The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-29

In railway. municipal and even domes-
tic circles of st. Louis the question OF
the hour is WHO is 'Scrupulous Con.
science'?"
Up to date "Scrupulous Conscience has
unburdened his conscience to the extent
OF 5000, and in the language OF the poll
tcian there are more counties to be
heard from"
1t has grown to be not an unusual sight
to see some important railway official
holding sheet of paper to the light or
Inspecting a much bethumbed envelope
with magnifying glass and It is believed
that II the financial shower continues
much longer Sherlock Holmes will be
called to come at once.
By far the largest number Of donations
have been sent to the railroads, and while
1t is not unusual for railroads to receive
conscience contributions" to the passen-
ger departments 1t is regarded as unprec-
edented that any conscientious qualms
should overtake any one in his dealings
with any OF the other departments.
In the case of "Scrupulous Conscience
there is displayed a marked ignorance of
the personnel of local railway offices; an
acumen In concealing his or her identity
ana an ability TO make sure that the con-
trioutions reach the proper channel, that
excites considerable comment.
AS an instance, one of the last to re-
ceive contributions was the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad Company. yester-
day afternoon
Superintendent Fitzgerald received two
letters, one directed to the manager of
the l. & N. st. Louis. and the other d.
rected to the L. G. N. treasurer.
In neither case do these officials live in
st. Louis, but as the letters were directed
to the st. Louis office. Mr.. Fitzgerald
opened them and found that each con-
tanned $50. with letter, written in a
oad,fowing hand.stating that "we' feel
that the inclosed amount is due the con-
science fund Of the L & N. from US and
that a like amount has been sent to the
treasurer
The treasurer's letter was to the same
effect, stating that like amount had been
sent to the manager.
USES SAME SIGNATURE.
All OF the letters are signed "Scrupulo,,s
conscience" and aside from the similarity
OF handwriting, which is evidence that
the same person Is sending the money to
all OF the railroads. the fact that the so
bills. which are inclosed in each letter
are serial. is regarded as a means by
which the donor may be discovered as
evidently "Scrupulous Conscience" must
have drawn more than 5000 from the
bank at one time in crisp new $50 bills.
The serial number of the bills range abou,
the figures C945s55
In order that assurance NAV be doub,v
sure of the letters reaching their desti-
nation. none Of them have less than two
2-cent stamps affixed upon them. and In
one instance the special delivery stamp
was used.
The paper on which the letter Is written
is rather cheap variety, evidently pur-
chased for the purpose, as were the en-
velopes. The letters are written and the
addressed In ink
Most of the letters were mailed Deem
Der @. though several were mailed on
Christmas Eve.
The Wabash has received SO far the
largest contribution OF any of the rail
roads, President Ramsey having opened
several communications which were found
to contain $50 contributions from "Scrupu-
lous Conscience" in all, amounting to 500.
Only few of the local roads have been
sighted, and those that have believe that
they have not been forgotten, and all of
the officials are opening their mail with
absorbing eagerness.
Not content with adding to the con-
science fund of the city ard the railroads
..Scrupplous Conscience" has sent $50 to
Michael Cieary of No. 10 North Twelfth
street, $40 to Pierce J. Mutually of No. sS21
Maffitt avenue. so to Mrs. William Coli
name of No. ITO North Grand avenue. and
SO to D. McAuliffe Of No. 1O11 o'Fallon
street.
Mr. Mutually and Mrs Collinane are
brother and sister. and are the nephew
and niece Of Mr.. Cleary. and nephew and
piece, by marriage. of D. McAuliffe.