The San Francisco call., 1904-02-13

George T. Ballinger, captain of Com
pany A of the California National
Guard and former first lieutenant in
the First California Volunteers, has
been charged by his employer, Presi
dent William Schroeder of the Cali
fornia Art Glass Works at 120 Post
street, with embezzling the sum of
S4376 3S. Schroeder swore to a war
rant Yesterday charging his one time
trusted bookkeeper with felony embez-
element and Ballinger was arrested by
Detective Coleman.
According to the story told by Presi-
dent Schroeder, Ballinger does not deny
that he pilfered the company's funds.
1t is claimed that he attempted to make
some sort of settlement when con-
fronted with the fact that his employ
ers knew of his peculations and was
about to order his arrest. Ballinger.
it is alleged, offered to give his home
at 457 Frederick street 10 square the
amount of his thefts, and the matter
was about to be hushed, when, it is
said, BaIlinger and Schroeder disagreed
as TO the amount of the peculations.
Ballinger then told Schroeder to do
whatever he wanted and, it is said, left
the president in a rage
The alleged attempt at settlement oc-
CURED Thursday afternoon and yes
terday morning the warrant was is
sued. Ballinger's wife was seen at her
home on Frederick street, and she
limited at jealousy as the cause of the
issuance of a warrant for the arrest
of her husband. She says that Schroed-
er is angry because her husband in
tended going into the art glass busi-
ness for himself.
Ballinger has been with the Califor-
MIA Art Glass Works for more than
fifteen years, and was always regarded
as an honest and reliable employee All
of the bookkeeping was intrusted to
him and the accused man was allowed
to keep them in any way he saw fit.
A few weeks ago President Schroeder
became suspicious on finding that the
income of the firm was not as large
as it should be from the amount of
work done. An expert was put on the
books and, it is claimed, a shortage of
$4,000 found
A few weeks ago Ballinger became
interested in a company which pur-
chased the art glass firm of Moretti
& Sammann at 223 Tenth street. 1t
is alleged by the police that Ballinger
used a portion of the money piIfered
from his employer in purchasing an
interest in the glass works. The new
firm was to be known as the Sierra Art
Glass Works. 1t is also alleged that
Ballinger paid in part for the nome
he bought shortly after his marriage
two years ago with some of the money
belonging to the California Art Glass
Works.
George T. Ballinger served as first
lieutenant of Company A of the First
California Volunteers in the Philip
pines, and was recommended by. Cen
eral Otis for promotion to the rank OF
captain in the regular army for gal
lantry. When he returned from the
war he resumed his position with the
California Art Glass Works, where he
was employed up to few days ago.
He is still captain Of Company A of
the State National Guard.
Ballinger seemed to lightly treat the
charge that had been preferred against
him. ''They say that 1 am an embez-
zler, but they will have to prove it.
never took any of the funds of the Cali
fornia Art Glass Company and l am
not afraid to face the charge. he said
Ballinger did not remain in Jail long,
His bail, fixed by Judge Cabaniss at
$4,000, was given by Colonel Thomas
F. Barry and ]. c. OConnor
Ballingers friends cannot believe that
he is guilty of the charge that has been
made against him. What would he
want the money for. they all ask?" One
of the accused mans most intimate
friends hinted that Ballinger may have
spent the money, if he took it, on his
company in the National Guard
He was passionately devoted to his
military company, they say. Ballin-
gers denial of the theft is in direct con-
tradiction to the statement made by
Schroeder that Ballinger had agreed to
make restitution for the amount stolen,
but failed to do so.
President Schroeder attempted to
have the warrant for Ballinger's arrest
issued Thursday morning, but Judge
,Cabaniss refused to issue it until
Schroeder could show him some evil
dence of the accused mans guilt. Yes
terday morning Schroeder appeared in
court with the company's books and
the expert who examined them. Then
the warrant was issued.
1t is doubtful whether the accused
mans friends will allow him to be