Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-16

Tie Q. L & ". Freight Agent at
Bridgeport is Missing.

4
HE DISAPPEARED MYSTERIoUsLY
SUNDAY OR MoNDAY-INvEsTIGA-
| TIoN OF HIS BOOKS REVEALS
! NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN HIS HANDS
! AS TOWNSHIP TREASURER ARE
| sAFE-HAD THE CONFIDENCE OF
| ALL WITH WHOM HE WAS ASsO-
| GATED.
| James NJ. Smith, of Bridgeport, is
missing. He has not been seen by his
| friends or relatives since Sunday night.
Smith was freight agent Of the c., L.
| & w. road at Bridgeport. An investi-
! CATION of his books made since his UNI
ceremonious departure, reveals con-
! dition of affairs which may suggest
| motive for his disappearance
Smith is about 25 years of age, I'M
married, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
| Smith, with whom he made his home.
He has been regarded as an exemplary
young man, although it is now whis-
pered about that he has for many
| months possessed a passion for play
| ing the races" a game which is much
more seductive than profitable. Enter
! ing the c., L. & w. freight Office as
| chief clerk, he succeeded to the posi-
ton of agent. Through energy, and
! apparent strict attention to business,
| he earned the respect, and enjoyed the
| confidence of shippers and others with
| whom he came into contact during the
| fifteen months he has held the position
| of freight agent, at salary reported
to have been $1OO month.
| To all who knew him, the news Of
Smiths disappearance came as shock.
! His friends refuse to believe that he
carried off any money which did not
belong to him, and they express conf
dence that he will return with a salts
| factory explanation concerning his alb
sence When a Register reporter
+, called ct Smiths home yesterday, the
! fact of his absence was admitted. The
reporter was informed that he had been
talking of going away on account Of his
health, and the only peculiar fact was
that he had departed without the
knowledge of his parents. They ex
| pected him to return.
| There were reports in Bridgeport
that Smith was seen as late as Wednes-
| day morning, but these are probably
untrue On Monday his brother and
another young man who worked at the
freight depot, informed the c., L. & w.
officials that he had gone mysteriously.
Mr.. Stark, one of the attaches of the
auditors Office, came to Bridgeport to
check up Smiths books. The result
of his investigation was the discovery
of shortage, which popular report
fixes at from $1,000 to $4,000. A gem
tleman connected with the road, how
| ever, told a reporter that these figures
are probably exaggerated. Yesterday
Frank Henderson, who has been con-
nected with the Wheeling creek coal
works, succeeded to the position of
agent
The presence Of party of officials
of the road in Bridgeport Thursday,
probably gave rise to rumOrs that
Smith was a defaulter in a larger
amount The party consisted of Gen
eral Manager Woodford, Supt. Rome
ser, Road Master Moran, Civil Engin
eer Handlan, and Auditor Parks. Their
visit had no connection with the mat
ter. They were simply making tour
of inspection of the road.
The amount of money which Smith
has not accounted for is included In
the receipts for the month of June.
The agent is required to make daily
reports to the Auditors office, and on
the Sth Of each month is required to
send balance sheet, accompanied by
check for the amount que the road.
Under this system, it would not be
possible to misappropriate any larger
sum of money Smith did not make
his report on July 9Th.
Smith held the position of town
treasurer. His father is a member of
the Council. The treasurer handles an
amount of money varying from 5000
to $4,000 1t is deposited IN the First
National Bank. 1t is the custom of
the bank directors to go on the bond
of the treasurer. This was done in
Smiths case. 1t is also their custom to
scrutinize the orders presented for pay
ment, and to watch the proceedings
of Council, with a view to the protec-
ton of the interests of the bank Bank
officials stated that there is no discrep-
ancy in Smiths accounts as treasurer
of the township.
Smiths bond to the c., L. & w. was
furnished by a guarantee company, in
accordance with rule of the road.
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