The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-21
CALDER'S PLEA
NOT GUILTY.
Arraigned in District Court For
EmbezzIing $1,000.
HELD IN $4,000 FOR GRAND JURY
Has Been at His Brothers House in This
City For More Than Ten Days.
NOT DISPOSED To MAKE STATEMENT
When Questioned He Said He Did Mol Know Where
He Was During the Time He Was
Away from Providence.
NOT DISPOSED To MAKE STATEMENT

John Il. Calder who disappeared from
the office of S. S. Sprague q Co. grain
dealers, i'm the Industrial Trust build
ing on Saturday morning, December 3,
this forenoon occupied a cell at the
Central police station, and is now at
the county Jail at Howard having been
charged with embezzling the sum of
$1,000 from the firm of :. 5. Sprague &
Co. by whom he was employed as a
bookkeeper.
The story of Mr. Calder's disappear
snce was told in the columns of the
News less than two weeks ago, together
with the statement made by Mr.. Henry
$. Sprague of the firm whose suspi-
cions were aroused by cursory exam
ination Of the books and who after ma
ture deliberation reported the facts TO
the police. On the same day and,in fact,
at the same time that he visited police
headquarters for the purpose Mr.. CAL
der left his desk i'm the office and re-
turned no more. The firm stated that
his system of peculation consisted i'm
manipulating the bank deposit slips,
and that only small sums were taken at
a time.
The detective department at once in
stituted a search FOR the missing man,
and Detective Parker learned ten days
ago that Mr.. Calder had returned TO
Providence, but was not at his own
home on Public street. He had gone TO
the residence of one of his brothers
and was i'm poor health. In view of the
circumstances Mr.. Parker met his rela-
tives and agreed that Mr.. Calder should
coma IN pOIipa bqa at a time
to be agreed upon and 10 this Mr.. Cal
der's brother fully consented. Yester-
day afternoon a warrant was sworn out
charging John II. calder with embez-
Element. and this morning he came TO
Mr. Parker's office with his brother.
A very short time afterwards Calder
was arraigned i'm the Sixth district
court and the warrant was read to him.
After consulting with his counsel
Charles G. Mumford. Esq. he r''aded
not guilty and waived examination. He
was bound over TO the next term OF the
grand jury, bail being fixed at $4,000
From what could be learned this morn
ing there did not seem TO be much
probability that bail would be furnished
at least for the present.
After his arraignment Mr. Calder was
returned TO a cell, to await transporta-
tion to Howard, and while there he was
called upon by News man. He ap-
peared anxious to avoid attention and
sat with his back 20 the irof-barred
door. moodly smoking a cigar. He,
however, received the reporter court
eously, and asked what was wanted.
He appeared to be suffering from
nervous strain, and in answer TO a ques-
tion as to what he wished TO say about
the case, he replied: Nothing what
ever, sir; / think the least that is said
at present the better
He volunteered the statement that he
had been back in the city for ten days,
and when asked where he had been i'm
the interval between the time of his
departure from the Office of. :. :. Spra-
que e. Co, and his return to Providence
he said that he did not know, having,
he said, no recollection whatever of the
places he had visited. II is known from
the police authorities, however, chat he
was i'm Woonsocket for one day at least
during his absence.
This is not the first time that Mr.
Calder has found his lines cast in trou-
bled waters, for several years ago he
while cashier of the now defunct Pro-
ducers' and Grocers' bank. was arrest
ed on the charge of embeZZling from
the bank and was. owing TO disagree
ments OF juries, placed on trial three
times. The prosecution was finally drop
ped Mr.. Calder is considered TO be one
of the most expert accountants in the
city. and IL was in that capacity that
he was first employed by ;. ). Sprague
a. Co, about three years ago.