The San Francisco call., 1896-08-11
STOLE A TICKET
AGENTS MONEY.
Charles Bell Accused Of
Robbing the Center
Street Station.
BUT SIXTEEN YEARS OLD
The Revolver Belonging to Sta
tion Agent Bergsten Also
Gone.
HAD a YOUNG ACC0MPLICE.
Both Are Missing and II Is Thought
They Will Attempt to Board
Ship.
HAD A YOUNG ACCoMPLICE.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, +,


908 Broadway, Aug. 10.
Charles J. Bell of 1862 Campbell street,
$3.50 of the money of the Southern Pacific
Company and revolver belonging to
Oscar Bergsten are missing.
George D. Webster, who resides around
the corner from Bells house, on Williams
street, has been absent all day also, and it
is claimed by the Bell family that he is
the cause of their boys downfall. The
police tell a different story.
For some time past Bell has been en-
ployed by Bergsten as assistant in the rail-
road ticket-office and tobacco store which
he conducts at Seventh and Chester streets.
The boy, who is not more than 16, keeps
the late watch, selling tickets until A. NJ
He then goes home, but must be out for
the first train in the morning, which
passes at $50. During the middle OF the
day he has some time off, the proprietor
himself taking charge generally during
daylight.
There is quite heavy ticket business
done at this point and considerable money
is handled. Bergsten has been IN the
habit of leaving it in the hands of the boy
until he makes his settlement with the
company's collector, who calls for it.
With the proceeds from the private busi-
ness, it is said there was nearly $500 in the
boys hands when he departed this morn
ing, leaving no clew to his whereabouts.
Young Bell has borne fairly good
name, although he was once arrested on a
serious charge, which was dismissed with
out prosecution. He had often said he
would run away, but nothing was thought
of it until he had gone. The other miss
ing boy was an associate and had been
employed at the pier restaurant, but gave
up his position last week and had been
hanging around doing nothing since.
This evening Fred Bell, an older brother
of Charles, said:
"Charles and sleep in the same room.
He always comes in late and gets up and
goes out before am up. He left this
morning as usual and we knew nothing
until told that he had left. Mother found
that Charlie had taken his new suit and
all of his clothes out some time during
yesterday or last night. We believe that
George Webster led him into doing the
act as he never would have done it other
wise. We have no idea where he has
gone."
Detective Denny Holland says he does
not believe the boy had any accomplice.
''He has been keeping poor company for
some time" said that official, "and for
business man to throw such temptation
before a 16-year-old boy is shame, to
say the least, and l have no sympathy for
him. He is more to blame than the boy.
1t is supposed that he went TO San Fran
cisco and from there, no doubt he will
attempt to leave by vessel in the near
future. He will be caught, as he is not at
all bright. Had he been, he would
have had boy rob the Office, as he could
have easily done, and no one would have
suspected him."
Some of those about the station advance
the opinion that the boy was only tool
in the hands of older persons. The miss
ing money will have to be made good to
the Southern Pacific Company by Oscar
Bergsten, as lie is responsible to them,
being under bonds. He will make every
effort to bring the boy to justice.