Evening star., 1898-02-04
AFF AIRS. IN. .AEsEXAN D'R1A
---a' Al n -
Return of B. T. Cook, the Defaulting Clerk
of Gas.
Admits He Has Done Wrong and
Hopes Community Will Forgive
Him General News.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 259 King street,
Rall Talophnnn No I'm

,-. Bell Telephone No. ,1O6. 10.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, February 4, 1898.
R. Theodore Cook, ex-clerk of the gas.
who has been absent from the city for the
past ten days. returned home yesterday
evening on the Chesapeake and Ohio train
reaching here at 4:35 o'clock. He was hur-
ried into closed carriage by his friends.
who met him at the depot, and driven to
his home on South Pitt street. Mr.. Cook
has been quite sick in Cincinnati, and DR..
Jones was summoned to attend him. He
was not able to see any one last night and
went at once to bed.
The Star reporter called at Mr.. Cook 8
residence and had a talk with him this
morning He is very sick man, suffer-
ing from deep cold, which threatens to
develop into pneumonia. He is in horri-
bly, nervous state, and broke down several
times during the interview. His face is
furrowed with deep lines, showing great
mental anxiety. =
Mr.. Cook was free to confess that he had
done wrong. E
You can say" he said, that l. have done
wrong, and am deeply sorry for it. I sim
ply throw myself on thu mercy of the
community. If they forgive me- 1t will
have taught me a lesson that will last me
lifetime, and certainly promise that in
the future 1 shall endeavor to lead such a
life as to regain ths confidence the people
What about the amount of your short
age?' asked the reporter
Il think the amount deposited by my
friends Saturday will about cover 1t. I can
explain the supposed discrepancy in thu
coke, tar, lime and old iron account salts
fectorily."
Has the amount of shortage been lost
In gambling?" asked the reportsr.
Il have not lost cent of it in that way"
was Mr.. Cooks quick reply. Il have a
very expensive family and part of the
money was used for drug bills, doctors
bills, etc.; some for election, expenses last
spring, when had opposition that did
not expect"
Ard the balancer'
"Oh. well. used It in "a fhfanner that I
admit was wrong AS sazd at first, have
done wrong. 1t is the 1sezret OF my life.
and hops the people VIII forgive me-"
Mr.. Cook said that as. soon as he was
well enough he would c6me but and make
such explanations as would nHntangle the
books He appears perfectlsn confident of
being able to explain most ofothe accounts
In a satisfactory mannef. : i1e
Pirates of Psn.snce.
1.-THE Pirates of Penzahce, . as presented
at the Opera House last hight by "sharps
and Flats" was an unqNalifed success. It
was staged in an excellent manner, and all
manner most pleasing. Fhatopera will be
repeated tonight.
columbia Fire conbaaS Meeting.
A regular meeting of the ycolumbia Steam
Fire Engine Company was held last night,
with President W. A. Sn1oot in. the chair.
An invitation from the Friendship Fire
Company Of Winchester, Vi, to attend q
bazaar and fair to be held at Winchester
February 18 was receiver aand declined.
Two new members were elected. The
members were entertainer by Mr.. Frank L.
Entwtsie with graphoplone, Rfter which
the meeting adjourned -.
Corporation Court. sss.aA
The following business was transacted
In the corporation court yesterday. Judge
]. X. N. Norton presiding: o'Meara agt-
Pan 4 Co.: appeal from q justices decis-
ION; jury and verdict for plaintiff for $9.9z.
with set-off Of So in favor OF MI. Pan,
who has to pay the costs III the case The
case arose from the discharge Of Miss
OMeara from Mr.. Pairs employ. She de-