The San Francisco call., 1908-11-23
CIUbMAN IN JAIL
ACCUSED OF THEFT
George B. Root Jr. Alleged to
Have Stolen Family's Sill
yer Plate
Gambling, Women and Dissipa-
ton Said to Have Caused
His Downfall

OAKLAND. Nov 22.-Accused of
pawning family silverware valued at
several hundred dollars. George B. Root
Jr., railroadman. clubman and son of
George B. Root Sr., manager for W. c.
Ralston, United States subtreasurer
and stock broker of San Francisco, is
under arrest in this city.
Tomorrow formal complaint will
be sworn to by his sister in law. Miss
Marion Godfrey. one of the four daugh-
ters Of Colonel John +. Godfrey Of the
civil war. and after whom Fort God
frey at Pasadena is named, charging
Root j with grand larceny. Incl
dentally his wife, formerly Miss Ruth
Godfrey, will serve papers upon him
naming him defendant in a divorce ac-
tion alleging nonsupport, cruelty and
infidelity.
DISCOVERY OF THEFT
Discovery of the theft of the family
silverware came one week ago last
night. For period of several months
members of the family have been miss
ing the slverware, but believed that
it had been mislaid. Since last Satur-
day an investigation has been made.
with the result that part of the miss
ing silverware has been recovered in
local pawnshops, where Root Jr, it
Is said, has been well known Gus
toner. large portion of the missing
silverware. however, has not been
found, and it is believed Root disposed
of it. in San Francisco.
GAMBLING HIS DOWNFALL
Roots downfall is attributed by his
wife and sister in law, Marion God
frey. TO gambling, fondness for
women other than his wife, and dis
sipation in It's worst forms. For II
years Root was employed by the North
western Pacific railroad in the capacity
of book keeper. AT the time of his
arrest he had in his possession passes
on every railroad operating in the
state, but they were last years passes
and according to his wife date back
to the. time of his leaving the North
western company. which. she says she
has learned he did under a cloud.
FAILED TO PROVIDE FOR WIFE
Roots personality and cleverness in
ables is said by his sister in law and
wife to have shielded him from sus-
plcion for several months. It was his
latter claims, that finally led to his
arrest Mrs. Root and her sister knew
Root was earning no money and it was
the fact that he seemed well supplied
at times that aroused the suspicion of
Miss Marion Godfrey. She communi-
Gated her suspicious to Mrs. Root her
sister. Since the couple were married,
ware that was discovered in some of
the local pawnshops was kept in a
yalise belonging to Mr.. and Mrs. Root
Jr. in the attic of the home of Roots
parents at 1905 Sixth avenue in East
Oakland. With the exception of a few
large pieces this was missing. besides
ssilverware that belonged to Miss
and Helen, which they had fallen heir
to through the death OF their parents,
Colonel and Mrs. John F. Godfrey.
WIFE'S COMPLAINT
Mr.. and Mrs. Root Jr were married
eight years ago. According to Mrs.
Root, the accused's wife. he has in
reality never provided for her. She
claims that she has been the guest of
his mother and father and that she
has clothed herself with the money
which she inherited from her own par
ents. but that her husbands parents
have taken care of her four children,
two girls aged Z and and twin boys
aged years. Mrs. Root said tonight
that her husband may make the claim
that he provided for her through his
parents, but she is firm in the asser-
ton. that he practically never provided
for her himself and that on account of
their children she has permitted herself
to depend upon the charity of Mr.. and
Mrs. Root Sr.
GAMBLED WITH CHINESE
Just in what manner Root Jr. has
disposed of the money he has earned
since his marriage Mrs. Root cannot say,
but she says that for time he played
the races and more recently took to
Chinese gambling games
Since the death of Colonel Godfrey
and Mrs. Godfrey, the Godfrey girls,
with the exception of Mrs. Root Jr,
have resided with relatives at the old
Moss home, 3071 Broadway At the
time of the discovery of her husbands
alleged crimes Mrs. Root Jr came to
the conclusion that she could not stand
for her husbands behavior longer, and
forthwith left him. taking up her resi-
dence with her sisters
Mrs. Root, mother of the man under
arrest. is a niece of United States
Senator Stewart of Nevada. 1t was not
until tonight that Mrs. Root learned
her son was under arrest When she
was informed by her daughter in law
l4.a