The San Francisco call., 1897-07-01

tiernen an exposition of the situation.
Though they were not responsible for any
irregularities of the Collector as disburs-
ing officer, they made up their minds that
Welburn had escaped from sea of trou-
bles, and they were deeply interested in
knowing whether there was anything be-
sides Norton's big shortage that would
tighten their pocket.books.
At about 8 o'clock they went upstairs
with Thrasher 10 the floor where Justice is
supposed TO reign, and there were confer
ences with Assistant District Attorney
Scalessinger and Marshal Bald win, and
when the conferences were over Schles-
singer had drawn a complaint charging
Welburn with EN- bezzlement, Special
Agent Thrash her had sworn TO it and Com.
missioner Heacock had issued The war
rant.
Then Deputy Marshal Gallagher put a
paper in his pocket and went forth on a
hard quest and the sureties went off to
worry and wonder elsewhere. All con-
cerned were dumb as clans about the
issuance OF a warrant or the reasons for it,
but the fact early became known.
Whatever there may be that is irregu-
lar NAV be found TO be in the accounts of
the disbursing officer" said Mr.. Thrasher
wariiy. No; l don't think the amount
will be very large. / can't tell you Just
now any irregularities Lnere may De Oc-
CURED. They might occur in many ways
For instance, if you were Collector, you
might appoint man to a $500 position
and say, Now you must give me $500 of
it'"'
From other sources come intimatons
that more direct frauds have recently
been practiced by Welburn, such as draw
ing checks payable ITO bearer" and in
favor of dunn mics, and even that one
or,1c "a k,vt . N-II
and used by himself. But Welburn's 9
friends find it hard to believe that he has
been guilty of anything actually dishon-
orable and that when things in question
are explained there Will be left but the
carelessness.
Private detectives joined the Govern
ment searchers iE the chase after the
absent Collector yesterday afternoon. but
late in the evening his trail had not been
struck and the supposition that he had
fed grew stronger.
At about 6 o'clock, however Mr.. We'll
burn rang up the editorial-rooms of THE
CALL 10 deny the report, with which he
had just become acquainted, that he had
absconded.
He wished the report denied in justice
to himself, and explained his absence by
saying he had been doing little private
detective work on his own account in con-
nection with Cashier Norion's shortage,
and had traced $1,000 worth of stamps that
were supposed 20 be missing. In tones
thatsuggested physical state of nervous
ness he said:
well, you see have not absconded. !
have been guilty of nothing wrong, and /
am not going to run away. l will face
the situation. have becn removed, /
suppose, on account of my absence, which
has made people think that had skipped
out"
Mr.. Welburn declined to intimate his
whereabouts at that moment and respect
fully declined to be interviewed by re-
porter at any place he might name. His
only statement concerning his where
abouts was that he was going ONE at once
and would be in the privacy of his family
by o'clock.
''It's false; there is nothing to it." was
his reply to the charge that he had been
guilty of irregularities as Disbursing Or
ticer. When told that warrant had been
issued for his arrest he expressed sur
prise.
II had not heard of that" he said.
"There can be no reason for my arrest as
you know if you remem Der the confession
of Norton which you published"
With nervous 'good-by" Mr.. Welburn