The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-21
TRUSTED CLERK
kDEfAuLTER.
gByIsa aa1saa Was Employed
H fssB by Lsggsit & Co.
SHORTAGE NAY REACH $4,000
Euldsnes Of Csnsplfisy- The Accused Man
Is Taken Away From Rehearsal Of
an 0rltsha
SHORTAGE NAY REACH $4,000

New York, April 2i-Byron Rawson. for
a quarter OF a century one of the most
trusted employees OF the firm OF Francis
ii. Leggett & Co.. wholesale grocers. at
10 West Broadway. is under arrest for
the misappropriation of slS25 of the firms
money. with the probability that the
shortage will amount 10 $4,000 or more
when thorough examination OF the books
has been made
Francis III. Leggett & Co. Is one of the
oldest firm of wholesale grocers in New
York. For many years their weather
beaten sign has been familiar landmark
on West Broadway, near the Franklin
street station on the IL road. and the
name of the firm is well known from the
Atlantic to the Pacific
Twenty-Five Years ago Byron Rawson
secured employment with the firm In
a humble position. BY degrees he was adj
vanced until he was made credit clerk,
a<positlon he has held for 10 years. Raw
son was trusted BY his employers In every
way.
His position was an important,one and
his salary was $500 year. but that sal
ary did not seem sufficient for the ex-
travagant life he was living lie owned
"a fine residence at Mount Vernon, n. Y,
where he entertained extensively and
maintained a stable of the best horses
in the vicinity Rawsons neighbors be-
lieyed that he was member of the firm
and thought he was a wealthy man.
So matters ran on until about five weeks
ago when the firm became aware that
there was a leakage OF profits somewhere.
and Max Borchard, a collector for the
firm was arrested, charged with misap-
preparation OF funds. He was taken be-
fore the grand jury and gave states evil
dence, involving Rawson and n third en-
pIoye in the conspiracy to defraud the
Upon receiving this information Leggett-
a. Co. began an investigation of the books
and Mr. Rawson, assuming To be grieved
and nsulted by this insnuation upon his
integrity, resigned his position. The third
employe who is understood 10 be the
bookkeeper, also drew his salary week
in advance and left, never TO return.
Borchard. who had been indicted, was
held for trial and the investigation pro-
ceeded, with the result thai a bench war
rant was obtained from Judge Newburger
for Rawson's arrest. and was given to De-
tective Sergeant McNaught, who imme-
diately started for Mount Vernon. Reach
ing there he learned that Rawson was at
Willard hall. ,rehearsing for the oratorio
Judith"
Detective Mcknight went at once 10 the
rehearsal and sent IN for Mr. Rawson,
who came out, and when placed under
merely requested that the officer would
not let n~be known in the village that his
errand involved anything of a criminal
nature.
Rawson spent the night behind the bars
VI police headquarters, and was arraigned
,efore Judge Newburger I'm the morning
ind held in 5000 bail. The amount ~ the
bail was quickly raised by friends of the
defendant in Brooklyn, and he was re-
leased.
Rawson is 81 years old, married but has
no children. He was a prominent men,
ber OF the Presbyterian church of Mount
Vernon and was identified with the best
people OF the town. J. c. Juhring. a
member of the firm OF Leggett & CO..
when asked about the case replied that
he had nothing to say beyond what had
been recorded in the court proceedings.
Asked about the identity OF the third man
in the case, he said: "we are not charg-
ing anybody with crime. The grand jury
has indicted two men. and so far as the
third is concerned, We have nothing TO
say"
The firms attorney, Edward s. Hosmer.
OF 30 Nassau street. would give little more
information. THE Investigation is still
in progress" he said. "and just what the
firms loss will be we cannot yet tell. IL is
certain. however that 1t will exceed the
amount $1,000, named in the Indictment"
lie admitted that Il would probably be IN
the neighbrohood Of 81, 900 or $4,000.