The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-31
PARKER SETTLED.
Through Minister buchanan the
Treasurer of a Washington Town
Makes Restitution.

through Minister buchanan the
Treasurer of "A Washington Town
Makes Restitution.
From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Mayor J. Wayland Clark. of Fairhayen
Washington, has just received from AS
sistant Secretary of State Day letter an
nouncing that Hon. w. l. Buchanan.
American minister to the Argentine repub .
lie, has made a settlement of the Parker
defalcation.
Behind this simple statement lies story
Of large defalcation during boom days on
Puget Sound, flight of thousands of
miles-far beyond the ken of sharp-eyed
detectives, away beyond the reach of ex-
tradition treaties; a story of poverty, af-
huence for time, and, finally, the rmov-
al of restrictions against the return of a
homesick man TO his native land
Six years ago Fairhaven was enjoying
boom consequent upon the building ttlith-
Ell of the Great Northern Railway. At the
first election of officers Winfield Scott
Parker was elected city marshal. He drew
good salary as marshal and tax collector,
the duties Of the latter position being ad-
ded by the curious statutes of those DAYS
relating to smaller cities. Those were days
In which taxes IN large and generous
amounts were paid by property owners. In
fact. they could not pay them fast enough.
AS the day approached when taxes became
delinquent crowds thronged the small Of
flee devoted to Parkers use. A few
would be admitted and the door locked At
ter receipts We're given the happy possess
sors would walk out, giving place to anoth-
er crowd of eager taxpayers But some
times Parker would make out a receipt
and fail to fill out the stub Many times
this was repeated, and to-day It is beyond
the knowledge of the best expert how
many dollars went the way of Parker
pocket instead of the Golfers of the city,
The amount stolen is known to have been
at least $4,000, and is placed at Fairhaveh
! at Sc, 900 to $4,000.
About Thanksgiving time, 1891, Parker
asked leave of the City Council to absent
himself for a week or so. 1t was granted,
and Parker went. He never returned.
What became of Parker? No sooner
| had he secured his leave OF absence than
he started for Halifax, where he intended
| to take a steamer for the Argentine Re-
public, with which country the United
| States had no extradition treaty. He was
taken sick on the train, and compelled 10
go to a hospital in Winnipeg. Six weeks
of Illness brought repentance, and when
he left the hospital he bought ticket to
! Vancouver. intending to return to Fairha-
ven and answer for his misdeeds. But the
| thought of going to the penitentiary
crowded out feeling of repentance He
| sold his ticket, went to Halifax and thence
| to Buenos Ayres, arriving there with $50.
| Detectives employed to trace Parker fail
| ed to locate him, but two or three years ago
| the city officials of Fairhaven learned of
! his whereabouts. Attempts to secure his
arrest failed for lack of an extradition
| treaty. Meantime, Parker was prosper-
| ing. With others he purchased a sroup
| Of gold claims, and sold them to a syndi-
cate for $4,000 cash and over half of the
stock. These claims lay back in the Cor
dilleras, /, 200 miles from Buenos Ayres.
! The mines were developed with heavy ma
chinery carried $50 miles from the end of
| the railroad on the backs of mules Park
| er's associates In this enterprise were some
| OF the most prominent business men In
Buenos Ayres. He Joined with several st.
Louis capitalists in the purchase of anoth-
er group of claims. which were also de-
| veloped Though he was being bounded
| by biackmaiers, there was undoubtedly
an honest desire in Parker's heart to re-
| turn the stolen money. His conscience
| had winged severely during all these
| years, and now came the first step toward
making restitution. He started for Buenos
| Ayres with that purpose In view, but en-
| route became the victim of pneumonia and
| had to be carried In. His condition be-
came so serious that only a surgical op-
| alton of the most difficult character and
involving the removal Of one lung, could