The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-15
Employe Used $50 Bill to Light
Cigar
CAUSED FIRST SUSPICION
Numerous Illinois Central Omcfais,
Many Of Whom Had Warm Friends
in the City of Birming CHAM,
Have Had to Resign

TO -HKnI lDdt lId W. iNdnpf tAiS 800
president of the Monon route, was a
stockh older in that concern as well as
Frank B. Hartman, general manager
Of the Illinois Central railroad As
the probe, inaugurated by Illinois Cen
trail officers, enters further Into the
Illinois Central graft cases the de-
velopments are more startling and of
additional interest to southern railroad
men.
Following the Investigations on the
part of the Illinois Central railroad
by William Burns, the famous secret
service detective, were the designations
of Illinois Central men from the ex-
eoutive department to that of the shop
keepers as we'll as the head of the
secret service of the Illinois Central
railroad. While it is not believed that
all the officers who have resigned were
connected with the graft cases. the
following is a full and complete list
of those who have resigned from the
service of the Illinois Central rail-
road
Ira G. Rawn, vice president; de-
ceased.
M. Welsh, chief of the secret service
department.
William Renshaw, superintendent OF
machinery.
c. B. Powell, chief car inspector.
C. +. Krebs, comptroller.
j. M. Taylor, chief storekeeper.
J. G. Neuffler, superintendent of ma
chinery.
Frank B. Hartman, general mana
ger.
]. e. Buckner, superintendent car
department.
c. II. Groce, assistant general man
ager.
B. A. Clemens, general agent, former
ly Rawn's chief clerk
o. s. Keith, general superintendent Of
transportation.
II. r. Stafford, chief engineer Of
maintenance.
O. M. Dunn, superintendent New Or
leans terminals.
Harry H. McCourt, general superin-
tendent in charge Birmingham division.
w. S. King, general superintendent
Ynzoo and Mississippi Valley railroad,
owned ty the Illinois Central.
Cogninant of Misdeeds
In the investigation of car repair
frauds among the official family OF
the Illinois Central il is alleged that
many % the foregoing officers we're
cognizant of the misdeeds of the Mem
phis Car company. 1t Is claimed that
the car company which had all tho
repairing for the railroad company not
only charged excessive prices for its
work but actually robbed cars of parts
to replace others and charged for tn e
repairs of the robbed cars or dis
mantled cars along with the repairs for
which the robbed parts were used.
The officers either did not scrutin-
lie the bills carefully or actually par
ticipated in the frauds.
Burns Fifty Dollar Bill
The investigation started from a
small incident and one that is almost
unbelievable. 1t is said that one Of
the men on a small salary was intox-
icated one night in crowd. OF this
crowd was a special service man Of the
Illinois Central or someone connected
icated one lighted cigar with fifty
dollar bill. He thereupon boosted that
much more was where that bill came
from.
That act Illuminated the entire bunch
of explosive misdeeds and this gigantic
unheaval of frauds Is said to date from
that moment. 1t was not long before
Ha rahan and Burns were talking seri-
ously in the formers office overlook
1nlr IN 90
is the restitution of large sums by
former officials, the suicide of Ira G.
Rawn, and the disgrace of several men
who we're welcome in many of the best
homes of Birmin CHAM.
From the investigation IN the af-
fairs of the Memphis Car company 1t
has developed that many Of the Of
ficers of the Illinois Central ~ho later
resigned were stockh olders in the Mem
phis Car company. Those stockhold-
ers are said to be-
Ira G. Rawn. deceased; Frank b.
Hartman, william Renshaw, J. e.
Buker, J. NJ. Taylor, Harry McCourt,
w. S. King.
Inclined to Excuse Conduct
The older railroad men in Biming-
ham are slow to believe that these
officers have knowingly been guilty
of graft in their official positions. How
ever, their connection is not disputed
as far as the case Is concerned. II
is the charitable view here that the
men who have zen exposed were in
way very bM officers. 1t Is be-
lieved that the PR sition was nut to
them in a smooth, 81 way that they
could be stockh olders feeble con-
Germ which would deal ,'y with ev-
eryone and save the lin : Central
money. The object Of the eoncern pri-
maTuy was to save the company; last
ly, to make money for the promoters.
The work could have been carried on
honestly and would have turned out
lust that way. At the start none of
the officers is said to have paid any
money into the concern. 1t Is said
they were simply notified that they had
been put down on the books for lit
tie stock simply in a complimentary
way. In q few months dividends be-
gan to pour in and from this the Of
ficers collected quite a tidy sum. The
exposure followed and those who have
been guilty of probable misconduct
have made every human restitution.
Rawn has paid for his with his life.
McCourt, King, Welsh and others have
paid back every cent received as divi-
dends.
BY reason of this the local railroad
men, some of whom are critical In
judgment and Incorporating in 'busi-
ness, have given expression to the be-
lief that alth ough the shadows are now
upon many former friends to this city
they do not believe that they are ut
terly without honesty.
Small Fire mt Imperial Laundry
There was a small fire in the I'm