The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-07-19
ICY" Thompson's Peculations
Have Been Going on Over
Period of 10 Years
MISSING CHECK CLUE
Suspicion Aroused When $4,000
Item Fails to Show Up
Busy Checking Defaulter

DC f8lSeQs ..
Austin, Minn., July 1s,-Audts
Of the account Of r. J. Thomson,
former comptroller Of George A.
Hormel and Company, local pack.
ers, 80 far show a shortage OF
$4,000, it was announced today
by Jay C. Hormel, vice-president
Of the company.
Thomson, who has confessed to
the defalcation, Is in the county
jail as he has not been able to
furnish $4,000 bail.
The auditors have practically
finished their work, Mr.. HORNED Is
said. A complete statement de-
failing the manner in which
Thomson worked will be announc.
ed at 4 meeting Of the correspond.
ing banks Of the Hormea company
to be held at Chicago tomorrow
morning.
The shortages date back to
January I, 1916, the auditors
found. The heaviest single item
disclosed thus far Is $4,000.
Austin, Minn., July 19.-"He had the
slickest bookkeeping stunt in the Unit
ed States"
Thus did Jay HORNED, vice president
of the HORNED Packing Company, to-
night answer the question which mys-
titles the city: "How did R. J. (Cy)
Thomson, company comptroller, steal
upwards of $15O,0O0 from the company
over period of ten years, and avoid
discovery so long?"
The huge defalcation was accomp.
lished by transferring receipts of the
HORNED Packing company, which does
a business Of nearly $3,O0O,000 a
month, to the account of the Oakdale
Farms, Thomson's greatest agricultur-
al enterprise When the books of the
packing company underwent their
periodical audits by accountants, the
amounts would be placed by Thomson
among the assets of the corporation.
It was an unbeatable system for years.
Missing Check Brings Exposure.
The shortage was discovered a week
ago by Jay HORNED, when he failed to
find $4,000 check remitted to the
company. HORNED traced the check to
Thomson, who admitted his guilt, and
"came clean with other embezzle-
ments.
Thomson is, or was, I'll say, comp
trollar of the company, promoted from
cashier" said HORNED. when he was
cashier he had comptroller who
checked him. When he became comp
troller hedid his own checking. That's
the whole story. But for our search
for this $4,000 check, he might have
continued his peculatiQns for some
time yet"
Thomson's nerve remains unbroken.
9 Expects No Prosecution.
"Why, it's all fixed up he told
newspaper men. II have turned over
more than enough to make good. The
settlement will be ample. l do not
expect to be prosecuted"
Asked how he kept the shortages
from accountants, Thomson first re-
piled he had not taken any money
prior to the last audit, which he said
was in November but later admitted
five shortages did not appear in the
books, when the accountants were
there.
Thomson indicated he had put most
of the stolen money into his farms.
blooded stock and city property. He
was unwilling to answer further ques-
tions and referred interviewers to Jay
HORNED, who accompanied him to Le-
roy, Saturday, and brought him back
to Austin today. Thompson went to
his home, where he refused to see
callers.
They rode in a $4,000 automobile
which Thomson bought week ago.
and for which garage is under con-
struction at his city home. 1t is re-
lated that a Minneapolis automobile
dealer brought down handsome car,
similar to the one Thomson had, for
another Austin man. Knowing Thom-
son, he invited him for a ride. They
went into the country. and the agent,
it is said, ran the car up to seventy
miles an hour.
"That car looks good to me-" said
Thomson Mine is too small. Have
another one like this down here to-
morrow at o'clock, and get your
money
The agent did. Mr.. HORNED drove
the car today.
Checking ThOmson's Assets.
Jay HORNED is the son of George
A. HORNED, president of the packing
company, and is devoting his entire
time to trying to learn whether Thom-
sons assets are sufficient to cover his
shortage.
While it is claimed he has property
worth close to $1,OOO,0O0, he has in
debtedness of between 100000 and
$2OO,OOO, it is claimed, for building ma
terial, construction and other work