The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-07
WITH A CHECK FOR $500
CONFIDENTIAL CLERK OF A STOCK
YARDS FIRM DISAPPEARS.
TOIin, TOtten, Tibbs d Co. Make Com
plant Against Frank b. story
Manipulation of n Check.

Frank B. Story, confidential employe Of
the live stock commission firm of ToIin, Tot
ten, Tibbs & Co, has deserted his bride Of a
few weeks and, it is claimed, absconded
with about 500 of his employers money
Story was missed from his desk in the
office Of the firm at the stockyards Mon
day. Tuesday his wife called at the office
and then it was discovered for the first
time that he was a defaulter A slight ir-
regularity in the accounts Of Story caused
the firm to send it's bank book to the In
diana National Bank to be balanced. 1t
was learned that the amount taken by the
young man would exceed 500.
When Story failed to report for work and
Mrs. Story told members of the firm that
her husband had disappeared, the bank
book which Story used was examined and
there was a check for 800 for which no
credit could be found. This first aroused
suspicion and the stubs were again care
fully examined. There was one stub which
showed that $1.1S has been paid to Frank
b. Story on account. AS no credit to the
firm could be found for the amount the
number of the check was telephoned to the
bank and it was learned that the check
by that number had called for $780,
Messrs. TOtten and Tibbs are the active
members of the firm. They are at the stock
yards every day and do a large commission
business. AS is well known to stock men,
but not generally by the public stock COM
mission men sell stock for people who ship
to this city, pay the owners out of their
own funds, deducting commissions and look
to the purchaser for the amount of the
sale price Messrs. Totten and Tibbs spend
the morning hours out in the yards, where
they have frequently & dozen or more con-
signments of stock. Often the seller of the
stock comes to the city with his stock and
frequently he wants his money immediate
ly after the sale. To meet such an emer-
gency and to prevent the interruption of
business, one of the members of the firm
will sign in blank number of checks be-
fore leaving the office. Certificates will then
be issued to the sellers for the amount due
them and the confidential clerk in the office
will fill out a check for the amount. 1t
was on account of this practice that Story
was able to take advantage of his en-
ployers.
He had on several former occasions been
instructed by the firm to make payments
by express, and he would then take check
to the Indiana National Bank, draw the
money and ship it by express. Monday
morning he went to the bank with a check
made payable for 500 on account of Malone
& Todd, of Elnora, Ind. There was nothing
unusual in his presenting such check and
it was paid without question. The paying
teller remembers that the young man re-
quested that he be given bills of large de-
nomination.
Our customers complain that we send
them too many small bills he explained
to the teller
He was given five 800 bills and $500 in
bills of smaller denomination.
His appearance at the bank is the last
heard of him. He left home as usual Mon
day morning, kissing his wife goodbye.
He reported for duty, but must have left
the Office shortly after the members of the
firm went out to the yards. Monday was a
light day and there were no certificates is
sued in the pens.
Story had been in the employ of Tolin,
Totten, Tibbs & Co. since Jan. l. He was
employed first as weigher, but proving TO
be good man at figures, he was given a
better place in the Office as bookkeeper and
confidential clerk. He came here from
Rush county and was highly recommended.
1t is the theory of tho firm that he drew
the first check for 800 intending to replace
the amount, but when he found that the
discover the shortage to the firm, he be-
came desperate and took 500 more and
fed. Mr.. Totten said yesterday that he
might have taken several times the amount
taken, but that the young man was prob
ably afraid that a larger check might
arouse suspicion.
Guffin, of Anderson. He had known her
for some time and when he felt himself
firmly established in a position that afforded
him a good salary he had no trouble in
gaining her parents consent. They even
agreed to move to this city and set up an
establishment at 1873 Nordyke avenue There
the young couple made their home. Mrs.
Story is heartbroken over her husbands ac-
ton. Messrs. Tolin Totten, Tibbs e Co.
say they will prosecute the young man to
the full extent of the law if he is captured.
The local police are at work on the case.
A careful examination of Story's bank
book showed that he had drawn $3.50 April
&c and had deposited the same amount the
next day. The Supposition is that he con-
came frightened and replaced the money.