New-York tribune., 1901-12-27
C. N. ALDEN MISSING.
ALARM SENT OUT FOR THE
CHARITIES SECRETARY.
COMAnST ONER KELLER HAS HIS BOOKS
EXAMINED AS A NATTER OF PRE-
CAUTION, AS HE HAD GUS
TODY OF FUNDS .
TODY OF FUNDS.

Charles NJ Alden, private secretary to Com
missioner Keller of the Department of Chari-
ties, and acting treasurer of the department and
trustee of the court fund of the outdoor Poor
Bureau has been missing from the city since
Saturday noon last. Expert accountants. un-
der direction of Commissioner Keller. began ex-
amining his books yesterday I do not know
where h.. Is" said the commissioner last night.
He may be dead. We are having his books ex-
aInined s a precaution, though have no rea-
son to expect shortage
Mr. Alden is thirty-four years old and has oc-
cuped his present place for the last four
years Previous to that he a Congrega-
tional minister in Schenectady, leaving his pull
pit in the Bryan campaign of 1896 to stump
the State for free silver He came to this city
in the municipal campaign of 1897. and was ap-
pointed 20 his present place by Mr. Keller.
AS acting treasurer of the Charities Depart
ment Alden handled the funds accruing from
the sale Of old iron. grease and other waste
products which sold at auction. These
funds he deposited TO his own account, as an
official of the city, in the Astor Place Bank,
making a settlement at the end of each quarter
with the City Chamberlain. Sometimes this
settlement amounted to $1,000. but the amount
was variable.
TRUSTEE OF FUNDS.
AS trustee of the court fund Alden received
from Superintendent Blair Of the Outdoor Poor
Bureau the money paid in aimony by husbands
who were ordered by the city magistrates
courts TO support their abandoned wives. In
turn. Superintendent Blair drew from Mr. Alden
from day to day the amounts required for the
payment of the women. Alden also had charge
of the property left by paupers under the juris-
diction of the Charities Department. out tniS
did not amount to much.
The court fund was deposited as separate
account in the Astor Place Bank Al6H' cS1ld
deposit and draw to this account whenever ne
wanted to. There was no hxed time for the
accounting of the court fund, and commissioner
Keller said last night that it had probaoly oeeh
six months or more since the books were gone
over But he added that at no time could the
surpIus reach more than 50 nH6 $1,000. and
that in all probability it did not amount 10
nearly so much as that. This surplus arose only
from the delay on the part of certain women IN
drawing their allowances. Alden is under so'ooo
bond
The missing official at his office at the
headquarters Of the Charities Department last
Saturday morning. At that time he asked leave
OF Deputy Commissioner Best to so to Philadel-
phia saving that Re would be back at the office
on Monday morning. That was the last seen
OF Alden in this city, so far as is known
Hs failed to show up on Christmas, and yes
reached his office he at once informed Mrs
Alden that he would like 10 see her at his office.
About II o'clock the commissioner visited the
Astor Place Bank. and there learned the amount
of money on deposit to Aden's credit. Last
night he refused to tell what he had learned at
the bank Expert accountants were put at work
Yesterday on the books which held records of
AIden's transactions during the four years of
his service in the department.
GOING ON DEPARTMENT BUSINESS.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs Alden visited Com
missioner Keller. From her he learned that Al
den had left for Philadelphia. giving his wife
the impression that he was going on business OF
the department. Mrs Alden said that her nus
band intended to stay at the Hotel Walton Ihe
commissioner at once wired to the hotel, ana
gained the information that man had regis
tered there under Alden's name on saturday,
leaving his valise for security. This man had
left the hotel Immediately, and had not since
been seen there. His valiSe was still there
Captain Titus communicated with by Mr.;
Keller, and ii is understood that q genel III
alarm has been sent throughout the country
Mrs. Alden could not be seen last night at
har home 4 woman answered the door bell
and said that owing to worry about her nus
bands absence. Mrs. Alden was suffering from
a nervous attack. The woman said that MI
Alden had gone to Philadelphia before on SINH
lar trips and that Mrs Alden considered that
this visit had no unusual significance. Alden
is a Mason and has been active In the order
He is a member of the Democratic Cluo' ana
visited the clubhouse occasionally.
Commissioner Keller, in speaking of Mr.. Alden
last night said: He had bad habits that
know Of J never heard of his da billing in stocks.
he was decidedly a home man. John Alden.
brother is connected with The Brooklyn
Eagle" and f. NJ. Alden. another brother, IS
also Congregational minister