Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-02-02
Captured
~ in BOSTON
Sidney Balcom's Disappear
ance Accounted for
WAS A FUGITIVE
FROM JUSTICE
Young Bank Accountant Admits the
Larceny of $1,000 from First
National Cank

Boston, Mass, Jan. 2f.-Sldney r,
Balloon. of Rocky Ford. Colo. appear
ed in the municipal court today. He
was arraigned on the charge of being
a fugitive from justice. Inspector
Cronin told the Judge that Balloon was
wanted by the police of Rocky Ford
on the charge of larceny of 5 Sl.25o.
Balloon was bookkeeper of the First
National bank there. The inspector
said that the county sheriff would
come to Boston to take him back to
Rocky Ford. In default of $4,000 bail
he was remanded to Charles street
Jail.
Balcom, who has been a student at
the New England Conservatory of
Music, was arrested last night at his
room in the dormitory Of the conserv-
atory. When asked what he had done
with the money Balloon surprised the
officials by stating that he had given
$500 to taxicab driver in this city to
start in business for himself, one night
that he was out on lark with some
student friends. The night in question.
according to Balloon. they attended
one of the theaters and went home in
a taxicab. When they reached the
house Balloon says that he displayed
$1,000 and that the taxieab driver
exclaimed: what are you throwing
money around like that for? Why
don't you give it to me? | am poor
man and have family. If | had the
amount Of money you are throwing
about would start in business for
myself" Baleom says he at once
gave up $500 and had not seen it or
the driver since.
Balloon declared that he was willing
to 60 back and face the music without
papers, but dreaded meeting his friends
and family in Rocky Ford.
The above dispatch was like
flash of lightning in clear sky
in its shocking suddenness to the
many friends of the young man il
this city, who with the exception
of few relatives and the banl
and county officials had not knowr
that young Balloon had strayed
from the straight and narrow path
when he so suddenly disappear
ed last November.
Inquiry at the bank after the
receipt of the above news followed
by information that cashier Har.
ris had been hurriedly called to
Denver to consult with Sheriff
Potter and the latter had secured
papers and left at once
for Boston, elected the reluctant
information that there was some
truth in the report, but that the
bank had been reimbursed ant
was not taking any action in the
matter.
From the most reliable infor.
at hand it seems that Sid
ney Balloon the night before his
hurried departure last November
had returned to the bank, osten
sibly to work on his books but il
reality to purloin what money he
could find outside the safe, which
of $1,000 mostly in sill.
yer. The young man left his per-
sonal check for the amount, to-
gether with a communication t.
the officers that his life was il
danger and he was forced to leave
town.
An examination of his book.
proved his accounts correct, with
the exception of his personal ac-
count, which the check he lef
greatly overbalanced, but young
Balcom's father made good tn,
overdFaft and the banks interes
in his disappearance waned. Not SC
the county and state criminal Off
GERS however, as the sheriff wa.
tracing him up when the newl
came Of his arrest.
A further complication come tt
the case on Tuesday evening
when Sheriff Devine came up from
La Junta and arrested Elmer