The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-17
A.C.L. CASHIER SHORT
J. b. oLIvEROS ARRESTED ON
CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT.
CLAIMS HE is INNOCENT.
SAYS DISCREPANCIES ARE DUE TO
MANY CHANGES IN OFFICE.

Amount of Alleged Shortage, So
777.45 Is Covered by Bonds in
American surety Company of New
York and Guarantee Company of
North America-Mr. OliverOs Held
Until a surety for $4,000 Can BE
Secured-CInims Papers Are Miss
ing from His Office and offered
to Make Statement If Allowed to
Make Good Any Possible Shortage.
Has Held Office Twelve Years.
John B. Oliveros, until a short time
ago cashier of the Atlantic Coast Line
in Savannah, a position he has held
successfully with the S. F. and w.
road, the Plant System, and the At
lantic Coast Line for about twelve
years, was arrested yesterday on the
charge of embezzlement. The amount
involved is $5,77745. The action was
taken by a representative of the Amer
lean Surety Company of New York.
Mr.. Oliveros was unable to arrange
a bond of $1,000 and is in Jail. He
hopes to secure the necessary bond to-
day. He denies that he is guilty of the
charge and says if there is any dis
crepancy in his accounts, it is the re-
suit of the many changes in the ac-
counts of the office since his occupancy
of it. These consist of the transfer
from the Savannah, Florida and West
ern to the Plant System. and, later,
the transfer of the Plant System to the
Atlantic Coast Line.
Offered to Check Up.
According to the statement of the
ex-cashler he endeavored to discover
the discrepancy in his accounts when
the matter was brought to his atten-
ton but failing to find certain papers
in the office, supposed they had been
transferred to Wilmington and went
there in an effort to trace them. In
this he was unsuccessful. He then
offered to check up his account pro-
vded, should a shortage be discovered.
he be allowed to arrange for a settle
ment without publicity. When his
proposition was rejected he took no
further steps, but resigned March %.
Covered by Two Bonds.
The amount of the alleged shortage
is covered by bonds carried in two
surety companies, the American Sure
ty Company of New York, with which
a bond was placed in November, and
(which is involved to the extent of
S56274 and the Guarantee Company of
North America, in which the bond was
,av. 5.1 ri fA hn ~
Plant System and the Atlantic Coast
Line and which is therefore liable to
the road for $5,214.71.
Even the agent who caused the ar
rest to be made says that a thorough
inquiry has been made into the life
and habits of Mr.. Oliveros and dis
closed only that he had apparently led
an exemplary life. He had no theory
TO account for the disposal of the
missing funds. This statement is
supplemented by one from the attor-
neys of Mr.. Oliveros, Messrs. Twiggs
& oliver, which is as follows:
His Attorneys Statement.
1.-THE life Mr.. Oliveros has led since
childhood, and that life has been spent
in Savannah, will cause all just and
fair minded people to acquit him in
their own minds of wrong doing. They
will not believe him guilty simply be-
cause a charge has been made. The
man who goes wrong with another
mans money is the man who CANDLES,
or drinks or speculates, or leads a
double life or is cursed with like habits
of evil. Nothing of this kind can be
traced to Mr.. Oliveros, either directly
or indirectly. 1t cannot be said that
he has lived beyond his means. 1t
is a matter of universal comment
among those who know him intimate
ly that the charge of extravaganza or
high living is not to be brought against
either him or his family. The pub
lie will find out when the whole story
is told, that this charge is the result
of supposed errors in a complicated
system of bookkeeping; they will also
find out that the parties who made the
charges will have to stand the conse-
quences of the step they have taken.
Haskins & Sells have examined Mr..
Oliveros' books for the past five or
ten years, and they found no errors
in them. That of itself is a circlIfn-