The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-04
He Said In n Letter that He Had Gone
west to work Until He Could
Repay Bondsmcn.
MORE WORK THAN WORKERS
WINDOW GLASS PLANT AT FAIR
MOUNT WILL BE CLOSED.
Fire Causes $4,000 Loss i'm business
section of Liberty-Polftical
Events in Indiana.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WABASH, Ind, Sept. 3.-The sole topic
of conversation to-day has been the disap-
pearance OF City Treasurer John b. Rose.
He left two letters in his office, but after
writing them, tore them 10 bits and thre"
them into the wastepaper basket These
were gathered up and pieced together, and
this afternoon were deciphered. In one
Rose said that he was short. he knew not
how much, but denied with emphasis that
a dollar Of the public funds had gone In
dissipation. He asserted he had never lost
a cent in speculation and expressed total
ignorance of the manner in which the
money was lost.
In the other letter he stated that he had
gone West; that he had taken but 500 with
him and that he wished his brother Charles
to look after his wife and children He
said that he had never intended wronging
any man. and as far as practicable had
protected his bondsmen by transferring his
abstract business entire and the undivided
two-thirds in his home, he wishing his wife
TO retain the other third. He stated that
the alternative presented itself Of leaving
his home and family and going to new
field, where he expected to devote his life
to earning the money to reimburse his
bondsmen, or OF serving term in the Mich
igan City Prison. where he could be OF pen
eft to no one, and he chose the former
course. He said that he never would re-
turn to Wabash until he was prepared to
pay every dollar Of the shortage:
The bcndsmen have employed Elias scott,
deputy treasurer of Wabash county, TO
make an investigation OF Roses office to
ascertain the exact amount OF the short
age. The indications point to discrep-
ancy Of sl0.5OO. The regular monthly meet
ing Of the Council. Aug. 1. showed balance
In the treasurer's hands OF $4,000. During
the month OF August there were minor COL
lections OF licenses and delinquent taxes
and a deposit to the credit of the library
fund of 5000, received from Andrew Car
negie bringing the total up to about $4,000
Rose disbursed during the month about
800. leaving an apparent balance Sept.
of $4,000. Against this he has in the wa
bash National bank $4,000. with $40 to his
personal account, or $4,000. leaving short
age of $1,000.
The value of Roses business and undivid
ed two-thirds of the realty assigned to tbs
bondsmen is 81, 900 TO 81, 500. so that the ne
amount the bondsmen will lose Is abou
$1,000. Ii is understood this evening thai
the suretieS, as soon as the amount re
quired Is learned, will reimburse the city
at once. and that the property will b'
realized upon soon as possible TO make
good the shortage as far as 1t will.
There Is a theory that Rose, in his de-
spair. has committed suicide. All efforts
10 obtain a clew to his whereabouts have
so far failed. His invalid wife was Thu
Her relatives at Charlottesville and his rel
atives In this city would have raised thu
money If they had been called upon Il
make good the shortage. and condemn Ros'
vigorously for not taking them into thei
confidence. The vault at the City Hall wa.
opened this afternoon. but nothing of value
was found therein. The city officials have
not been paid their salaries for August
Rose having asked them to defer settle
ment till the new treasurer was installed
Monday morning was the time set for tn
transfer of the office.