The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-25
TRIED TO ESCAPE
UAMES a. CROSS UNDER ARREST,
CHARGED WITH FOR
gerry
WAS EN- ROUTE FOR SEATTLE
Brother Also Arrested, Charged
With COmpIicity-JRmes Was
BOOkkeeper for Seaman
GIBSON Lumber co.

James A. Cross and Fred Cross, broth
ers, residing at 200 Harvard street S. E.,
ere prisoners at the Central station,
charged with forgery, preferred by H. E.
GIBSON, treasurer of the ScanlOn-Gipson
Lumber company of this city.
James Cross until last Friday morning
was the trusted boOkkeeper of that firm
and had been in their employ for the
past six years. Mr.. GIBSON, the Junior
member Of the firm had been i'll and had
not been at the office regularly of late.
Last Friday morning noting some irregu-
larities in the books and cash account of
Cross, GIBSON called him into his private
office and questioned him about the dis
crepancies. The bookkeeper made some
eYasiVe answer which for the time being
appeared to satisfy his employers, but he
was told TO lay the bank book and other
papers Of the firm upon Mr. Gipson's desk
so that he might look them over during
the afternoon at his leisure.
Cross left the office at the noon hour as
usual. and when he did not return at his
usual hour after dinner, his employers
became suspicious, and made a hurried
examination of his books and accounts.
Then the truth of his defalcations dawn
ed upon the firm, and they sent for De-
tective John p. Hoy who was told to
capture Cross at any cost.
Detective Hoy went to Cross boarding
place but later found that Cross had
boarded an Interurban car and gone to
St. Paul. From there he was traced to
Duluth
The detective started two of his abest
assistants on the 11:15 n. p train for
Staples. himself following them on the
n:50 train over the same road to Duluth.
Investigation showed that he had pur
chased ticket for Seattle and would
nave TO change at Staples. Dame For
tune seemed to be on the side of the Of
ncers and the pair Of sleuths espied
cross boarding the west-bound train just
as II was about to leave. They placed
him under arrest. and a search Of his
person revealed the presence of a large
calibered revolver and something like
500 i'm cash.
lie was brought back to MINNEAPOLIS
yesterday afternoon and lodged him in
yesterday afternoon and lodged in
the Central station. Then the brother
crime.
1t appears from the information Sc
cured from the prisoners that their pee
ulations VIII foot ND to something over,
$500 during the last year
During the illness of Mr.. GIBSON. who
had been in the habit of signing all the
checks of the firm, it is said, that James
cross one day wrote note to the Ger
mania bank, where the firm did some
OF It's business, stating that during Mr.
Gipsen's absence from business, Cross,
the boOkkeeper, had been empowered TO
sign the checks of the company
1t is also alleged that a rumber Of
checks We're cashed by the bank and
the money appropriated to his own use
But the bank officials became suspi-
clous that all was not right, and notified
cross that they would thereafter refuse
10 honor his signature upon any more of
The checks: should they be presented
The irregularities in the accounts Of the
boOkkeeDer were detected by the firm
and an investigation revealed that Cross
was several thousand dollars short in
his accounts. Just what the amount will
be has not been located by the firm
Ihey Will be arraigred this morning.