The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-01-30
PENROSE
OFFERS
REWARD
FOR C0WIE

OF @lOV III ueau ana $oUV II awe
have been offered by Spencer PEN
rose for the capture of Archibald
Cowie, who is charged with embez-
zling several Thousand dollars from
the Beaver Park Land ard Water
Company of this city, and who has
disappeared. Cowie was employed, as
superintendent of the corporation and
was last seen on Thursday, January
8. when he left his home in Pennose.
Colo, in an automobile headed for
this city. He is now believed to be
in California. His wife and 12-year-
old son, Eirlie are now at their home
in Penrose in supposedly destitute
circumstances, according to the latest
information received here. Mrs. Cowie
is alleged to have said that she only
possesses $50. and that her husband
has made away with about $1,000 of
her own money.
"a detective who has been working
on this case for the past two weeks.
has unearthed evidence which tends to
show that Cowie has been in this
same sort of trouble before. Cowie
had access to all the funds OF the
Beaver Park Land and Water Com
pany, and also managed the affairs of
the Penrose Canning Company. He
submitted an annual report on Octo-
ber l for the canning factory. which
showed $4,000 net earnings for the
year. An audit OF the books revealed
the fact that instead OF showing
profit the company had actually lost
100000 and now is in the hands OF a
receiver. His records show that he
sold cases of canned cherries at IS,
when the prices being charged in
Canon City was S11.50 a case. He
was also selling other canned fruits
at 81 case. when it actually cost
more than double that amount TO buy
them and can them.
"A short time after he left Cowie
wrote a letter to his wife admitting
mentioned companies and claimed he
used 1t in connection with store at
Penrose in which he owned one-fifth
interest. He also owned newspaper
plant at Penrose. Both the store and
the newspaper have been seized by
the Beaver Park company.
Before entering the employ OF Mr.
Penrose and associates. Cowie was
associated with John r. Baker. an ex-
pert accountant. and he at one time
was employed as auditor OF the Colo
RADIO Title and Trust Company in this
city. He is considered an expert ac-
countant. Excerpts from the detec-
tive's report as submitted to Mr. PEN
rose follow:
".Cowie disappeared Friday. Janu-
ary 10. and was last seen in Pueblo.
on the morning Of that date. Cowie
has wife and 12-year-old son resid-
ing in Penrose. whom he deserted.
MRS. Cowie and the son received
letters through the mail on Saturday
afternoon fom Cowie in which he bade
them goodby and said he was going to
commit suicide.
''Cowie Is described as follows:
Thirty-eight years old. feet 8 inches
tall: weight. 165 pounds; light COM
plexion: smooth shaven. blue eyes.
light brown hair; native Scotch. and
talks with a Scotch accent; has a good
voice and frequently sings at public
entertainments: is a good dresser and
fairly good looking
Another part of the detectives re-
port show some of Cowie's previous
escapades. It says:
1--WE met Attorney Erwin of Colo
rade Springs. attorney for the Trina
chera estate. by which company Cowie
was employed about two months an
bookkeeper. some time prior to secur-
ing his employment at Penrose. We
learned that after Cowie was put in
charge of a store belonging to this
company the receipts Immediately be
gan to decrease. AS there was no
competition suspicion was aroused
Customers were sent to make pur.
chases with marked money. When an
was approached regarding the mat
Ter he insisted on his Innocence. He
turned box containing about $4,000
over to the firm which he had con
cealed in the same and some OF the
marked money was among that In
this separate box he was holding out
from the company. Cowie was moi
prosecuted, but was dismissed
According to Mr.. Penrose the audit
SO far has shown that Cowie Is more
than $1,000 short and that other
shortages can be expected.
Detectives now working on the
case are confident that Cowie has fed
to California and that his capture viii
be but a matter OF days. Mr.. Penroye
! in offering the two rewards this morn
ing stated that they would be payable
lust as soon as Cowie is appre