The San Francisco call., 1897-07-02

woman-and with this party, it is said, he
became greatly sm mitten. So much So in
fact, that upon their return to this City he
readily assented to q proposition to set
her up in business.
This had to be done carefully, for, as
the woman explained, her husband might
grow inquisitive and want to know where
she obtained the money with which 10
launch into this venture. 1t was there
upon agreed that instead of turning over
the bill of sale TO this married individual
it would be placed in the hands OF mu-
tual friend, another female.
The story afloat in the district known as
the "tenderloin" is that Welburh was
cruelty sfiimtiammed" in this exploit. AS
is usual in cases of material assistance OF
this sort, and as any ordinary man OF
business instincts would require, Wei burn
sought a chattel mortgage on his invest
ment, which, by the way, was rooming-
house at the corn er of Jones and O. Far
rell streets.
The mutual friend, it is said, coolly told
Welburn that he owned no interest in the
house; that she held the bill of sale and
did not know him. Welburn saw that he
had no redress, and. game sport that
he was, DOTTED his hat and bowed himself
out.
Then the other woman. the one whom
he had originally intended TO befrIend ,
came back to him for the fultillment OF
his promise to her. This cost Welburn
another tidy sum. 1t is said that $300OO
would scarcely cover the amount that the
Collector so freely gave up in thisventure.
Wslburn told the facts of the above in
cident to several of his friends and was
advised to beware, as he had fallen into
the hands of sharks. The disgraced otfi-
cial, however, needed not the warning,
for it is said that he clung to his intimacy
with all three of these women even up 10
day previous to his suspension from
Office.
Deputy United States Marshals and
special service men searched City and
country for another day without finding a
trace of the missing official who is wanted
for embezzlement, and Special Agent
Thrasher and others in charge were as
silent as Welburn himself.
WeIburn's trouble and Disappearance
were the talk of the political town, the
talk running mainly TO tales and gossip
about the rIotous career in the tenderloin
district which he has been pursuing with
increasing speed and recklessness for some
time. 1t is in the nature of human people
the evil that he has done, of course, but
when all proper allowance. are made
there was plenty to tell of wine. women
and Welburn.
1t now appears more than probable that
no warrant for the Collectors arrest
would have been issued had he not so
mystsriously and suspiciously disappeared
just at the time during the investigation
of the office that some small, bit peculiar
things were discovered. AS far as known
or intimated the Irregularities were rather
petty from financial standpoint mvolv-
ing small jugglings with little accounts
in his operations as disbursing agent for
his office.
The specific offense for which the war
rant for his arrest was issued on Wednes-
day afternoon was the embezzlement of
SS5 20. The complaint filed with United
States Court Commissioner Heacock read
as follows:
L. A. Thrasher makes oath and says that o.
NJ. Welburn did unlawfully convert to his own
use, and thereby embe zzled. certain public
money, to wit, the sum of eighty-ive and
2O-100 1885 20) dollars, which said amount
was temporarily in his Gust tody as Collector
as aforesaid, for the purpose OF enabling him
to make payment of a certain salary due to a
clerk or employe of the United States, to wit
a clerk and employe of the Collec tor OF In ter
nal Revenue of the said United States for the
First Internal Revenue Collect ion District
OF California.
The clerk here alluded to is said to be
E. G. Aiken. young man who has been
doing outside work until week ago when
Collector Welburn assigned him 10 office
work. Mr.. Aiken, like all other em ployes
OF the Office. discreeily declines to talk
just now.
II cannot say a word about the matter
now" he said yesterday. Il would like
to make a statement, but it would prob
ably cost me my position to say anything
now"
Special Agent Thrasher has intimated
that there are other Irregularities in We'll
burns disburs1ng accounts and that the
amount involved will not run very high.