The Atlanta constitution., 1900-11-19
REMEMBERED HIS FRIENDS
THEY STOOD BY HIM WHEN AC.
CUSED OF CRIMF.
Recently Roberts Became Wealthy
and Shovel His Appreciation
in q Substantial Way.

Omaha Neb. November 1A.--tSpeciai)-
An example of rare haman gratitude mas
just been disclosed here. veteran OF
the civil war having inherited iortuhe'
returns to Omaha rurposely to reward
his benefactors who are prominent III
Grand Army circles. Major Roberts re-
wards the fidelity of two old coinraues
who befriended him in the days Oh MS
adyersity. paving each 5000 in cash.
Major Roberts. at the beginning OF the
civil war enlisted from a northern state.
He was with sherman on the march u
the sea. Duty made it necessary Tor him
"a go To Huntsville. Ala. where ne re-
mained long enough 10 form some Idea
of the commercial Importance of the
place. After Appomattox. he conceived
the notion of returning To huntsville 10
engage i'm the mercantile business. Cali
ing two brothers to his aid, they Jointly
embarked in an enterprise which in a few
years proved successful. Failing in
health. the major was compelled to go to
the mountains Selling out his interest
i'm the business to hs brothers. he came
west He fell in with the gold seekers
in 1876 and migrated to the Black lilils,
where he invested his fortune and lost
After years of unsuccessful efforts To re-
coup he drifted to Omaha and joined
local Grand Army post some OF whose
members have long been influential citi-
zcns The major appealed to them for
assistance and il was through their in
fluence that he was installed in posi-
tion in the government service at moder-
ate pay.
At last a shadow came over his lie.
lie was accused of stealing money from
The government. NO one else couhl have
done IT," said the government Inspector.
Nj ior Roberts was convicted by the
grand jury of stealing a small amount
of money Ills old comrades made repa-
ration. and through their lnhuence ne
WAS saved the ignominy of feion ccIi'
hut of course. lost his position. The oiil-
cer who emplovcd him was always his
friend. for he believed the old major 10
IL. innocent. vet his efforts to vindicate
ib.. accused i'm the eyes of the depart
mant at washington failed. \ former
official under whose regime MAJOR Rop-
erts was first appointed. also did every
thin:. in his power 10 free the accused
from the disgrace of the charge hanslhS
over him. But it was all 10 no avaH.
\ year age. perhaps, Major Hopefts ""
a,iiau 10 his old comrades here ana re-
turned To Huntsville. where his Two
bro, ~, RS lived in the enJoyme mt OF lhue
10 ndcnt furtI mes made in the cohduct ol
IN, business winch the major helped lhem
10 establish. lhtN N1Nlt'u nm " "'
their bachelor quarters. when ne ulu.
Within eieh months of his arrival thsS
brothers passed over to the great peA oi,u-
They were old men. Beng without le
gal heirs. they w'lled all their properly
40 their brother, the major. who now
finds himself the posseSsor OF an hld hlde-
pendent fortune with an income sum
cient - enable him to spend the re-
main.ier oi his natural life in ease ana
luxury.
Placing his business affairs IN shape.
aajor Rob, rts purchased at the bank at
Huntsville txo drafts. each Tor H3oo'
made payable 70 his order. Puttlhg tneni
in his pocket, he came 10 Omaha, called
upon the two former government oiilclals;
Major Clark ami Captain Martino ana
presented each with a draft for $1,000 as
a token lie said. of his gratitude for thelr
m. nifold kindncsses to him during ms
t~ttls and troubles of former years. The
cas-. iS 50 rare that il has caused a STIR
IN Grand Army circles and at the bank
where th. drafts were caShed II Is re-
-ardpd AS an end of century marvel.
yesterday MAJOR Roberts left Tor his
southern home.