The San Francisco call., 1897-10-20

apprehension until evening when her hus-
band did not come home.
J. J. Lyons, father of the dead man, was
almost Frustrated when he heard of his
sons suicide. He was walking past the
Berkeley Branch Morgue when he saw a
crowd and heard that the body of sui
eide had just been taken inside Learn
ing that il was his son, he was almost
overcome and had TO be restrained by the
bystanders.
J. A. LYONS, brother of the dead cashier,
stated that his brother had been despond-
ent for some time.
Many small white cards with memo
randa of shortages were found in the
dead mans pockets. Nine Iottery-tickets.
also found among his effects. Indicated
where some of the money went. The
cards indicate shortages dating back TO
October. 1896. and contin nuing to the
present
AS nearly as can be judged from the
hundreds of scattered memoranda on the
cards, Lyons total shortage will amount
10 at least $4,000 or $1,000
Among the memoranda are the follow
ing significant entries:
sumption, 1920; December Is, $500 Decem
ber charged to November; December %, $500,
December charged to November; leaves No
vember $3.50 short 20. K); leaves Decem ber
$126o short; leaves January Sl25 short;
M to and including january 80. April "a
$5S SO, April charged to Move emoer; April %.
$l71 80, April charged To Noyem per- makes
November X. April 27, $2l1. April charged
10 December; April %. S1S9. Apri charged TO
December, leaves December 1850 short
leaves January 1925 shorl, leaves February
$342 so short, leaves March 1925 short
leaves April 1855 short leaves May 5000
short; total. S2SO7 so.
This is up to and including May 81, 1897.
The following sam pie memoranda, taken
frf,n a m ha of I'd ind,
the methods which the defaulting cashier
employed to cover his shortages:
Look up December IL and change from
$500 05 to $500 05; Dece m Der %. 1927 SO 10
ss27 80; January 2, $656 40 70 1856 As; jan
uary 8. $437 80 u $537 90; January 16,
$1l75 50; January 20, 1887 95 to 1857 90
May %, $151, May chgd to Dec May "a,
March; $50. july chgd to April; I'D,
April 500, off June; May 500, off July;
$40, April $IOO, May from July; 7-2l, April
500, May 800, of July.
The president of the company, Albert
il,er, declared that tie knew nothing of
any shortage, and so the cards found in
Lyons pockets may be of unusual inter-
est to him.
II know of no reason why Lyons should
have taken his lie" he said last night.
LAS 10 whether his accounts are all
straight or not only an examination can
snow. l cannot say at this time.
Nothing was done in the way of ex-
porting the books before Lyons took his
life, and there was no reason 10 suspect
that all was not right. l cannot say that
there will not be some discrepancies found
and neither can l say there will.
Il do not believe that Mr.. Lyons knew
anything at all about the fire at the office
Further than this l cannot say at this
time"
The fire occurred in the Office OF
the Pacific Gas Improvement Company
at 1883 Monday evening. The depart
ment found the doors locked and discov-
cred that the flames were in the closet of
the office where some clothing was
DESTROYED. The blaze was soon put out
by use of the chemical engine.
Fire Marshal Towe was yesterday noti-
fed by Captain Comstock that the fires
were suspicious and he asked for an in
vestigation.
Clerks O'Brien and Osmont worked in
the office Monday night. O'Brien left
about five minutes to 10, while Osmont
remained ten minutes longer, locked up
and went home.
At ten minutes to IL the fire was discov-
cred aid an alarm was turned in. The
patrol went to the fire and extinguishei IT.
Yesterday morning policeman took
kew of the vault TO Captain Comstock.
Com stock found that the outer door of
the vault had been opened by the com bi-
nation.
Fire Marshal Towe went to the office
and found the lockers were all burned out.
The outer door of the vault was open and
the bolts were shot back showing that
whoever had opened it had been in grea.
hurry to get away. ComstOck had placed
the key In he inner door and Towe found
rat it worked all right.
On opening the inner door it was seen
that an attempt had been made to burn
the books but the closing of the inner
door shut off all draughts and the fire died
| ou..
In speaking OF the matter last night the
! Fire Marshal said: tine superintendent
came to the office about $50 clock. l
| showed him the burned lockers and the
vault, the door OF which, pointed out to
! him, had been opened by the use of the
| com bination. l also showed him the key
| in the inner door.
II told him this was not the work of
! burylar, and asked him il the destruction
OF the book. in the vault would benefit
ANYBODY. He replied in the negative.
Chief Lees sent Detective Silvey to me,
and after talking the matter over We con-
cluded that some one connected with the
office had set the place on fire for al ulte-
rior purpose.
| IL told the superint endent in the hear
ing OF the cashiers brother that l must
| see MIN Just as soon as possible, ana
| suppose his brother had told him, and
suicide was the result. 1t was my inten-
tion TO have arrested the cashier this
| morning.
THE com bination of the vault was only
known TO the superintendent, the cashier
and o Brien, anu the thing was in nut
| she'll"
Bookkesper Emmett O'Brien, who left
the offices of the gas company at 10
4 O. clock Monday evening, is inclined to be
extremely reticent. When he left the