The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-15
Deep Plot to Rob the Santa Fe
Is Discovered.
A. E. EIdridge, Timekeeper, Is
Now in Jail.
PADDED THE PAY ROLL
In CahOots With Laborers Who
Shared the Spells.
Eldridge's Mother Pleads for
His Release from Jail.

San Bernardino. Cal. Sept ia. E.
Eldridge. timekeeper for Roadmaste1
Wood of the Santa Fe at Needles, is the
central figure in about as daring a
scheme to embezzle from the railroad
company as has ever been brought to
light. Well educated, clever with the
pen and of prepossessing appearance, he
easily won place with the company
and was slated for promotion, but his
clevernessN proved his ruin. With him
the youth takes to Jail a number of
companions whom he alleges assisted in
robbing the company of sums which ag-
gregate at least $500, and may go away
over that amount.
Last week Eldridge was arrested while
| fleeing from the officers. The officials in
going over his books had discovered
forgeries galore, and he decided to leave,
SO he issued a pass to himself and en-
deavored to go east. but was overhauled
at blackberry, and brought here where
he has been in Jail ever since.
| Sheriff Ralphs Immediately suspected
that others must have been Implicated
in the embeZZlement. and with this idea
he put Eldridge through a thorough
sweating, under which the prisoner
weakened and made a complete confess
sion, duplicating a number of men. The
arrest of Eldridge had made the others
suspicious, and when the sheriff COM
menced work on the case he was con-
fronted with a hard task, as all the sus-
poets had scattered to the four corners
| of the earth.
| Eldridge stated that the embezzle-
mentS commenced last May, the EN-
ployment of an extra large number of
laborers to repair the damage made by
| the floods which swept down the Colo
RADIO, carrying away a large part of the
emba nkment together with considerable
roadbed, suggesting the scheme TO loot
the company.
These men were discharged as soon
| them the roadmasrer issued discharge
checks, giving the time they had
worked and the amount due. Eldridge
enlisted a man named Butt to sound
all these laborers and send to him any
who were willing to collect full
months pay and divide with him. All
whom Butt recommended as safe men
were accordingly sent to Eldridge, and
he would raise the figures on their time
checks. In this way men who had only
worked a matter of two and three days
drew paw for a whole month. So SyS-
tematic was this issuance of dischare
| checks carried on that not until a very
few days ago was there any question
regarding their nature.
| The sheriff soon had Joseph Young
and F. L. Marston under arrest. ED
ridge having furnished the officer the
names of all who reaped benefit by his
scheme These men were taken into
custody at Needles with William Cor
sairt. and brought to the county Jail
Young and Marston admitted their
guilt, the latter declaring that his only
reason for taking more money than he
had actually earned being that he had
/ loaned Eldridge quite a sum several
weeks before and he had no hope of
getting it back except in that way.
Then the sheriff got on the trail of
H K. Butz. whom Eldridge charges
with having been his right bower. and
/
McNabb at Los Angeles. Butz is the
most intelligent of the men whom Ed
ridge says were his lieutenants, and
he is bound TO put up a hard fight be-
fore he will be convicted, if he is ever
found guilty.
The Santa Fe is especially anxious to
convict Eldridge, and will press the
matter to the very end praying the
court to have him punished severely.
The officials find that he has been an
inmate of Whittier for similar offenses
years ago, and that he has a bad rep
utation generally, though his appear
ance is not that of a hard character.
The charges which he will have to
face if the company's wishes are con-
sidered. are: % forgery; (2) falsify-
1 ing and altering records and documents
500. penal code; 90 obtaining money
under false pretense; "a embezzle-
ment of railroad passes. The forgery
charge is based upon the forgery of
Roadmaster Woods name to time
checks; the second charge is based on
similar grounds and the fourth is on
account of his theft of various passes
the special instance being when he is
sued a pass to himself to aid in his
escape from the state.
Ever since Eldridge was arrested he
has refused to reveal the address of his
parents, but their residence was made
known by a letter from his mother,
which was received by District Attor-
ney Sprecher. The letter is very pa
thetic and indicates that the writer was
laboring under intense anguish of mind