The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-13
A WeII-KnOwn Young Book Keeper
Charged With EmbezzIement,
Mr.. JOHN T. POWERS MONEY.
over $1,000 is Missing and All the
Returns Are Not In-An Incxpli-
cable Discrepancy i'm His Bank
Account Placed thc Young
Man Under Suspicion-A
Detective After Him.

Mr. Eugene Barnes has disappeared so
far as can Doe learned, and so has the
check book of Mr. John n. Powers the
well known commission merchant FOR
whom the young man was book-keeper.
This is not all. A warrant has been
sworn out charging young Barnes with
embczzlng and appropriatine 10 his own
use 500 the pr0pc.ty of Mr. Powers.
The warrant has been placed in the
hands OF Detective John T. Hail. who
has been no work on the case for many
hours trying 90 fnd ont where young
Barnes went
a SAD STORY.
This is "a sad story almost a pitiful
one. Young Barnes is about twcuty-three
years of age. Hc resided at No. 40
north Twenty-third street and had a
good father and mother and one brother.
Iie was always "a dutiful son. He went
a. church regularly ana took q very ac-
tive part in Sunday-school work. lie
was regarded by many who knew him as
almost "a model youth. Some eight or
nine years ago DE secured a. position with
Mr. Powers and gradually worked his
way up by his industry and close appllca-
tlon 10 business. until ne became the
book-kceper. Tie did not drink nor gam
bie. nor smoke. nor chew and had no
vices at an that anybody knew of.
TRUSTED HIM IMPLICITLY.
Mr. Powers had absolute faith i'm the
young man and would have trusted him
almost without limit. lie regarded him
as the soul of honor and integrity and
had great confidence in his efficiency in
the performance of his duties.
For some time Barnes had been keep
ing the books. and looked after the bank
deposits which We're kept IN the First
National bank
THE DISCOVERY.
on Saturday last Mr. Barnes was noti-
fed hy the bank people that he had over
checked 90 the amount Of $3.50. Mr..
Powers went up tO the bank and eX-
planned that there must De some mistake
since he never made ont "a check unless
he had the money in the bank TO that
amount He was told that he had Ger
tainiy over-checked and so Mr. Powers
went back % his store and commenced 10
look into matters lie found that the
check slips which were returned TO the
store were different i'm the amounts re-
presented on the bank book which was
kept most of the time by the young
man. a comparison showed these slips
20 Doe different from the slips turned in
at the bank.
NEARLY 5000.
Mr Powers found that ln looking over
his check book there were checks enough
out to make the amount Overdrawn foot
up over $1,000. Ile thinks when the re-
turns are AN in and ail the checks heard
from and the books are Strengthened up.
the shortage will be between SLIGO and
81 Sp0. Where this money went he docs
not know. Nor does he know where his
bank book is. nor has he any idea what
became of Mr. Barnes. lie thinks there
are about S5oo or $500 checks out. AL
the returns have not been heard from.
either
WHAT BARNES SAID.
Barnes when asked about the unbal-
ancc1 account with the bank said one
deposit of $3.50 had been made and the
deposit slip was brushed aside i'm the rush
and the amount had not been entered on
the bank book lie went to the store
yesterday as usual. When he asked IL
deposit would be made during the day
be was answered I'm the negative.
"Thon / viii go out and get some
lunch he gaid.
Hc went out. but he did not return.
Barnes is of medium size. about five
feet seven inches high. smooth face eX-
Cept a short mustache, rather slender,
dark hair and eyes and weighs about 40
pounds lie SIS about twenty-five years
Of age
Mr.. Powers business will not be IN the
least affected by the affair.