Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-18
JOHN RILEY A DEFAULTER
Money Order Cashier at Omaha PoStofio,
Under Arrest
SHORTAGE OF MIN HUNDRED DOLLAR;
Left once ut Noon ON Saturday and
Gave Himself Up In Council
Bluffs on sunday
Eyening.

John Riley, who until Saturday was
cashier Of the money order department at
the Omaha postoflce, is under arrest
charged with the embezzlement OF $500. No
explanation Of his actions is given by him.
and the postoffice authorities are at loss
to understand the situation.
Riley was in company with a friend at
the Elks' club house, in Council Bluffs
when placed under arrest He appeared
somewhat surprised, but declined to make
any statement beyond admitting that
there was possible shortage in his ac-
counts. He was taken back to Omaha
by Inspector Moore and Detective Rich
ardson Riley was carrying a S2-calibre
revolver in his hip pocket when taken into
custody.
Ripley left the Office Saturday at noon
for his usual lunch and did not return.
I When o'clock came Postof1ce Inspector
Moore and Sinclair began TO look into the
matter. They found Riley's accounts
short about $500. An officer was sent to his
house at Twenty-seventh and Burt streets,
but his wife had not seen him since morn
! ing. His mother, who lives on North Sew
/ enteenth street. was stunned to hear that
he had disappeared. Every place in the
city where it was thought he might have
hidden was visited, but he was not found
Was willing to Return.
Last night Riley telephoned over from
/ Council Bluns to Assistant Postmaster
| Woodward, being willing to give himself
! up He had been arrested by Detective
Richardson Of Council Bluffs, who had no
! ticed him and who later brought him to
| Omaha. Inspector Moore took charge OF
| Riley when ne was brought to this side
| and placed him in the county Jail Riley
/ acted as though he wanted to give him.
| self up and seemed in a rather dazed con
diton. He made no explanation of his
! conduct beyond saying the money had
| gone for living expenses. II is said ir
his defense that he had always supported
| his aged parents, and since his fathers
death has supported his mother, while he
has lived in a separate home with his
, bride
Mr.. Woodward said last night that
Riley's flight had probably been hastened
/ by the fact that he was TO have gone or
/ his annual vacation on Monday, when Il
was certain that his shortage would have
been discovered. II is uncertain how Ions
the shortage has existed and it may b'
that he took the money all at one time
but this is not thought likely. He had ac
cess to many thousands OF dollars eacf
day as all the money order cash passed
| through his hands. more detailed in
| vestigation will be made today.
Old EmpIOye of ONCE.
Riley is about IS years of age. He ma!
been in the employ OF the Omaha post
office for seventeen years, and all tina
time in the money order department. II
was considered absolutely trustworthy. AS
sistant Postmaster Woodward declared
himself at loss to understand the man
actions of Saturday, for he had alway
thought him one of the most trusty mel
in the postofflce He has been marrie
only a year. His father is dead. WheI
his aged mother heard the news she be
came almost heartbroken. Neither sh
or the wife knew Of any circumstance
which might have impelled Riley to TAX
the money.