The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-20

This oflcial statement shows the o1-fe-
Corder to be short In his accounts exactly
ts16.0 Mr.. Canpbsli Immediately made
complaint 70 Assistant Prosecuting Attor-
ney Hart. who drew mp q complaint chArg-
1ne the ex-recorder with larceny by em-
esnElement. Mr.. Campbell signed tho AZ
Adavtt. and later In the day warrant was
fseued by Justice Of the Peace Cam. Tho
police are now trying to locate the alleged
de4auIter
Up 70 the present time no trace Of him
has been obtained after Thursday evening.
August 10. He left here that day giving
out the statement through q notice on hiN
ONCE door that he was going to visit hin
ajcoE mother At Stealacoom. He did not 20
there. but reliable information has been
received In this city to tho effect that he
was seen In Tacoma some time that night.
It In from this point that the detectives
win take up the trail
Many sensational reports are In circuIa-
ton about the Pickens affair. Many be-
Reye that he committed suicide. knowing
that the irregularities in his accounts would
be surely discovered August ~ when the
finance committee checked up his once,
Manager Campbell. Of the bonding COM
pafy. which stands surety for Pickens In
the sum Of 10000. takes no stock in this
theory. He believes that the ex-recoydcr
ned because he did not have the moral
courage to face the existing condition Of
affairs. One thing puzzles Mr. Campbell to
some extent, and that n why did Pickens.
being a lawyer. fail to make an effort TO
ktratghten I'D his accounts by borrowing.
when he must have realized that he would
BE- followed relentlessiy. Mr. Campbell feels
great sympathy for Mrs. Pickcns, who 10 .
n1o0t eHtimnhie woman, but tho policy OF
his company calls for 4 relentless pursuit
OF the missing man.
II II believed tina. Pickens left the city
with only q small sum In his possession
he hap irx aa&A 10
purse several hundred dollars without
much effort leads the officers Of the Grand
lodge 10 think that his flight Was not pre-
u1editated. lie did not take any personal
effects from his home. other than those he
wore He also left articles in his ONCE
which he would naturally have taken II he
cumatances Il II the opinion Of Grand Mas
ter workman Jones that something other
than his shortage must have influenced
ems had come 10 ms and other OF his per-
sunsl frscnds' said Mr.. Jones. "and told
IN that he needed money. we would gladly
1t seems unreasonable that a mon who had
such wide acquaintance and was held
In snch high esteem would sacrifice all for
few hundred dollars"
and Trust Company, when seen yesterday
afternoon, said: Yes. Il il true tina. the
experts Of our company have Just COM
ex-0rsnd Recorder J. II. Pickens. al the
4. o. Z. W, of the jurisdiction Of WASH
1ngton. and find hls shortage to be I'll sas %
This report with be forwarded TO the home
ONCE OF the company AZ Baltimore
"A warrant for the arrest OF Mr. Pick
ems on the charge of larceny by embexxis-
ment and sworn OH this afternoon by my
self N manager Of the bonding company
and Il was placed in the hands Of the po-
lice.
''Every effort possible win be made 70
apprehend the defaulter and bring him to
Seattle for trial. II II the policy OF surety
companies to spare no expense In appre.
bending asfaulters under bonds Even 10
the defaicatiop amounts 10 only a small
amount. they follow the degauifer TO any
part Of the world.
1T II question OF principle In bringing
dishonest officials 20 Justice Al present I
am unable TO make any statement a. To
how far we have gone In the matter Of
tracing Mr.. Pirksus. We are satisfied thar
tho statement OF his mother thar he has
not been at Sfeiacocn II true We have
the highest regard for Mrs Tsickens and
her family. and am positive I'm the state
ment that Mr., psckens' dssarpearance was
"a murh Of a surprise TO them AZ 10 his
brother ofsfcers Of .hc Grand lodge"
Concerning the theory that Mr. piekens
has committed suicide. Mr. Campbell said:
'I take no ~ock I'm that theory" When
asked ns TO whether there MAS a woman In
the case, Mr.. Campbell replied that he had
nothing 70 say on that point
The report Of the American BONDING ana
Trust Casnnsnv's experts shows Pfcksrx a