
residence III Falls Church. On the 10th in
stant however. an examination of the
books OF the Office disclosed a shortage in
ms accounts of the sum mentioned. so Mr.
H. l.. Franklin. the agent of the company.
admitted to Star reporter today. Mr..
FRANKLIN further said that a complete in
vestigation has been made and that there
Is no doubt about the matter
He reported 1t last Friday to InspectoS
noiHnberger, but shortly thereafter re-
quested the inspector not to take any ac-
tion until further developments. Every eff
Ncation.
The Bondsmcn.
According to one Of the employees of the
company. the amount claimed to have been
| stolen was taken in small sums from time
TO time but at the monthly inspection there
was always the proper amount Of cash on
hand, for the time being at least. On the
other hand. Agent Franklin says that the
money was taken in two portions and with
In Few days of one another. Mr. Frank
lin says that Gardner is under a bond, but
he positively refused to furnish the names
OF the bondsmen. According to Inspector
Hollinberger Gardner was secured by a
Philadelphia trust company
Gardner Is very well known in this city
ana has always been considered a thor
oughiy Upright and honest man. He has
peen married Tor the past ten Years, and
| every Ole who knows lin states that a
more devoted husband and father would
be hard to find. Mrs. Gardner, who has
been at Falls Church for the summer. is
now at the residence of a sister, 624 North
Carolina avenue. Tt gether with the other
relatives of Gardner she Is completely
Frustrated by the shock caused by her hus-
bands disappearance.
Believe Him Innocent.
Mr.. Charles H. Bates, a well-known at
ners, was seen by Star reporter this
afternoon. Mr.. Bates declared siren
uously his belief in the innocence of the
accused. There is a great mistake" said
Mr. Bates. "and IL the freight company, or
any one else. is responsible. we intend that
heavy damages shall be paid in reparation.
Why, any one who ever knew Mr. Gardner
knows that he would be the last man on
earth to commit theft My theory Of his
disappearance is that some one spoke to
him concerning shortage of money, and
animated that he might be placed under
| arrest and charged with the crime
Being of very nervous temperament
ana decidedly timid, he rushed off without
thinking. I do not believe that there is a
particle OF proof against Mr.. Gardner, and
you may rest assured that shall do all in
my power to vindicate him and bring the
truth Of the matter to light"
"Do you know the whereabouts of Mr.
Gardner" the reporter asked.
mo, l do not replied Mr.. Bates, and
that Is the last time 1 shall answer that
question. 1t may be asked me hundred
times within the next few days, and may
say no every time. Then l may suddenly
answer yes. which would plainly show that
l had established communication with him.
OF course, If possible, I intend to locate
him. in order to learn what facts he may
know concerning the matter. 1t is utterly
impossible. however, for Mr.. Gardner to
hide himself. for he is too well known in
any such intention"
A Theory.
One of Gardner's friends advanced the
theory that the charge against the absent
man Is the result of malice. It was also
intimated that the money was purloined
by some one else, who adroitly shifted the
blame en- Gardner. In any event, no stone
will be left unturned to establish the in
nocence of the accused, and those who
have been his intimate associates have no
doubt that he is innocent.
The freight business of the Pennsylvania,
Chesapeake and Ohio and Southern rail-
reads is conduct6 under the name of the
Pennsylvania. The missing 1920 is from
the funds of the Chesapeake and Ohio 1t
is thought that Gardner was last seen by
his wife's brother-in-law, c. s. Price, a
druggist, at 426 18th street southwest, the
| missing man going to the store after a
| bundle he had left there the day he de-
parted.