The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-04
JOHN WITT ARRESTED.
He Was Attending Prayer
Meeting When Found.
HIS WIFE FAlNltD
Charged With Having OBJ
tanned 5000 or $500.

John c. Witt was arrested last night
about $50 while attending prayer meeting
in the Presbyterian church. He is charged
with having embezzled between $3.50 and
$500 from his recent employers, Messrs.
Watt and Dague. who have grocery
store on West Douglas avenue, near
Water street.
Messrs Watt and Dague on Tuesday
had a warrant issued for his arrest. 1t
was put in the hands of a constable who
visited Mr.. Wits residence at 725 North
Waco several times without ever finding
him at home. Mr.. Dague then placed the
matter in the hands of Detectives Cairns
and Carroll. They went to his home but
he was not there. They learned that he
was at church and they went there and
arrested him and took him to the station.
Mrs. Witt had accompanied her husband
to church and when Detective Carroll
touched him on the shoulder and told
him he wanted him she got up and walked
outside with him. He asked what he was
arrested for and when told his wife faint
ed The officers tried to pursuade her 10
let them send her home but she declined
and persisted III going TO the city Jail
with her husband and the officers. She
tainted three times before they reached
the city building.
Mr.. Witt was seen last night and asked
what he had to say about the charge. He
said:
~ can't understand it. There is some
mistake, / am sure. l had settlement
with Mr.. Watt on Tuesday"
Mr.. Witt is a light Completed man
with a light mustache, blue eyes, tall
but we'll built and probably 80 or 81
years old He has been a grocery deliv-
cry clerk here for several years. He for
merly worked for Tapp Brothers and also
Mr.. Courtney on East Douglas. He has
been with Watt & Dague for nearly
year.
Mr.. Watt said last night that he had
already found that Witt had embezzled
500 and he had not got near through his
accounts. He thought that the amount
would run close to $500. Mr.. Watt said
that Witt had confessed to his partner
The method employed was simple. Gus
toners were accommodated for one week
dL d lilics lAotI blASJ WIZ SA'N
for one week and the amount collected
every Saturday. Some of the customers
paid cash upon delivery. Groceries would
be taken to both a cash and credit Gus
toner. When Witt would return he would
say that the cash customer desired lit
tie time He would pocket the money.
The credit customer would pay on Sat
urday and he would also ask for more
time for them. In this way the weekly
payment customers, according to the re-
ports made to Messrs. Watt and Dague
soon became indebted for six or eight
weeks. Mr.. Watt suspected that some
thing was wrong and his partner started
| out on Wits route, he being sent on
| another. Mr.. Dague soon learned that
several customers who were supposed TO
! he in their debt considerable did not owe
| them cent.
Mr. Watt told Mr.. Witt that his serv-
| ices would no longer be wanted. He also
| demanded that he pay them the money
| which he had taken. He said that on last
! Sunday he had gone to Peabody to see
his father and get the money from him
but that he could not get it until he re-
| ceived his pension.
| AT II o'clock last night Mrs. Witt con-
scented to be taken home and her husband
was taken TO a cell and locked up.