Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-01
VAIL IS MISSING;
LIKEWISE FUNDS 5.
.Firemen Do Not Seem Much Con-
cerned, Having Known
Of Affairs.
SAY HIS MIND is DERANGED
Friends of Former Fire Chief Believe
Poor Health and Business Failures
Have Caused His Troubles.

Former Fire Chief Charles T. Vail is
| missing from the, city. He disappear
ed about two weeks ago after he had
sold his interest in an automobile es-
adjustment in South Main street His
absence became q matter of interes.
when ii was remembered by the mem
bers of the fire department that he was
/ the custodian OF a sum amounting to
.about $1,000, part of which was q fund
which is known as the Fircman's fund.
That Vail. Tor il long period has been
suffering from mental disorders his
friends say there cain be no doubt.
After he left the fire department he
entered various business ventures and
all of these turned out badly rms
fact seemed to have prcyed on his MIND
and his closest friends say that his dis
appearance is the result. They are
alarmed for his safety tearing that he
has been injured
Among the members Of the fire de-
paltment there seems to be an air OF
indifference and resignation to their
fate. All are satisfied that the funds
are no more and some go as far as 20
state that they knew all the time That
the chief had appropriated the money
for his own use long before he quit the
department.
TIE BENEFIT FUND.
The fireman's fund which is supposed
to have amounted TO S3,S73.S0 was turn
ed over to Vail by his predecessor, 1t.
was money derived from the sale or
worn out apparatus and was supposed
TO have been used as benefit fuad
FOR the firemen. When Vail assumed
charge of it the fund was invested in
stocks and bonds which were paylnS
good interest Three months after he
entered the office the securities turned
over to him were sold through the sec
rotary Of the fire department. No ac-
counting was asked from him by the
members Of the department until some
time afterwards Il few grew suspicious
and asked how the fund was. Vail is
said TO have given his word that it was
safe. Matters went in this way until
the council asked for Wallis resigna-
ton. About three weeks after Chief
Glore had been installed in the office
he petitioned the council to investigate
and ascertain the exact amount that
was in the fund so he could make q re-
port to the fremen. When Vail found
ont about this he went to Glore and as
sured him that he had the funds. and
that they would be turned over in
short time. Cilore told him that he did
not want them turned over to him per-
sonully as in his capacity as chief he
thought he had no right to assume
charge of them. He told Vail to turn
the money over to some bank and de-
posit it as the iiremans fund. This;
Vail agreed and promised to do. anu
the matter WAS dropped. 1t now APP
pears that this was never done, and
that Vail at the time of his quitting the
department had already used the money
for his own use.
ENTERED SALOON. BUSINESS.
When the action OF the council turn
ed Vail out of the fire department, no
became connected with the Alamo sa-
loon in Commercial street, II is not
known whether he had any money in
this enterprise or not, but 1t is under
stood that he lent his name to the own
or in order that a. license would be
granted From this he started an auto
mobile supply house on south Main
street, which he conducted until about
two weeks ago, the time of his disap-
pearance. He also became interested
in what is known in the east as
| modification company" his plan was
to have an automobile in readiness to
answer all fire alarms. He hoped to
get property owners on his list who
would pay him certain amount each
year for the purpose OF insuring quick
run to their property in case Of fire.