Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-09
BARNES last CHANGE
Former Express Agent Charged
With Forgery Once Had 0p-
portunity to Settle.
Route Agent Buchanan Says Barnes
Was Treated Literally by
the Company.
Whom Shortage Was Discovered
He Was Told to Pay Up or
Go to the Penitentiary.

De was Told TO ray UP or
Go to the Penttentiary.
Route Agent Buchanan, Of the Adams
Express Company. who resides In Os-
kaloosa and has the offices Of the COM
pany In this district under his super
vision, was in the city today on busi-
ness, and In conversation with Tines
Republican reporter said that ex-Agent |
C. 7. Barnes, OF the local office. who Is |
now in Jail under default OF bonds,
pending preliminary hearing on a |
charge Of forgery and cheating by false |
pretenses. was we'll aware of why he |
was relieved from his Office here last
April, contrary to Mr.. Barnes statement |
to the Tines Republican. Mr.. Buchanan
said he was of the opinion that had not |
Mr.. Barnes left the Office without per-
mission in the first place, the finding
OF the defalcation in the books would
have been cause enough to warrant his
dismissal.
Mr.. Buchanan said that the first ne
knew Of Mr.. Barnes absence from duty
was telegram sent him by Barnes
from Clinton. The message was sent
over the railway wire, and stated that
owing to O telephone message from
Chicago he was called there on account
of his wife's illness. "rEverything o.
K. was added to the telegram said
Mr.. Buchanan. but of course the next
day went to Marshalltown to see just
| how matters stood. / found that the
| office had been checked over to Joe
| Punnell. who was agent, driver and Of
4 fee boy, and things, Of course, were
running loosely. went over the books
very carefully, beginning with. that
months records. They were substan-
TALLY correct. perhaps shortage OF So,
up to the 18th, but that might have hap
pened any time owing to clerical errors.
Mr.. WATSON, general auditor Of the
Central. had ordered an investigation
1 prior to this time, and went to work
on that, taking March as starter. 1t
was then that began to see the
4 trouble. Instead OF there being about
4 $40 due from the Central in that month
there was in the neighborhood OF $50
due. went over February too, and
found that the railroad company owed
according to the bills. about $40, where
our books showed only about $50.
} Mr.. WATSON then demanded that an
Investigation of the year 1898 be made
and In doing that things went from
bad to worse. 1 wrote to Mr.. Barnes
j and advised him that he had better
come back and straighten matters up,
and In talk with him afterwards in
formed him that unless they We're set
tied in full 1t would mean penitentiary
for him. got letter from Mr.. Barnes.
which I now have and which will he
itte.r Il A,yt1 t -
that he thought the shortage wouldn' /
exceed over 5000 for the var 1898, and
including February, 1899.
II must confess that felt sorry for
Barnes at the time, and although told
him that he could never enter the com
pany's employ again. was willing to
do all could for him in assisting him
In obtaining some position in Chicago.
When he came back to Marshalltown,
at my solicitation, he was very angry
at me because he found the office
checked over to Chad Baker. He has
abused me in his letters somewhat, but
care nothing for that. AS long as |
thought he would make 1t right, and as
, long as there We're but five persons In
the world, including himself and me-
that knew OF the trouble In Its early
staoes, was willing to help him all
could providing he would make the de-
falcation right.
II surely believe that when Mr.
Barnes left here for Chicago unbe.
known to me. he never intended to come
back. I have reasons to believe that all
his pay was drawn up to and including
the day he left. That was taken on,
of the office funds also found that he
had even taken 81 and some odd cents
due as refund from his bonds. II he lac
intended coming back and resumine
control Of the office, as he told me h,
expected to do. hardly think he woule
have gone into the matter quite so far
II see he speaks in an interview O
how the company sent him transporta
ton to return. I did sena him Burling
ton transportation to come to Oskaloo
sa. for desired him to be present whe,
the books were gone over with Mr.. En-
mis- and myself. He was at Oskaloos;
three or four days. and the investiga
e ton was conducted at my house. Their
was time when Mr.. Barnes could hav
. made himself right, as far as the worl,
was concerned. and the few who di,
= know Of the trouble would probabl,
: have forgiven him providing he mad
everything straight, but that time /
e now past. The Adams Express Com
pany will assist In every way possibl
in seeing that justice Is done, and tn
evidence in my hands will be used in 1t
entirety"