The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-08
THOMPSON WAS WEAK.
He Diverts $4,000 of an Orders
Money to His Private Business.

Money TO has private Business.
Port Huron, Mich, Nov. by his
own written confession. Charles d.
Thompson, supreme finance keeper of
the knights of the Maccabees, and
prominent vessel and tug man of this
city is a defaulter in the sum of
$57, 900 Mr.. Thompson, however, was
heavily bonded in the National Surety
Company of New York and the Fidel-
ity and Deposit Company of Baltimore
and the order is, therefore, protected
from loss.
The first intimation of the shortage
came last Tuesday afternoon, when
Supreme Commander Markey and Su-
preme Record Keeper George ]. Sigle
were checking over the finance keepers
books. An error was discovered, and
they called Thompson's attention to it.
He said that he would take the books
and papers home with him that night
and look il up. Wednesday morning
he came to Supreme Commander Mar
keys office and confessed that his ac-
counts were short $57, 900. He then and
there signed a written confession of the
embezzlement. An examination of the
books followed and the shortage was
disclosed.
The companies on Mr.. Thompson's
bond were notified OF the shortage to-
day and representatives of each are
now on their way to Port Huron.
Thompson is at home awaiting their
arrival and whatever action they may
take. He is not under arrest but says
he expects to be arrested and is pre-
pared to pay the penalty of his breach
Of trust.
The heavy loss sustained by the
Thompson Towing and Wrecking Com
pany of this city. of which Mr.. Thomp-
son is a member, on the steamer Har-
lem, which they raised from the bot
tom of Lake Superior, is responsible
for the shortage. Thompson said this
afternoon that he used the funds of the
order in this enterprise which proved
very Improbable, as the expense of
raising and refitting the craft was so
great that she had to be sold at a
loss, it is said of $4,000.
1t is expected an effort will be made
by Thompsons friends to effect set
tlement with the bonding companies.
The shortage is acknowledged in the
following letter to d. p. Markey, SUI
preme commander of the order:
1T is with a feeling of distress and
shame that | tender herewith my res
| ignation as supreme finance keeper of
the order of which you are the head.
| And this step is taken with bitter
realization that / am no longer worthy
| the companionship and association
of my fellow officers. have
held the position since the order was
| founded, have during most of that time
been officially associated with the pres
| ent supreme officers, and never until
now did in any way betray my trust.
I was engaged in legitimate business
| venture, in which had made a large
sition when further money was neces-
sary to save myself from bankruptcy
and ruin. There was apparently no
| chance for loss. then betrayed my
! trust and used the funds of the order,
at the time believing there was no
question of my ability to replace them
within a short time. The amount !
used was $4,000. / have no hope of
being able to repay this amount I
know the order is protected from loss
by the bond of nearly twice the
amount in perfectly respon-
sible company but this does
not lessen my mental suffering nor
relieve me from the disgrace of hav-
ing betrayed the confidence reposed in
me. Nothing that may occur can in
crease the tortures which / have suf-
fered and still suffer. can only await
such action as may be taken and abide
the consequence. No punishment can
be greater. and no suffering so intense
as that resulting from the loss of the
respect and esteem of the membership
of the order and the suffering necessa-
rily caused to my family"