The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-13
A SENSATIONAL CASE
The Arrest Of the Steward Fof the Ocean
View Hotel Yesterday Morning.
LESSEE THORNTON is STILL ABSENT
Although tho Chief Clerk of tho Ho.
tel Expects kim Back, the Rail.
way Officials Don't Expect to 500
Him soon-A Bank Accountant
and n Faithful Steward.

Some sensational DEVELOPMENTS re-
garding the peculiar absence of Lessee
70. r. Thornton. Of the Ocean View
Hotel. took place yesterday.
1t will be recalled that Mr.. Thornton
left on the 4th instant without bidding
good bye to any of the officials of the
Ocean View Railway Company, from
whom he leased the hotel and privi-
leRes for S1f.500. 1t was stated that he
had gone TO New York on business,
heat and had to be removed to the coun-
try.
No news was received from him for
some time afterward, but on yesterday
telegram turned up. showing him to
be at the ST. Dennis Hotel, New York
Mrs Thornton Is not now at Ocean
View.
Meantime the railway company had
been quietly at work through its detect
tive force. 1t was given out by the
company yesterday that the primary
cause of their taking the decisive action
they did was the disclosure of the fact
that prior to MIR. Thornton's departure
all his personal effects had been re-
moved to the laundry and from thence
by wagon to Norfolk. Together with
the luggage. they say. went q stock OF
fine wines from the hotel.
This excited their suspicion and taken
In connection with Mr.. Thornton's de-
parture caused them to investigate his
accounts.
According to the statement of the at
torney for the road he was found to be
In arrears to the railway company for
an electric light bill amounting to 81 900,
while freight bill of more than 500
stood against him also.
The total amount due w the absent
lessee. including that d ton Of his
lease. due and to become due. Is $4,000.
Part OF this amount ISL secured by a
bond with responsible sureties.
The company took immediate steps
to secure the funds to the credit of MIR.
Thornton and the papers were all pre-
| pared. but when the attachment was
served 1t was learned that the account
| had been drawn out in entirety five min
utes before the bank closed Tuesday.
The hotels account. since Mr.. Thor
tons departure. has been kept in the
name of Timothy Murphy. the steward
of the establishment
a capias was at once issued for the
arrest of Mr.. Murphy and 1t was served
by Deputy United States Marshal Cross
In whose custody the steward remained
from 10 o'clock yesterday morning until
$3.50 at night, when the matter was
satisfactorily arranged by the money
being turned over to the road. and Mr.
Murphy was given his liberty.
| The friends of that gentleman all de-
clare that they believe him innocent OF
any criminal intent whatever: that he
merely carried out Thornton's orders
and Is a victim OF circumstances.
| Mr.. Plummer, the chief clerk at the
hotel. last night expressed the convic.
tion that Mr.. Thornton would soon re.
| turn.
| The affair will not affect the hotel. II
will still be kept open.
| ~ peculiar incident which. however
Receiver Smith says has no bearing al
! all on the casein hand. was the fact tina
at $3.50 o'clock every electric light in the
hotel went out and the place was in total
darkness for an hour. This time. ac-
cord!ng to officials of the road, was con-
sumed In repairing the broken con-
| duit. The amount OF the bank account
| that the company was after was paid
over at exactly $50 o'clock. At the same
instant the lights again blazed in the
| hotel.