The herald., 1897-03-31
swINDLED RIGHT AND LEFT
Misdeeds of the Vice Consul General in
Paris

| Tt has Just leaked out that Clyde
Shropshire, formerly of Rome, Ca, who
! was removed from office as vice consul
general in Paris last June, not only made
victim of his immediate superior, Con-
sui General s. E. Morss, by taking about
| $40. 900. but was also involved in many
other suspicious matters. This miscon-
duct brought about his dismissal.
| According to the reports received from
Consul General Morss at the time, he
met Shropshire in Paris, where the lat
ter was engaged In the practice of law.
Mr.. Morss became so favorably inn
pressed with his new acquaintance that
he secured his appointemnt as his as
sistant. Being unfamiliar with many
of the deuies of the office, Mr.. Morss
left all it's matters in the hands OF Shrop-
shire, although he was warned by his
friends that his deputy was not keep
ing In the straight and narrow path.
Shropshire is not only charged with
appropriating oil consular fees, but he
would charge more for performing con-
sular duties than the regulations al
lowed, and generally he kept>the entire
sum for his own use. He swindled the
French government out of 5000, which
he charged for certifying to the claims
of the exhibitors at the Worlds fair at
Chicago. These claims should have been
certified without charge.
He also made an investment for an
American widow in some wildcat Sc
curities, alleging that their cost had
been equal to the sum which she had en-
trusted to him. AS a master of fact,
this was not true. and Shropshire pock-
eted the difference between the sum he
received and the actual cost of the Sc
curities. Consul General Morss also says
that Shropshire converted to his own
use money found in the effects of Ameri-
cans who died in Paris
One of the gravest charges made
against Shropshire is based upon his
action in connection with the finding
of a roll of $5000'in hotel in Paris by Il
Boston gentleman. The latter gave the
money to the cashier of the hotel, with
the requesf.that it should be returned
to it's owner. Then he left Paris for
London. Later the cashier informed the
finder of the money that it had been re-
stored to its owner, and that he had left
a reward of 5000 for the finder
The London friends of tlle gentleman
who found the money told him that he
had been foolish to take sgch n course.
that he should have secufed receipt
from the cashier. Acting npon this hint
he went to Shropshire In Paris and
asked him. as the American vice consul,
to obtain the receipt from the cashier.
1t is charged now that the vice consul
general. assuming that the cashier had
converted the money to his own use,
demanded unequal division. and secured
by this means a check for $20Q0, which,
1t was afterwards found. was worth
less.
Shropshire. in the meantime. secured
an advance of $500 on the check from "A
friend and on his refusal to make his
friends loss good. the latter informed the
police of the facts.
Shropshire. in the meantime. fled. it
is stated. with q notorious San Francisco
woman named Mrs. Hattie Barnes. to
London. where they are now resSting
He is working as newspaper man.
and Mrs. Barnes as an actress
Neither ConsuivGeneral Morss or the
state department has taken any Steps to.
prosecute Shropshire. E. p. Maclean
was appointed assShropshire's SUCCESSOR
on July Sd last.
The United States. it is stated. will
not lose anything 'lly Shropshire's trans
actions. His brother is prepared to make
the shortage good. The private suffer
ers by Shropshirets conduct will have
to take their own remedy Washington
letter to the New York Herald