Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-31
Absence Of Theodore Cook Still a
Subject of Comment.
His WHEREABOUTS. MOI DISCLOSED
Mayor Simpson Removes Him From
Position as Clerk.
GENERAL AND PERSONAL
Evening Star Bureau,
52g King St
Bell Telephone No. 1Os.

ne mysterious disappearance and con-
tinued absence of Mr.. r. Theodore Cook
clerk of the city gas works, is still the sub
ject Of general conversation. AS stated in
The Star of Saturday, Mr.. Cook disappear
ed from this city Tuesday night last, and
none Of his intimate friends or the men,
bers Of his family know of his where
atouts and, as a matter Of fact, thew are
greatly worried about him, as 1t Is feared
he may have done himself bodily harm.
Before he left the city he addressed a let
ter to Mr.. Louis Brill in which he gave
number of directions concerning his family.
and In which, it Is said, he stated that he
would address a letter to his brother. Mr.
Frank Cook, using "A fictitious name and
Washington address, stating Just what he
proposed to do. Mr.. Frank Cook has an
Piled at the address given daily since the
receipt OF the letter by Mr.. Brill. but as vet
no communication has been received, and.
as stated above. it is feared the absent man
Will not return to Alexandria alive
At an early hour this morning Mayor
simpson decided that he would take a len
tent zen view OF the case and suspend Mr.. Cook
LOT thirty days, pending an Investigation
OF his accounts, and addressed a letter to
MI. Cook 10 this effect. In the meantime
ne placed the city auditor and deputy CITY
treasurer. the city treasurer being the rep
Company of Baltimore, In which Mr.. Cook
was bonded, in charge of the office. These
gentlemen opened the safe this morning
and found that the 500 which Mr.. Cook
stated In his report should be in the cash
drawer was missing, and a brief examina
ton showed that the deficiency will amount
to $2l4.oo over the $1,556.S9 reported SAT-
urday, and which amount was made good
pv Ills friends Saturday afternoon as stated
In The Star.
Changes His Mind.
Mayor Simpson, learning of this ad-
uitiohal denc1t. at once determined that he
would not suspend Cook but would re-
move him, and will call a meeting of the
city council to take action in the matter.
1t was learned at the office of the CITY
treasurer this morning that the books
OF the clerk of the gas are in very much
tangled condition and it will probably take
tnlrty days for an expert to make com
pete examination of them and thus learn
the exact amount of the shortage
Inc great power given the clerk of the
gas by the city has been a subject of uni
versal condemnation ever since the de-
nett in Mr. Cooks accounts became public.
There is said to be absolutely no check on
the man holding this office, and such a
state OF affairs, it is said. should not ex-
Isl. IT has been suggested that upon the
election of successor to the office the
city council should make some change in
the manner of conducting the office look
ing to check being placed on the man
holding the position and at the same time
temptation.
The following plan Is suggested as a good
one by those who have discussed the mat
ter. The employe of the gas works who
taxes the state OF the meter either month
~ or quarterly should report to the city
auditor the amount of gas used. The CITY
auditor Should make out all of the gas
biils and hand them to the clerk of the
"a hi g.
the same. The clerk of the gas should
make his deposits daily with the CITY
treasurer. taking receipt With these
unpaid gas bills the clerk of the gas should
make settlement of his accounts with the
city auditor every quarter. In this way
II Is thought the matter would work sat
isfactoriy.
Candidates Numerous.
AS already stated in The Star, there are a
large number of applicants for the posi-
ton made vacant by the removal of Mr..
Cook, and there is apt to be a warm fight
when the matter comes up before the city
council. In addition to those already men,
toned in The Star are Messrs. Charles A.
Cogan and s. l.. Monroe, who have an
nounced themselves as candidates. Mr..
Champ Walker, whose name has been men,
toned in several papers in that connection,
desires The Star reporter to announce that
1t has never been his intention to become
candidate for the position.
Police Court.
In the police court this morning Mayor
Simpson disposed Of the following cases:
Richard Washington, charged with as
saulting his mother, incurred the penalty
OF 80 fine or twenty days on the chain
gang. Richard Williams, charged with
petit larceny. was fined IS. Joseph Adams
and Lottie Lawson, charged with disor-
derby conduct and fighting, were fined IS
each; Ira Fields, charged with an assault
an William Tumie; case continued until
tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock; Elias Petit,
charged with abusive language; case con-
ttnued until Wednesday at . am: John
Monroe. charged with disorderly conduct;
fined s..
Groves-Petrie NuptiaIs.
Miss Ida NJ Groves of this city and Mr..
Lewis G. Petrie of Baltimore were mar
ried at St. Mary's Church yesterday after
noon at o'clock. The ceremony, which
was witnessed by large number of the
friends OF the bride and groom, was per-
formed by Rev. Father H. ]. Cutler.
Taken to Penitentfnry.
Deupty Marshal c. E. Glover and Guard
R. w. P. Garrett left here today on the
Chesapeake and Ohio train at 2:4O o'clock
Tor Columbus, Ohio, with George Carol,
Who was recently sentenced by Judge
Hughes of the United States Court to serve
term of six years in the penitentiary for
burglary at Fort Myer.
Omcers Elected.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders
OF the Observation-Disclosures Telephone
Company the following officers were elect
ed: President. DR.. John S. Powell; vice
president F. c. Davis; secretary and treas
urer, w. s. Lynn; directors DR.. John S.
Powell, Tyson Janrey,, F. C. Davis, F. S.
Reynolds Edward HaynmilI, ]. N. Carter
and w. s. Lynn. q
The Churches Yesterday.
The resident rectors conducted the ser
vice. in the various churches yesterday.
and in most Of them the attendance was
fairly large. At the Southern Methodist
Church last night. Rev. j. T. Williams
preached an able sermon on THE Calami-
ties of the Jews ana Their Marvellous
preservation as Nation, At the Metho-
dist Protestant Church Rev. F. T. Benson
preached q special sermon to young men,
taking as his subject THE Fellowship Of
the Glass" At the tsecohd Presbyterian
Church. Rev. J. e. Thacker took as his
subject the Evolution of Sin" and THE
Jewels of the King"