East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-10-21

That he has been sadly jobbed by
his former employer. Reynold Har-
ras, whom he asserts is notoriously
crooked himself, is the story told by
Willard Brown, late bookkeeper for
the Garden City Packing company.
But few days ago Brown was
charged by Harris with embezzlement
and a complaint against the young
man was sworn to before Justice of
the Peace Joe Parkes. Brown was
heralded as a defaulter and was taxi
en- into custody at Sand Point. Idaho,
upon instructions from the sheriffs
office here.
Yesterday the ex-bookkeeper arr
rived here in company with Deputy
Sheriff Wilson and this morning he
had few things to say about Har-
ras. II the story which he tells can
be substantiated, Brown should have
no difficulty in clearing himself, for
in the tale he unfolded this morn
ing he is the injured party and Har-
ras the bad one" -s---'..
According to the story OF Brown
the business OF the meat company
was conducted in a remarkable man.
ner and 1t would have been impossi
BILE for 10 Philadelphia lawyers TO
have kept the books straight. This
was due principally TO Harras' habit
of drawing checks while away from
the city and without charging them
to himself. Most of the checks were
overdrafts and the fact that many of
them were rejected at the bank added
still further to the difficulties of the
unfortunate bookkeeper.
Loaned TaITas Money.
But the star part of the bookkeep-
er's story is that in order to aid his
employer he had loaned him money
from his own hard earned savings
and that the money he is accused of
stealing was merely what was justly
due him.
Several weeks ago, according to the
narrative of Brown, the clouds hung
heavily over the Garden City Packing
company The bank account was rep
resented by red figures and checks
drawn by Manager Harras had been
ruthlessly rejected. 1t was then that
Brown, upon Harras' promise to give
him a note, loaned the business $3.50
from his own money. He says he
never received the note from Harras,
who told him he had no need of II,
as he, Brown, had the company's
money In his charge and could pay
himself at any time. Later on, so
Brown says, he was worked" by
Harris for further amounts until he
had loaned him total of $265. After
he had loaned him that amount he
swore he would go no further.
Borrowed from Sheuerman.
While the affairs of the meat COM
pany were murky Harris, so the
story goes, found a timely friend in
the person of Jacob Sheuerman, the
well-known capitalist and lessee of
the woolen mills. He so far Impress
ed Mr.. Sheuerman, so Brown de-
clares, that he persuaded him to
loan him $500 with which to buy
cattle. The profits to be made
from the deal were to be divided with
Mr. Sheuerman. But 1t was an un-
fortunate step for the woolman.
Following his usual custom Har-
ras not only checked out the $500
allowed him by Sheuerman, but he
enlarged on that amount until Il
reached the proportion of $4,000. To |
this extent was Sheuerman Soaked"
according to the confession of Har-
ras former secretary.
Then 1t was that the plote became !
thickened by Harris disappearance
for a week. For days he could not
be located and phone calls and |
letters failed to reach him. During
all that time he was carousing in
Pasco, so Brown declares he learned
afterwards.
Finally the creditors, among them
Mr.. Sheuerman, was preparing to de-
scend upon the business. It was then
that Brown began to wonder about
his own wages and the money he had
loaned Harras. After much meditat-
ing and upon the advice of men who
knew Harras he decided to pay him.
self off. He did so and shortly af-
terwards the shop was closed by at
tachment
Though deeply regretting the con-
dtion in which he has been placed,
Brown says he has no fear of the
outcome of his case and has hopes
that when the full facts Of the case
become known he will be released. !