Evening star., 1897-03-19
"A DIPLOMATS FALL
Our Vioe Consul General at Paris
Embezies $4,000.
BE IS now SAFE IN LONDON
No Action to Be Taken Against Him
by the Government.
MRS. BARN Esq PARTY
Re IS now SAFE IN LONDON
MRS. BARN Esq PARTY

Full details have been recently received
at the State Department of the escapades
and peccadilloes OF Clyde Shropshire Of
Rome. Ca. while holding the office of vice
consul general at Paris under Consul Gen.
eral Morss.
This enterprising individual decamped
from Paris last summer, after having 1t Is
reported. victfmized the consul general out
OF nearly $4,000 during the three years he
was In his service. Shropshire is described
as a lawyer by profession, but an adven-
turer by habit. and popular with the fast
set OF Americans who make Paris their
headquarters in the summer season He
had been living In Paris for five or six
years previous to his appointment
Mr. Morss, being stranger and unfamiliar
with the practices and duties Of the office,
left everything to Mr.. Shropshire, and re-
tained confidence in him to the very last.
although he was frequently warned by
friends that his deputy was running with
rapid crowd. was an habitue of the gamb-
ling clubs, and had the reputation of play
ing high and reckless game.
Given Fair Warming.
Mr.. Morss was also informed frequently
that Mr.. Shropshire was living tn sus-
picious style, and had developed extrava-
giant habits that were the subject of much
gossip In the American colony. But Shrop-
shire was such a nice fellow that Mr.. Morss
refused to believe these reports. and when
he did allude to them once or twice the eX
plantations of his deputy were plausible and
satisfactory.
When his swindling practices were dis
covered last June Shropshire fed, and has
not been located. He is said, however, to
be in London. IN company with Mrs. Hattie
Barnes, woman of much notoriety from
San Francisco. She is said to be engaged
on the stage of one of the London thea ters.
while he is doing newspaper work. Their
intimacy was notorious in Paris for sew
eral months before Shropshire disappeared.
In addition to having imposed on the
consul general to large financial extent
in consular fees. trust funds. etc, 1t is
said that Shropshire also swindled the
French government out of 1000 francs,
W hich he charged for certifying to the
claims of exhibitors at the worlds fair at
Chicago, whose exhibits were destroyed or
injured in the fire at the manufacturers
building.
Recovery Impossible.
AS an act of courtesy these claims should
have been certified without charge, but 1t
appe ars that Shropshire demanded $500 for
his services as a notary, and made no en-
try Of that fee upon the books.
According to reports received at the State
Department the evidence of his rascality
was plentiful and manifest after his de-
partnre, although nothing tangible had been
offered against him so long he remained
in Paris. Mr.. Morss does not fix the
amount Of his deputy's embezzlements but
1t will rot be far from 10000, If the money
he borrowed from patrons of the consulate
Is included
Mr.. Morse has taken steps for his ar
rest because it is impossible to recover
anything and he wishes to avoid a scandal.
The. government suffers no financial loss
by Snropshires transactions.