The Paducah evening sun., 1910-02-01
AFFINITY CAUSES
RICH'S DOWNFALL
VOOLFOLK 4 BOWERS AGENT
ABSCONDS.
Leaves His Wife and Two Children
ut Mayfield and Takes
Woman.
HE is SHORT ABOUT $1,000

An affinity, Il is said. caused ]. II.
Rich, a married man of Mayfield. in
charge of the branch office of Wool
folk. Bowers & company. of Paducah.
to cash check after check from pri-
vate parties after banking hours sat
urday afternoon and abscond with
approximately $4,000. Deserving his
wife and two little daughters. he
boarded the first train south with his
new love and is still missing. The
last word from him was Sunday at
ST Louis, from which place he is said
to have sent check for $500 To a
citizen of Mayfield.
First intimation that Rich had
flown came to Messrs. Voolfolk and
Bowers here Sunday morning. Mr.,
Voolfolk is now in Mayfield fguring 8
out the shortage. which has not been
accurately learned Mr.. Bowers an
nounced today that reward of $i0o
has been offered for his apprehension
and this sum may be raised in an
effort to catch Rich and return him
to Mayfield to answer TO a warrant,
charging him with appropriating
money of another to his own use and
benefit without consent of the owner.
IN an interview with a reporter for
It's Evening Sun today, Mr.. Bowers
was unable to give out the exact
shortage, but said II is in the neigh
borhood of Rich's bond, which was
$4,000.
The first word of his disappear.
ance came to me Sunday" said Mr.
Bowers. ut has been our custom fol
weekly report to be made to us al
our Office here and Rich's failure to
turn in a report last Saturday aroused
our suspicion. telephoned to May.
field and was told by Mrs. Rich thai
her husband had come to Paducah
Knowing that this was untrue. we de
cided to investigate and Mr.. Woolfoll
took the first train for Mayfield
where he learned the truth
| Left Note.
Rich is said to have left a note a
his Office stating that he had come e
Paducah and would return Sunday
Mrs. Rich was somewhat alarmed a
his sudden departure and later IL wa,
found that he had decamped and wa
accompanied by a woman he S,
ardently admired.
Further investigations turned M
the fact that Rich had drawn check
on the firm for different amounts an,
cashed them on private parties o
concerns He displayed shrewdnes
in waiting until after banking hour
and left Mayfield befese his deed
had been discovered.
In what direction Rich has gone 1
unknown, but in an effort to appre
hend him the firm has sent card
broadcast, giving his description an
Offering a reward of 800. II IL no
believed he will go TO Salida, Col
where he formerly lived.
Rich is 40 years old and was bori
and reared at Princeton. KY For
number of years he lived at May
field and was in charge OF the offic
of the Ohio Valley Produce company
of Evansville, at that place. Afte
the office at Mayfield was discon
tinued he returned to Princeton an
some time later went to Salida, Col
REMAINING there several months. II
later returned to Princeton and fou
years ago was placed In charge o
Voolfolk, Bowers & company's poul
try house at Mayfield. He was
shrewd business man and honest
had been manifested in all of hi
actions in the past.
Mr.. Bowers is surprised at his con
duct, but will prosecute Rich to tn
full extent of the iaw. Rich wa
under a bond of $4,000 with tn
Bankers Surety company, of Oleye
land, O. va Fst 81 e
| II Is said that short time befor
his disappearance he intimated IL h.
ever went wrong he would maxi
away with as much as his bond. Mr.
Bowers is anxiously awaiting a re
port from Mr.. Voolfolk at Mayfeld
as well as some word from the where
abouts of Rich.