The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-05
Former Manager White COn- mission to. Arrested at h.
 stance of I. ). Howard
CLAIMS HE GAVE MELONS
 MONEY ID BE INVESTED
1t Is Alleged That Wellons Tried to Cut His Way Out of Office With Knife, When Stopped By
 His Accusers.

On charge of embezzlement of s7OOO, r. B. wellons. until recently general manager of the White Commission com pany, with offices on the first floor of the new First National bank building, was ar rested last night by Captain Johnston and Lieutenant Eagan.
 The charges were preferred by T. D. Howard, state agent of the Hartford Life Insurance company who claims that he gave Wellons s7OO0 to invest for him and that he has never heard anything from the investment, and that the White Commission company is unable to find any entries on it's books to show where the money was invested
 J. P. Dawson, formerly secretary and treasurer of the Seals Piano and Organ company, who Is said to be the largest stockholder in the company, states that he will also prefer charges against Well Ions, claiming that he is short in his ac- counts with the company He states that there is no entry on the books of the White Commission company to show where Wellons invested the S7000 of MT Howard.
 Knows Nothing About 1t.
 Wellons claims that he does not know anything about the transactions, and that he was only employed by the company as manager and worked on salary He says that If the company lost or made s10,000 in its transactions he knows noth- ing about 1t, and that 1t does not con cern him. He severed his connection with the company two weeks ago last Thurs day and has entered the employ of an- other firm in the city. He says that he does not know any reason why he should be arrested and that he is entirely inno- cent
 The arrest was made yesterday after noon about o'clock on the requests or MT. Howard, his brother Jim Howard of Howard & Bailey real estate firm, J. P. Dawson and J. Carter Cook, who re- cently assumed management of the White Commission company. The arrest was made In the office of the company In the First National bank building, and is said to have followed a severe struggle between the Howard brothers and Vel Ions.
 Great Commotion. It seems from what was told Chief Wier that Wellons went to the office to see MT. Dawson to collect three weeks salary, which he claims the firm owes him. He states that he found the people in the office in 'hubbub' and that there was great commotion going on. II seems that they told him of the charges against him, and 1t is alleged that ht drew his knife and tried to cut his way out of the office The knife was taker from him and the policemen were sent for Wellons was carried to the chiefs office where the definite charges were preferred against him and he was locked in the city jail
 D. B. Anderson was retained by him as attorney, and attempted to get bond last night but Judge Feagin would not set 1t until he could find out something more about the merits of the case.
 MT Howard stated last night that he would swear out warrant against Vel iOuS luiS iilOiIiDB anu nave iillu otHL U the county jail
 It seems from what was told Chief Wiei that about two weeks ago J. Carter Cook bought an interest in the commission company and was made general manager WelIons was discharged and started to work for another firm. In this time an in- vestigation was made which resulted in discovering according to the company. that there was no entry on the books to show what had become of MT. Howard s money. Mr Howard has several receipts from Wellons showing that he had given him s7OOO to invest. He states that he has never had any returns from the invest ments and asked for an investigation which resulted finally in the arrest.
 Further Investigation Probable.
 The extent of the shortage which the company claims, is not known, but c further investigation will probably be made today. At the city jail last night Wellons at first refused to talk, but final ly after much questioning made the fol lowing statement:
 "I was employed as manager Mir lIdWoOh Wdo thc "hCit SiiHb dL tHt place. came here the first of last Janu. ary from near Atlanta. I have been with the firm ther for eighteen years ana they are trying to get me back. Does that look like there is anything wrong with me? Ihave their letter in my pocket at presnt.
 "I can make any size bond if only have the chance, but Judge Feagin refuses to name one. I have a wife and children living on Highland avenue and my moth CT is with them. They do not know where I am. I severed my connection with the White Commission company two weeks ago last Thursday when J. Carter Cook was appointed to take my place He had invested some money in the com. pany, so I was told. I cannot understand the charges. I was merely manager and if the company lost or made sl0,000 in it's transactions that is no concern of mine I went into the office yesterday afteriioor without dreaming that anything like thls uras un and found everyone excited They