The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-14

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this sad occurrance he was considered
straight and reliable in all things. The
home bank loses nothing by the tran.
saction.
The father of the misguided youth,
Mr.. JohnNordstrom, was seen at the
Scandinavian, American Bank during the
afternoon. and had but little to offer in
the way of explanation. He was pro.
foundly disturbed by the terrible news
of the day, and could not account for
the impulse that had led to his sons
downfall He said that so far as he
knew his sons married life was happy
and his home pleasantly and carefully
maintained, and that none OF the family
could devise an excuse or reason for the
miserable climax to what was deemed to
be, fairly successful, and altogether
promising, home-like, and business
career.
Mr.. Nordstrom said further, that his
son had left the city to go to Portland.
being urged thereto by a telegram ad.
vising him of chance to sell some oil
stock he possessed, for the sum OF $1,000,
and it was in obedience to this summons
that he bade his young wife and two
year-old baby goodbye on the eve of
Thanksgiving and departed. The next
heard from him was letter to his wife
from Pendleton saying that he would
have to go on to Chicago to conclude
the oil deal, but that it was worth the
time and expense, that the $1,000 would
stand them in good stead in the fitting
of their new home, ETC., etc, and this
was the last that was heard from him
by the family until letter arrived from
Chicago, addressed to his wife and en-
closing the sum OF $500, with a few
meagre business details.
At about the same time. Mr.. Nord-
strom had received intelligence by tele-
phone, from the Astoria National Bank,
advising him that they had just re-
ceiyed letter from Turie, at Chicago,
enclosing 800, in full payment of a
note they held against him, with the
endorsement of Mr.. X. 0sbune thereon.
Almost at the same time he was ap-
prised by the late Captain Campbell.
that he had also heard from the son, his
letter also containing sl00, in settlement
of an obligation which had been stand
ing for some time. Aside from these
no other word has been
received from the boy and there is deep
and poignant grief in his, and his
fathers home, over the almost unbeliev.
able details that have been unfolded so
far, with the bitter anxiety for that
which is yet to come.
Plain as the facts seem to be, the mat
ter is inexplicable here, as Nordstrom
was highly respected throughout the
city and had friends by the score, none
of whom had the remotest suspicion OF
such a thing in connection with him. He
belongs to one OF the best families in
the city and SO far as is known, had no
bad habits nor association, but, on the
contrary, was peculiarly happy in all
his relations about town. He not only
enjoyed the confidence Of the bank he
served, but OF other employers about
the city, including the management OF
the Morning Astorian, where he worked
for two years; all have kindly word
for the man and are utterly at sea over
the crisis that has arisen in his life
The work he did at Chicago falls, fully,
as to the loss, upon the bank at Chicago,
and it is not known what steps
they have taken to apprehend young
Nordstrom. The circumstance has filled
this city with sorrow, not only for the
victim of this wretched impulse, but for
his honored father and family, and his
own wife and child, bereft OF his care
and sustenance.
Turie enjoyed the prestige that at
taches to the long and honorable career
of his father, John Nordstrom, in this
city, where that gentleman has held
place after place of honor and trust, and
has ever discharged them with fidelity
and rigid adherence to the highest prin
ciples of business habit that have
wrought for him the distinguishing
soubriquet of "Honest John Nordstrom,"
and for whom the entire community feels
only the sorrow insperable from such an
untoward circumstance as this.