Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-21
CASHIER A THIEF
Wilbert NJ. Bowman, Rock Island
Lumber Company EmplOye,
Prisoner at County Jail.
NEARLY $4,000 is MISSING
Had Been Looked on by Acquaintance
AS One of Model Men of City
Probably Lost in Speculation.

Charged with the embezzlement of
So 900 by his employers. William NJ. Bow
man. bookkeeper and cashier for the
Rock Island Lumber company, Fifth
avenue and Twenty-seventh street. is a
prisoner at the county Jail in default
of bail of $4,000. He was arrested
yesterday afternoon at the office of the
company by Constable p J. Hever-
ling. He waived examination at his
preliminary hearing before Justice d.
R. McFarlane.
Bowman, by those who knew him
best, was looked upon as one of the
model young men of the city, his hab-
its, so far as known, having been most
exemplary. Outside of an interest in
healthful sports it was thought he
gave his undivided attention to study
and his work He was an expert bowl
er, and his name appeared prominent
ly in the tournaments that were held
in the tri-cities the past few years.
Has Been Here Four Years.
Four years ago ne came to the Lum-
Der company. His home is in Pennsyl-
vania. His first work was that of
stenographer. His aptitude for the
work of the office and his faithfulness
to duty so pleased that he was gradu-
ally promoted. F. ID. Taylor. manager
for the company, some weeks ago made
discoveries that shook his faith in his
cashier and reported the matter to
headquarters at st. Paul. and Hugo
Schlenk, an expert accountant, was
sent on here to examine the books of
the local Office. Irregularities were
soon found by Schlenk, and on his rec
concentration Bowman was held under
surveillance to prevent his leaving the
city, as he must assurcdly have known
that he was face to face with stua-
ton i'll the manipulation of his books
that no honest man could explain to
the satisfaction of his employer.
First False Entry Last February.
The first false entry dates back on
ly to February of 1903. At least Mr..
Schlenk has not come across any be-
fore that date in the investigation of
the books that he has conducted so
far. OF course, it has necessarily been
hurried, and they will be gone over
more thoroughly now that he has con
WINGED himself that Bowman has been
doctOring the records. Bowman is
known to have gotten away with So
600, and it may be more before the
accountant finishes his ferreting
Bowman has maintained an air of
stolid Indifference towards the repre-
sentatives of the company since his
arrest yesterday afternoon. There was
Il proposition made him that he could
have met for a settlement and a con
sequent saving of the disgrace that
publicity of the affair would bring on
his name, but he ignored it.
Probably Sunk in Speculation.
What he has been doing with the
large amounts that he has been steal
ing from the company is a mystery
The belief is that he speculated. One
of the acts of Bowman that caused
comment among his friends and en-
ployerS was his investment of $25 for
fireworks at a Second avenue estab-
lishment on Fourth of July. These
were fired off inside an hour. How
Hi'thS hiOlS he puIClldSeu DIT OtuST
places is not known. This was an act
of extravaganza that would not have
been expected of one on an ordinary
salary. And it was not Bowman as
he was known to his employers. 1t
was a betrayal of the other side of his
life that they had not known before
Personal Effects Attached.
On writ issued from the Office of
the circuit clerk this morning the per-
sonal property of Bowman was attach
ed to protect as far as possible the in
terests of the lumber company. His
possessions include a horse and buggy.
recently purchased, and about $500 on
deDOSit in a local hank