The San Francisco call. [volume], July 01, 1897, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME LXXXII.-NO. 31.
WEYLER'S
PEACE OR
WAR PLAN
j/ords of the Butcher
« Are Denounced by
Some Spaniards.
MINOR ENGAGEMENTS
ARE REPORTED.
>,ral Garcia Captures a
Large Convoy Near
Gibara.
JHSORGENTS ALSO GAIN OTHFR
VICTORIES.
Wocdford Assumes Office and Win
Soon Start on His Difficult
Mission to Spain.
IHAVANA, Cuba., June 30.— Weyler's
fclaration at Santiago de Cuba of °- bring-'
'.R^*T>eace or war" has caused an unfavor
able inioression among the Spaniards
.ere, v*ho say such lanenage "might
ittc: be addressed to Caiixto Garcia or
V dlntin Banderas than to loyal Spanish
bjects." . " . ■■
; Havana the report i-- reiterated that
,'ler has been recalled, but that the
i .-rnmen*. has granted him a short
... sion : of time to see what he can
c'ecrnplish in the campaign in East Cuba.
General Garcia has attacked and cap
ttrtd a large Spanish convoy near Gibara.'
fneral Garcia province the and cap
t a large Spanish convoy near G bara.
P r dal Rio province the Spaniards
pT», *-%' defeated in seTeral enga'ge
(e* 4 plonte Tirado and many prison
|' XL,* by the Cubans. . ' •' „
f .-Q Havana province the insurgents,
td - Juan Dslgado, took possession', on
tbnday of the wagon-road from Managua
Havana, putting to flight the Spanish
isrrjlla force, and later defeating °a
('.\ Spanish column which came to
| .j£ ■ * lem. " . ' " o
in Matanza. . ovince an engaeement
is taken pla& near • Limonar between
c forces of Betancourt and the Spaniih
"oMirun.of General Moli n a^.. _~- r »_., „ U. ■
\ .. :r heavj firirt^ the insurgents retired, i
,th about thirty dead. Molina pursued
b«m. lat a half mile from the place of the
i : jbt ■-' ;"• I another band of Cubans un
er .' ' c Matilde .nd Raquila, and was
, S*li|f '. to retire to Limonar. In the first
; agng'-aent .he lost twenty-one men and
! Sr fo.'y in the second.
'b> ■> '.litaiy commander of tha city of
utanzi '..ds asked for re-enforcements
oin Havana, because large insurgent
rce -c on the mountain of El Pan and
1 WB«u ; ing the city.
jIS JUIMSTr.It TO SPAII*.
(•(ring Jlisittnedt Vffiee Wnndfortt Ore
• JO r,ionfotu/i/ Call* on Un J^otne.' ,
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 30. — Wood
ord b^an his career as Minister to Bpain
. with more ceremony than usually
i 'i<"We;.' tfce swearing in of a new diplo
!>,*diji*'SiVer. He took the oath of office
i Department and laier in the
lay .;.)tst«a\ official call on De Lome. In
I >rdr- mQ^fnlly indicate the character
■A t visit' president McKinley placed
.oe /^hisjCEj^iages at the disposal of
.'-« iford. "Xa^tain Lasker H. Eliss and
'. l *vi.' nant c L. l>yer. who hare
'; *yn r k<Kected r» JtcUvely as military and
laVtl attaci Madr.d, accompanied
h« new Ministejf;%p Lome received the
jaii with marked cc-diaiity and' showed
•'— / ure at. WoodforVlV recognition of the
.-»Vom that is one of V necessary thin.s
ropean diplomat %tiqnette. Senora '
le I#U|toe, one of the mosP^racious women
li^lTbshington, assisted liie Minister in
iuing the American?. The Spanisa
l^fnisteriwiJl Rive an ofiicai dinner in
aonor of Woodford.
j .jlVhile the call cannot property be called
I i^'nihcant," it indicated the j,urpose of
he President to do everything to make
: lie Spanish Government nnderstind that
'I He United States wishes to Le on the
triend'iest terms daring the process of
: : \bevf<ROtlations Woodford will cotduct.
ifbe stoiy of the visit and the ceremo ,
nnsr in which it was made will bVio'.d
L» thV Spanish newspapers and prouti
pave a 'quieting effect on the agitation
lagiinat the United States. . *V;
,_„ „ .__ _
1 Woodiord will sail the latter part ot
;July. He has been given a room at the
State Department, and has been busily
•a gar A there during the correspondence
relating to Cuban affairs in order fo post
'nimself. His studies cover the per.od
froir \~i Bto the present Copies oT many
oi t . official papers will be taken to Mad
trim Dy Woodford. He will have nmple
tteie to continue his studies there, asit^
'«pe^ ,ed bis formal presentation will not
Ukf ..lace until after the Queen retun>
to U:e capital from her summer resident.
s said at the State D<?p;irtnient toj
:."-' Woodford would probably wear
■ toe uniform of a general officer of the !
Unite<; "tates army on official occasions, j
The administration is said to be consid- ;
*^^g iLo advisability of making repre
ientations to Spain toward securing ihe
«a!l of VVeyler. It is known that Mc
oiey condemned Weyler's order of con
tra.ion, which compels pacificos to
.her in large towns. The horrors of I
•ia system have b?en told by Lee and
"iboun. These stories ot starvation and
*''y so impressed the President that
■d ha» been instructed to use bis i
i ° S u Care the rev °cation of the
will be his first duty after reach-
s general policy has also met the
:h disapproval of the adminUtra-
Some officials have i n liniatedI iniated that
Government could hope to ;icconipi sn
i <* toward bringing the war to an
| « teeful means while Wevier re
control of the island, and a him
H vVeyler'e withdrawal irom
The San Francisco Call
Cuba would be pleasing lo the United
States is likely to be the next move in the
situation. Tnere will be no change in the
diplomatic status of Cuban matters. What
Woodfor.i will accomplish will depend
largely on the manner in which his over
tures are received. XotUins lias occurred
to change the understanding in official
circles that Spain will surest a plan by
which it can gracefully retire Irom Cuba
without humiliation. Tne promised re
forms, which are believed to be preliminary
to the withdrawal of Spanish troops, have
not been put in operation ret.
KcLEANS FORCES ARE BEATEN.
Silver Men Rule the Ohio Dem
Convention and New note Chi p-
man for Gave n r.
COLUMBTTS.OHio.June 30.— The Demo
cratic Stale Convention tc-day nominated
this ticket: Governor, Horace L. Chap
man; Lieulenant-G ivernor, M. D. Shaw;
Supreme Court Jud^e, John P. Springs;
Attorney-General. W. H. Dore; State
Treasurer, J. F. Wilson; Board of Public
Work;, P. H. Degnon; School Commis
sioner, M. E. Hard,
The proceedings were remarkable for
their surprise?. Contrary to every expec
tation tbe friends of John R. McLean met
defeat at nearly every point. For weeks
it was declared that .McL?an would not
only control the convention for himself
for Qis candidacy for the United States
Senate, but would also dictate the candi
date for the governorship. McLean had
selected as a^eht Dan McConrilie, and
had charged him with the duty of making
a careful canvass of the State, with a view
not only to seeing the best legislative tim
ber was selected, hut also that a mar. after
McLean's own heart be placed on tbe
ticket for Governor.
McConville visited every part in , Ohio,
and wherever he went dropped the word
that R. T. Hough was the man McLean
wanted for Governor. Several weeks ago
it was announced that „ McLean was
j opposed to indorsing all the Chicago plat
form, but the State Committee went
ahead and did it. 1 It was also his purpose
here to pass by. the Chicago affair as
lightly as possible, but in this he was
■ again overruled. °
Persistent attacks of the delegates on
the gold record of his candidate Hough,
caused one of the leading sensations of the
J day. Alter the first ballot Hough with
i drew, liie second great surprise of the 1
day was the withdrawal of John C. Weity,
the Canton millionaire, before bis name
was presented. This was brought about by
j the action of- the field in unit'inq against
j McLean and his candidate. Before that
unison could be available it was essential
tha T . Welty or Chapman would- withdraw.
I The choice fell to VVeity and from that
| time the defeat of McLan and the
, triumph of the extreme silver men in the
! nomination of Chapman was assured.
° DetermJi ed effort was put forth to
< leave two vacancies on the State ticket, to
| be tilled by the Populist and Silver Ro
publican convention, but by an over-'
whelraine'poll it was voted down. The
-; . f.-ifjyi" #f tcl.-**" *tronniv ' f »«'or^d ? the
j idea, as they wished to" make up £jf tbe
1 losses they knew \ they would sustain in
! defections. ;' . ' "..
The platfo-m adopted reaffirmed the
Chicago platform completely, li declared
against the "criius" of 1873 and said that
gold monometallism is a British policy.
SOLDIERS IN READINESS.
Precautionary Measures That May Pre
vent an Ou. break Among the
Bannock Indians.
FORT ROBINSON, Nebr , June 3o.— The
troops of this post are preparing to en
gage in an action against i be Bannocks at
a moment's notice. Four troops of the
j garrison arc under orders to be in readi
! ness to move for the Fort Hall Indian
| Reservation country in case of trouble
| with the Indians of that vicinity. Tbo
i troops designated ar? under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, and will be
i furnished from Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo.
OMAHA, Nebr.. June 30— At the head
' quarters of ihe Department of ttie Platle
in ;his city army ullicers when shown the
fore.oing telegram stated it was true that
four troops of the Ninth CavaJry had been
ordered to be in readiness to move to the
Fort Hall reservation from Fort Robin
son. They staled, however, that it was
more than probable the troops would not
i move. The order for the soldiers to be in
! readiness was taken mereiy as a precau
tionary measure in the event that there
should he an outbreak among the Ban
, nocks*. Discus=ing the reported outbreak
of the Bannocks the officers at army head
quarters laughed at the idea of a few
hundred Bannocks going upon the war
path. They added that on the Camas
prairie there grew a root the Indians used
in making medicine in cases of sickness.
For many years the Bannocks had visited
the Camas prairie to gather the root,
which is ripe at this particular season of
tbe rear. However, they have gone in
, particularly large numbers, taking their
wives and families with them.
MAY LOSE THEIR HCIE.
I .Mecgarnesj of Iht Estate Left by Harriet
»V; Bi-echer Stone Felt by Her Tw.n
{j. Daughters.
■ttTFORD, Conn., Jane 30. — The
*ae..r:iP , o f the estate left 'by Harriet
clie: Btowe is soon to be made ap
purtnt. Her twin daughters, who made a
nomo or l; er on Forest street in this city
so nuny years, are in danger of being de
prived [of the old home now so historic
I When Mrs. Stowe made her will some
' years igo Bl ie thought she would leave
property enongh to provide amply for her
I, daughters and also for her son. By a
coalci! ; abe \be<jueathed her Forest-street
house to her daughters, but failed to put
her signature to that portion of her will. 1
'When ihe«state came to be invoiced it
was found that there was not enoveh in':
the daughters' share to support them com
lortably or enab;e them to keep tbe old 1
home for maty, years, It s now learned
that their brother has notiied them that'
he is abont to tell the bouse. The people
. who have neard of the proposed sale of
the house are greatly -agitated. It has
been sugcested that the money which was
to be raised for a statue of Mrs. Stowe be
devoted to tbe purchase of the house for
the d»ughters.
U*£ '%': ■'■*■■', i *>
\ttfin 11i.411* ViO\ THE RAIL.
V .
ittrmpl of Thr'f Vnf{m/wn Jlfen to Corn- •
, . ■I : .../,-, f»lt uidd,. • . „' ■_:
WJ-JLLSVILLK, Mo., •/ June 30—
Dj>cars like a ueliherato attempt "at: sui
cjiila by throe unknown tuea was made
i
I ' ■'. • ■ '■■ - . •■" I ■ ■ = . .-. "t ' ;"' "-■'*■: :■!'■ ■'
SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 1, 1897.
O. M. WELBURN, Removed From the Office of Collector of Internal Revenue*
[From a photograph by Taber.]
near here early this morning. Lying side
hy side with heads upon a rail, they were
struck by a Wabash train. Tne first
man's head waa cut off, the second one's
head smashed, and the third received
serious injuries. The physicians say
there is no hope for the recovery ol the
two who were not killed outright.
- ■ i ' m '
MURDER ON THE INDIANA.
Master-a'-Arms Kenny S abbed in ihe
Back by Phi up Carter, a Drunken
Sa>hr.
NEW YORK, N. V., June 30.— A cold
blooded murder occurred aboard the
battleship Indiana to-night while she lay
in the Brooklyn navy-yard. The victim
wa« Thomas J. Kenny, master-at-arrns of
the first class, and his assailant, who
stabbed him in the back, is Philip Carter,
who has been in the service only cignteen
months. Kenny was 38 years old and bad
been in the service more than eight years.
The murder occurred at 6:30 o'clocK.
About forty common seamen, among
whom was Carter, were drawn up in line
on the berth deck to receive beer as usual
before supper. Kenny was in charge of
tbe men. Carter, who had been drinking,
was unruly and disobedient, and Kenny
had considerable trouble in keeping him
in line whiie the beer was being passed.
At first he spoke kindly to Carter enu
told him his conduct was unseamanlike.
Carter answered in a surly voice.
Shortly afterward Kenny was obliged to
speak sharply to him. Tlien the men be
gan to wrangle, and finally Carter rushed
toward Kenny and tried to strike him.
Before he could reach him, however, other
men of the line got around him and held
him back. The line was re-formed and as
Carter went back to his place every one
thought Ihey had h ard the last of the
quarrel.
A minute afterward, while Kenny was
standing in front of the line, he suddenly
turned his back on the men and stooped
over as if to pick something up from the
dock. When Carter saw the maiter-at
arms stoop over he leaped forward and
plunged a knife-bayonet into the middle
of Kenny's back. Without a sigh or groan
the master-at-arms fell forward on his
face. Then he turned on his back, his
lips fluttered slightly and an instant later
he was dead.
The whole thing was done bo quickly
that tbe men in line scarcely understood
what had happened before their comrade
bad expired. Carter, who seemed ap
palled at the magnitude of the crime,
stood in the middle of the deck graspine
the blood-stained bayonet in his right
hand and gnzing vacantly down at the
face of his victim.
Then the sailors fell upon him and he
was dragged below and put in irons.
Knowing Kenny wan a devout Catholic
one man ran for a priest.
Another hastened with the story to Cap
tain H. C. Taylor, cammander of the In
diana, and the latter immediately re
poried the murder to Commodore Bunce.
After hearing the details Bunce orderod a
board of inquiry consisting of Lieutenant-
Comminder Selfridne of the Puritan,
Lieutenant Sim 3 of tbe Puritan and Bur
geon Forcbee to convene, and they began
to make an investigation.
CAUSED BY A COLLISION.
Sinking of the German Steamer Re/nbeck
and the Less oi Fiit*en of
the Cnw
CONSTANTINOPLE, Tcbkkt, Jane 30.
As the German steamer Rein beck was
leaving to-day she collided with the Ger
man steamer Iterthilde, which had been
employed on salvage service in the Blactc
Sea. The Rein heck sank, cv ryini? aowu
fifteen of the crew of twenty-one. The
accident was seen from the Austrian dis
patch-boat Hum, which sent a boat to the
rescue. The boat was caught in the vor
tex caused by the sinking steamer and
two of the boat's crew were drowned be
fore another boat could reach them.
ACCUSED OF
THE MURDER
OF HOFFMAN
Theodore Figel Formally
Charged With the
Crime.
LOCKED Di THE CITY PRISON
Judge Campbell Failed to Fix
Any Bail on the Capital
Charge,
THE PRISONER STILL UNDISMAYED.
Says He Is Confident of Being Able
to Explain Everything — The
lather Talks.
Theodore Figel is no longer the debon
air, self-possessed young man that he
was twenty-four hours ago. All his bon
homie — that pleasant, agreeable address
that mads him so many friends in the
past — disappeared yesterday when be
learned that he was charged with the
crime of murder.
Not when he was first made aware that
he was under suspicion of having had a
hand in the talcing off of his employer
did he show the least sign of nervousness
or anxiety. When he learned that he was
being shadowed day and nignt by pri
vate detectives under instructions from
the widow oi Isaac Hoifman he mani
fested no w-orry. When he was on the
witness-stand during the Coroner's in
quest he remained the same imperturba
ble individual who astonished his betting
commissioners by losing thousands of
dollars in a single day without a flush
cominc to his face to indicate annoyance
over his bad luck. vVhen the Coroner's
jury returned a verdict in the Hoffman
case of "murder by a party or parties un
known" he was as impassive as if the un
avowed theory of Chief .Lees, his powerful
protector, had not Deen thus officially and
completely exploded. When he was ar
rested and placed in a prison cell on a
charge of embezzlement his sang froid did
not desert him.
; But to be charged. with murder! To be
charged 'with tbe terrible crime of ha'vinjj
killed his. friend and employer! : To be
charged with this ; heinous offense, after
the widow; of the dead ruan, the person
most interested in the prosecution of the
murderer, had apparently abandoned the
i matter! To be charged , with the murder
; alter. n rjMjXfflrt»ad-«l&paed ; since* the com
; T»s6ds moae than even the steel-like
n e rMe s oi rt 1 /js|l alp -'• bookkeepe r i could
startji. N*lis blanchid '■. face,, his drooping
eyelifft^W^l^rjnir^Jow^to'nes,' his very
pose. so>kff«£fintfrqm his previous jaunty
carriage, told 'that the j strain had ;
proved too great. Bat any man, whether
innocent or.giiiiiy ,'might '' have shown the
same'indicationa of dread and apprelieu
-■:; ? ' -; :q t^a £\&a r>< <•*■:: - : •■. • . .
sion of the future when placed under
similar charge.
From now on he will have to remain in
close conhnement, until his fate is decided
in the Superior Court, as the charge on
which he was arrested yesterday is not
bailable. The complaint was sworn to by
H*rry Hoffman.
-■f rPro^orJy, tprakingiJio wa* not aryesteu,
for ttif officer was \ stnt after* : him.' His
attorneyr had informed Chief Lees that
they would have their client at hand to
answer any charge that might be made
against him. When the warrants for the
arrest of Fieel on the charge of murder
and several charges of forgery and em
bezzlement were placed in Chief Lees'
hands he immediately telephoned . to
Judge Louderback's office, and shortly
after lawyer and client walked into the
Chief's office. After a consultation that
lasted lif-.een minutes, a similar proces
sion to that of last Monday was formed
and . marched downstairs to the City
Prison, where the charges were dnly en
tered on the prison register. Figel was
then led into the cell he bad occupied for
an hoar two days ago, No. 34.
Realizing the handicap they would have
to meet in having the Police Department
against them, the prosecution, it is claimed
by one of the attorneys, secured the
services of Detective Bob Hogan on
the work of looking up evidence for their
side of the case.
This action of the prosecution is
looked upon as very significant. Hogan,
ever since the celebrated Benbayon case
of ten years ago, has been h persona non
grata with the Chief. In that case he took a
position directly opposed to that of his
superior, then Captain Lees, and for this,
it has been common report, Lees never
forgave him. Shortly after the conclusion
of the Benhayon caoe Hogan was rirtually
FAC-SIMILE OF THE WARRANT FOR THE ARREST OF FIGEU
shelved by beinc placed on duty in the
District Attorney's office. He has always
been looked upon as one of the cleverest
detectives of San Francisco, and the
action of the prosecution in securing his
co-operation is viewed as an excellent bit
of strategic generalship.
Police Commissioner Robert J. Tobin
last evening stated that as far as he knew
no detective had been appointed to assist
the prosecution. He said that tbe detec
tives were not supro3ed to take either the
side of the prrsf-cution or the defense, but
should work soieiy to see that justice was
done.
Ccief Lees also denied that Hogan had
been detailed to assist the prosecution and
added that the case was at present in the
hands ot Captain Bolien, who he believed
beyond a doubt was capable of satisfactor
ily handling the interests of the State.
FIGEL UNDbMAYED.
When Seen In the Jail Ha Asserted
Tnat He Wou d Bs Able to Dis
prove All the Charge:-
" A few hours after his incarceration Ffeel
had regained all of his old-time . com
posure.-' He was allowed the 'liberty of
the inside court of the prison during the
evening. .With him were his friends,
Taylor and Atkinson, and the accused
man's brother Phil. Wniie he was being
interviewed he oras eaiine the. meal that
was evidently the substitute for his usual
dinner with great apparent onjoynierit.
It consisted of some chicken sandwiches
and some -ginger ale that haa been
brought to "him by Atkinson.
"I am not at all disconcerted at the
.turn affairs have taken," said the pris
oner, "for 1 was in daily expectation of
some such action for some days past." >
• "Yes, ii has got to be a persecution in
stead of a prosecution," interrupted Tay
lor. ■-■■■-;• "
"I am as confident as I. ever was that I
will be able 10 disprove every charge
against me. Wait till I take the witneis
stand. I will explain everytbng- in a
way that I am sure will receive credence
from every thinkine and intelligent man.
Innocent men and better men than I have
been placed in jail before now."
He was asked if he would take the wit
ness-stand when the trial or preliminary
hearing wa3 on. . . ;
•'Why, certainly. I will."
Wlien it was explained to him that he
would not need to ito so, unless he were
so inclined, as he was accused of a crime,
he remarked: "I don't know anything
about such things. That will be left en
tirely in the hands of my attorneys."
■ It was suggested that the murder charge
would now be pressed iirst. as it would be
useless to prosecute, the others, if a.con
viction were had ;on the most serious
charge. . " . . ■ .
To this Figel replied without any hesi
tation "So far a3 I■ am concerned I
would like to see them take up this charge
at once. If don't want continuance.
I think this will induce Mr. Lloyd to re
main in the City, and the matter 1 may be
heard •■ without any further time being
asked, so far as I am concerned/ But, of
course, 1 will be governed entirely by my
attorneys." • ,
Fige! further stated that hehad urgently
requested ' his wile not to come 10 the
prison to visit him, as he did not want
her toexpose herself to the gaze of the curi
ous. She had also ber-n so advised ! by her
'riends, on the sugge?»'.in of her husband.
v'or * this reason sh»^ i-j'ie ho" r«tempt to'
relieve tbe lonesome less of .itiCt accused
yesterday.
HOFFMAN THE ACCUSER.
The Brother of the Deceased Mer
chant Swears to the Complaint
Charging Murder.
As announced in The Call would be the
case, Harry Hoffman yesterday swore to
the complaint charging Theodore A. Figel
with the murder of his brother, Isaac
Hoffman.
It bad been prepared by Judge Murphy
in the course of the morning, and by
agreement Harry Hoffman called at Judge
Murphy's office at 3:30 p. m. to sign the
complaint. In company with Hoffman
and E. S. Rothchild the Judge hastened
to the court of Judge Campbell. Here
Hoffman swore to the murder charge and
Rothchild to two charges of forgeiy and
three additional charges of embezzlement.
The murder complaint reads aa follows:
In the Police Court of the City nnd County
of Shu Franci-co, State of California, ihe
people oi the £ta;e oi California vs. Theodore
A. Figel. '
State of California, j
City and <. ounty of San Francisco, j m "
Personally appears before me, uiis 30th day
of June, A. D 1897. Harry Hoffman, who on
oath makes compiaint, and deposes and says,
thai on the Ist day of June, A. D. IS9T, in the
City and County of Sen Francisco, State of
California, the crime of felony, to wit, murder,
was committed, to wit, by Theodore A. Figel,
who then and there willfully, unlawfully,
Continued on Fifth Page.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
WELBURN
REMOVED
AND HIDING
Disgrace Follows the Disap
pearance of the Revenue
Collector.
A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.
Charged With Embezzlement in
a New Matter by a Treas
ury Agent.
HOT HEARD OF SISCE SATURDAY.
A Bombshell Strikes the Appraisers'
Building as a Eesult of the
Latest Investigation.
Collector of Internal Keren ue O. M.
Welburn was summarily removed from
his office by the Secretary of the Treasury
yesterday forenoon and in the afternoon
a warrant for his arrest for embezzling
public money was placed in the hands of
United States Marshal Barry Baldwin for
service.
But Collector Welburn had apparently
fled. He had not been seen since Satu.
day and tbe special treasury agent? had
not been able after three days' searching
to find a trace of him after he left his
office at 2 p. m. that day. That be bad
tied was the. opinion of Special Agent
Thrasher, his bondsmen and many offi
cials about tbe Appraisers' building.
■ That was the torpedo .that struck the
Revenue Olfice yesterday-^Welburn.h»d
been found to be an embezzler himself,
| had ab-conded and the United States
Marshal was bunting him. As Mr. Wei*
burn had escaped any blame except what
might be due for innocent negligence in
connection with the extensive embezzle
ments of the late Cashier Norton, and as
no suspicion of personal dishonor' had
1 been cast on him, this news was atartling.
; VVelbarn's oondjsmen .. t - and i Opreirn nient
. i officials had possession of the demoralised
office yesterday. T '
But perhaps Collector Welbnrn had not
fled, for at 6 p. m. The Call received word
by telephone from a voice declared to be
that 4oi Wei burn himself that he
was. in the City, had been guilty of no
j wrongdoing, and ' would face the situa
tion. He had then, in his place of retire
ment, raad in the t veiling papers of his
: removal and the sensation caused by his
I mysterious absence, but had not heard of
! the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.
The y«t incomplete story is one of a
I pood n anY ruin through politics and of
i an upright career which became lightened
and then wrecked by wine, women and
the fast and merry life.
Welburn's fall and disgrace is a result
of the latest investigations of Special
Agent Thrasher into all the books and af
i fairs of the Internal Revenue Office,
hastened and aggravated by his mysteri
ous disappearance at a tibia when Deputy
j Collector Loupe was ill ana away, when
special investigations were going on and
when the head of affairs was badiy
needed.
As far as the inside of the matter was
revealed yesterday, Welburn's alleged
criminal offense was a comparatively petty
| one. He fuliilied the functions of Disburs
ing Officer for the Internal Revenue Office
as well as those of Collector, and gave a
special bond for the Derforraance o! this
J office. His duties as Disbursing Officer