Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-07-12
]. Arthur Kemp A bsents Himself
From Home-Embezzles $40, 900
Of His Office Funds

|
morning of last week for his office in Wash
ington City as was his daily custom, except
ing on that morning he left here on a car
probably two hours earlier. He has moi
been seen by his family since. Whether he
| is dead or alive no one knows. Some surmise
one and some the other. About seventeen
years ago Mr.. Kemp located in this county
with his family upon the James Ben.
son farm, which he purchased and then
later purchased the old Charles Spates farm
adjoining, making in all a tract OF land oil
three hundred acres, which he improved
and cultivated with much skill. He was
an excellent neighbor and citizen, and his
popular manners gained for him the respect
and confidence of all whom he met. He
left behind him wife and son, the latter
of whom is now filling government office
at Washington, and his wife's aged father
and mother, who are mourning his absence
In his office at Washington, where he
performed the duties OF chief clerk and pro-
perty clerk of the Metropolitan Police De-
partment, he renamed but short time after
reaching there. His unusual absence crea-
ted suspicion on the part of his superior
officer, Major Sylvester. His book accounts
were investigated at once and he was found
to be defaulter. He had been entrusted
with several funds, which enabled him to
embezzIe large sum of money. Thelatest
total amount of embezzlement reported from
there is $4,000. He had filled the position
for twenty-five years, and was held in high
esteem for his efficiency and honesty. The
office paid salary of $4,000.
On Saturday last, upon the part of many
creditors of this county and Washington
City, a large number of attachments were
issued from the Court,h here against him as an
ascending debtor and placed in the sheriff's
hand for execution. An appraisement of
the property on the same day valued his en-
tire holdings at $4,000.
His entire indebted ness is estimated to ex.
coed the appraisement by several thousand
dollars and to be $4,000, which includes
several farm mortgages of $1,000.
The cause of his financial collapse is vari
ously accounted for by the public. Some
attribute it to speculation of several kinds
and others to dissipation. Yet no definite
cause has been assigned and is as mysterious
as his whereabouts.
Major Sylvester, Superintendent of Police,
has sent to every free-delivery city and to
the principal police stations 10 every large
city in the United States, cards containing
picture and minute description of Kemp.
Copies have also been sent to cities in Mex
leo, South America, Canada and in Europe.
AT headquarters the opinion is expressed
that 1t will take long search to locate
Kemp, as his knowledge of police methods
will probably enable him TO elude detec
tives. Kemp evidently had little money
with him when he left, possibly less than
$500, as il he had any considerable sum, it
Is believed, he would have met the payment
of $3.50 due Mrs. Flynn, policeman's wild
ow, and deferred his departure or attempted
to make up the shortage. 1t was Kemp's
failure TO keep an engagement with Mrs.
Flynn and pay her money due her as in
surance from the policemens association
that led to the first knowledge that the chief
clerk was an embezzler. The investigation
Of his accounts develops the fact that pecu-
lation has been INDUCED in by Kemp for five
or six years in the past.
At the instance of the attorneys of Mrs.
Mary W. 4 emp the two farms OF her hus
band, j. A. Kemp, are advertised in this
issue to be sold on the 9th of August next
by the law firm of Bouic & Bouic, assignees.
Church Fire.-On Sunday night last
fire started in the Methodist Church of this
town. After church services and the de-
parture of the members of the congregation
for their homes, the janitor attempted to
extinguish the lights in the chandelier.
From stationary position he turned the
chandelier to reach each light, thinking 1t
revolved on the center piece, but the screw
holding it to the ceiling was turning back
ward and finally lost its hold entirely. The
chandelier fell to the floor with crash.
Instantly almost some one on the outside
discovered the accident, rushed into the
church and found the janitor dumbfounder-
ed. Alarm was given. In afew minutes
large crowd of persons arrived at the church
to assist in putting out the fire. The town
fire. apparatus was quick TO respond, but
was not needed as the fire was extinguished
BY water carried in buckets before It's arriv-
al. Six pews were badly charred and
heavy aisle carpet impaired by the fire, ren-
dering them useless for church purposes In
the future. The dense smoke that arose
| from the.burning oil, wood and oil-saturated
carpet defaced the newly.painted inside
walls of the edfce The loss is estimated
at $500, and is covered by insurance.
1t was remarked by prominent member
of the church after the fire that early In the
night there was paid over check Tor $lOO
to lquidate the last of a $4,000 indebted
ness upon the church, which had been late
~ incurred by thorough renovation OF the
building, and the congregation came very
nearly having another to build.
Marshal Collins Resigns Marshal
Collins, who for some time past has proved
a terror to the automobilists who have jour
neyed out the Conduit Road at high rate
of speed, is officially no more. He last Sun
day night rendered his resignation as town
marshal and deputy sheriff, and it took
effect at once.
Collins explains that he has received an
offer OF an excellent position from his brother
in Philadelphia, and that after several days
Of consideration he had decided to accept 1t.
The mayor demonstrated, and asked him to
reconsider his action, but the officer was
obdurate, and the resignation was finally
accepted, with a formal expression of ap
probation from the executive head OF Glen