The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-08
$1,000 REWARD FOR MATHEWS
MURPHY & CO.'S ANXIETY TO FIND
THEIR MISSING MANAGER.


The Completed Investigation of
the Accounts shows "A Shortage of
Nearly $1,000 for the one Month
That Mathews Was in Charge OF
the Omce-The Loss Small Matter
to the Firm, But They Desire to
Make an Example of Mathews.
Murphy & Co have issued circulars an
nouncng a reward of $1,000 for the arrest
and delivery of W. c. Mathews to the
sheriff of Chatham county. The circulars
contain picture of Matthews, and very
complete description of him.
The Investigation of the accounts of the
local office here has been completed, and
it has been ascertained that Matthews
shortage is between 5000 and 5000. Al
though he had been in the employ of the
company in New York and Atlanta be
had never been entrusted with the charge
of office before, and he seems to have
started out from the very day he took
charge with the intention of working the
company for every cent that he could.
Playing the races, gambling in stocks,
and blowing himself in the tenderloin sec
ton were his favorite diversions and
these he pursued in manner which made
some of the local sports stare. 1t was evil
dent to those acquainted with his circum
stances that he was spending considera-
bly, more than his income, and the won
der is that suspicion was not excited
sooner.
1t took Mathews just a month to get
nearly 1000 ahead of the company. He
Y n have I-T,t IN
charge until two weeks ater. During this
time he was evidently without funds and
even borrowed from other employees of
the company. His extravaganza style Of
/ living dated from the day he took charge
of the office, and he kept up the pace con
tfnuously until his departure a week ago
tonight. just how much of the money
of the firm he took with him is uncer-
tain, but il was evidently a considerable
mount
The financial system used by the com
pany made it easy for an unscrupulous
manager to get ahead of it, Two accounts
are kept with the bank with which the
company deposits. One is in the name OF
Murphy & Co. and the other in the name
of the manager. The managers account
Is used in defraying the expenses of the
| office and in paying the profits of the
| local customers upon their speculations.
Whenever these happen to be too large for
he notifies the home office of the amount
needed and an order is wired him for the
ira nsfer of the amount from the com
panys account to his own.
This is what made it so easy for Math-
ews to get ahead of the company. A good
many of Murphy q Co.'S customers were
caught in the slump in the cotton market
last week and found it necessary to put
up additional margins. Mathews collect
ed about $1,000 from this source, but put
the money in his pocket instead of de-
posting it 10 his account as manager.
Having made up his mind to shake the
business and the city at The same time,
doubtless with the intention of reforming
and leading a different life hereafter,
Mathews wired the company Saturday
that he needed 5000 for his account as
manager. The order promptly given.
When Mathews presented the order at the
bank the cashier inquired if he should
place it to his account, as was customary
Mathews replied no, that he desired the
amount in cash and asked for two 81 600
| bills. This the cashier was unable TO give
him, but paid the order instead in $50 and
800 bills. These bills are a new issue of
the First National Bank of Macon and are
expected to play a part in the detection
of Mathews. The description given OF
Mathews in the circular is as folows
Age about 80 years, but looks younger,
weight about 145 pounds. hight about )
fest inches, rather slender but of sup
pie build, dark brown hair, parted in the
middle, rather inclined to curl. slight
brown moustache, doubtless has shaver
off now blue eyes, but rather weak look
ing, wears eye glasses, has clear fair
! skin, rather feminine appearance. Good
set of teeth, upper gums show plainly
when he talks. Smokes cigars very freely,
/ lower lips usually chapped from excessive
/ smoking. Nails of fingers long always
/ r ms A f
pool rooms. and race tracks. Dress very
| neatly. Quite often wears silk hat, Prince
| Albert coat, low quartered shoes, fond
CT jewelry, espec ally rings, has fine sol-
| taire ring, also silver mounted rabbit
foot attached to his cigar cutter, and
handsome small size gold watch. He had
in his possession some fifty and one hun
! dred dollar bills of new issue of First
4 National Bank of Macon Ga; supposed
to have left Savannah Saturday night,
June ., for Louisville KY via Knoxville.
! Tenn. His home formerly in Xenia o.,
and New York. Resided in Atlanta about
six months. from there to Savannah for
| one month"
The circular is signed by Murphy & Co.
| and Thomas Screven, superintendent of
Police. 1t win be sent broadcast through
out the country. Murphy & Co. are de-
termned to apprehend Matthews, and to
make an example of him if possible 1t
- Inc INST tlIIlS lllty nave DttH treated So
badly by an employe, and they are not
disposed to let him go unpunished De
tectives in other cities are engaged on
the case
The description is about rs accurate as
could be given and shows Matthews tC
have been quite a stylish looking chap
II e was also a very plausible fellow. and
had no difficulty in making a good i'm
preston vi on those whom he met He
was accompanied by his wife who is
said 10 have besn a fine looking woman
and dressed stylishly Matthews father
in law was also with him here for time
| As an illustration Of his methods il is
stated that Matthews came down to the
office one morning wearing a magnificent
so itaire almond ring with handsome dia
mond shirt studs and cuff buttons He
explained his display Of gems by saying
that they Were gifts from his father-in-
la W, and remarked that the old man was
very well to do. When the head Of the
company heard of this incident it made
him faint. When he recovered from his
astonishment he replied that Matthews
father-in-law had been property man for
| Broadway music hall, and never made
over $40 a month in his life
With the 500 which he got from the
c mpany Saturday, and probably as much
more which he had appropriated from the
| managers account, Matthews was very
well heeled when he left the city, ana can
afford to r main quiet until the scent gets
/ cold. His wife lpft for Nau. NOrlx thu mo-, 4.