HI
Jloney Taken, Apparently
by Employes from Sub
Treasury Vault.
JUSPICIONS ON THREE
Ifculng Hills Traced to Cage of a
Teller one Employee Makes Ad
missions but Mystery la Still I'll
solved Money Taken In Largo
Denomination!!.
Chicngo, Feb. 27. The theft of
173,000 from the United Stales
rcasury here has come to light. It
as discovered at the close of busi
ness last Wednesday, and the au
UorltteB here and In Washington
ate been working night and day on
le robbery since. Secretary Shaw
'as told of it when In Chicago lust
eek. Three men, two of them era
loyees, are suspected.
The money taken consisted of
even $10,000 bills, fifteen $5,000
Ills, and the remainder in $1,000
.ilia
At first it was believed there must
e some error in the bookkeeping
; waa thought to be impossible that
ach a large sum of money could
ave been abstrastcd in face of all
he safegaurds thrown around Uncle
am's strong box. The ledger men
trenuously denied any error, and an
areetlgntion showed there was no
oeeible clerical mistake. This
rough t the Inevitable condition
2 at robbery had been committed.
Hills Traced to a Toller.
The missing bills were traced to
,i "cage" of a teller. "A myrlerl
js stranger," one of the men und.r
itsplclon, had been allowed inside
ie tailing of the teller's "cnKe."
'.is name has not been dUilosed l:y
ie officials He hud credentials
hlch put him almost on the turn's
Kt)ng as an employee
Every man who could have hvd
aything to do with thj case va
ailed Into Treasurer Bolden wedf's
flice and put through an exhaustive
nomination and a still mora rigid
rosn-examinatlon. Capt. Porter, of
ne Secret Service, assisted in the in
uisitlon. All stood the ordeal wo'.l uv.a do
ied any knowledge of the theft,
'hey protested their Innocence with
nanlmity and voclterou.sni.r4.
The Investigation after havtn;;
sen In progress five days, tiunlly
'.fted down to two suspected evn
loyees who were on most friendly
.Tina. The elder bus not wavered
1 his persistence of ninocen 3. Th3
ounger man has been "trip) od" into
.taking a statement which 1 .-oved to
e untrue. That was the f..st wedge
ihlch the Secret Service men suc
seded in obtaining. It led to slight
.Amissions at fir::;.
Oradually r.:ore admissions were
tiade by the suspect, which showed
t least that he had not used all the
ire expected from an employee who
andles millions of dollars almost
ally.
George W. Fitzgerald, the teller,
ho waa In charge of the $173,000
lolen, places the blame on three
irpenters, who he declares, were
aklng repairs on his cage on that
y. He refuses to divulge their
tames. Little credence is placed in
lis account by Treasurer Bolden
eck. A smooth stick, found on the
oor of the Sub-Treasury In Fltz
arald'a cage on the evening the
tortage was discovered was used,
ccordlng to Fitzgerald's theory, by
te workmen to push from the desk
It bills that are missing. This
-aa done during the luncheon hour
fednesday, the day the money dls
ppeared, according to Fitzgerald,
te aaya Thomas F. Dunne, change
aller, found the stick on the floor.
Every employee of the office la un-:er-bouid,
but not to any amount
r the loot secured.
William E. Cook,
a native of Independence, Iowa, who
Is the first artist to paint a portrait
tit Pope Pius X. He studied at the
Chicago Art Institute and the New
York Academy of Designs. He haa
ft studio in Paris.
Loses 9300,000 at Faro.
Tonopah, Nev., Feb. 20. All rec
ords for plunging In gambling games
were broken here when Abe Brown,
part owner of the Tonopah Club, a
famous gambling resort of Southern
Nevada, lost $300,000 at one sitting.
Gamblers here say that Brown's
loss is the greatest ever known at
faro. It is said that Joseph Letter
once lost $140,000, and John W.
Gates $160,000 at one sitting at faro.
C N
mm mrnm&i
ALL CANAL MPS RKJKCTLD.
President and Cabinet Recoipilze
Necessity for Changes In Plans.
Washington, D. C, Feb. 28 The
Panama Canal work has come to a
sudden stop, although of course,
laborers will continue to carry out
certain unimportant duties, that is,
unimportant when considered In re
lation to the actual success of tn9
great waterway. John F. Stevens,
the engineer-ln-chlef, dropped out of
7' :
1 A ,
' " -,
.Tohn V. Stevens.
the department, following his col
lenmie, Mr. Shonts, into a more
profitable position although the
Idenllty of the job is not mado
known.
Coincident with the announcement
that Stevens, the head and front of
the canal enterprise, had run away
from the work, so to speak, came the
news from the White House that
the Panama Canal contract would
not be let to any bidder, and that
the Government would revise the
pluns for the work.
01 and u Ileef-Kater.
New Jersey, Feb. 26. Mrs. Cor
nelia Duraud Ball of Orange, N. J.,
who is 91 years old, attributes her
longevity to the use of beefsteak as
a staple article of diet.
Mrs. Hall, us an argument in favor
of the use of meat, points to the fact
that only once In the last half cen
tury has she been attended by a
physician. That was In 1892, and
she '"was so seriously ill that tfie
doctor gave up hope of saving her
life. Mrs. Ball called for beefsteak,
and after eating it a speedy improve
ment was noticed and she was soon
well again.
1K Checked nt Theatre.
New York, Fil). 28. For the first
time in history, so said the wife
acres, a dog was checked In the
coatroom nt a New York theatre.
It happened at the Herald Squa:e.
Two women entered the theatre and
went Immediately to the retiring
room near the lobby.
One of them had carried In a bull
dog under her opera cloak. She
asked whether she could have him
checked, and checked he was, like
a cane or unbrella, until the end of
the performance.
Saved 00 Lives.
New York, Feb. 28. It came out
at the Inquest into the death of
Channing F. Billiard, who wanted
to learn how to build tunnels and
was killed by "the bends" after his
second day In the Pennsylvania
tubes, that he had saved the lives of 96
persons while acting as a life saver
near Boston. He was the son of a
banker of Boston, said his cousin,
Wolfert Delacy, who testified, and
was a perfect type of the athlete,
The Jury found a verdict of acci
dental death.
Shaken In School; May Die.
York, Penn.,Feb. 28. Barney Kis
sel, 18 years old, a teacher In the
Manhelm schools, gave one of his
pupils, John Wlldaslon, a severe
shaking some time ago. As a result
be Is now held under $1,000 ball
pending a hearing on charges of ag
gravated assault and battery.
It Is said that the Wlldaslon boy
had a weak spine and that the shak
ing by the teacher will probably
cause his death.
Joseph Leiter on Trial.
Duquoin, 111., Feb. 2S. Prosecu
tion of the case against Joseph Lei
ter on the charge of criminal negli
gence in the operation of a colliery
at Zeigler, 111., was begun here.
A gas explosion occured in the
colliery In April, 1905, killing nearly
sixty miners. Relatives of the vic
tims brought suit shortly after the
accident, but for various reasons
trial of the case has been delayed
The civil suits are said to aggregate
$400,000.
. Smoke KIIIm 16 Children.
Montreal, Feb. 28. By the burn
lug of the Hochelago Protestant
School In the east end of the city,
the principal, Miss S. Maxwell, and
blxteen children lost their lives. The
little victims were caught in the
building without a chance to escape,
hemmed In by fire, suffocated by
smoke and driven back from the
windows and all hope of safety.
Swindlers Clean Up $200,000,
Berlin, Feb. 28. Various Ham
burg and Bremen firms have been
defrauded out of about $200,000 by
means of forged bills of lading In
connection with three British steam
ers from Galveston, the Harlyn and
the Strathalrly at Hamburg, and tlt
Inchmaree, et Bremen, were loaded
with cottonseed
THE COLUMBIAN.
THE NE'ER-DO-WELL
ty Anita Clay Muno:
ropyrlulit. Ilr,, l:y ( linrlra li. r.tlii'i'iiiKlnn
TIT'K Van Houston were nn nrls
toiTirtle family people of the
world iiikI 114 happy its most
but for the filet that n family
skeleton loilged In their hearts In the
memory of nti older brother Peter
Van Houston who hnd been expelled
from college mid alter miming wild
for a time had suddenly ended It all
by forging his father's name to a
cheek for $.",000, collecting the money
mill departing for the west.
At that time Ms father, Hubert Van
Houston, was one of the rich men of
Wall street. Years before he had
burled his Ilrst wife, who left him this
troublesome son. mid had married
again, n fashionable widow, who duly
presented him with a daughter. This
lady comforted him when Ills boy went
away, eared for him through his last
Illness, wept gently when he died aud
after a time settled down to enjoy the
money her husband had left exclusive
ly to her and their daughter ICllzahcth.
Since then time had brought Its cus
tomary gifts-white hair to Mrs. Vim
Houston and n husband and children
to her daughter, now Mrs. MarmuduUe
Odoll.
One iifteruooii at alxiut this time
their legal adviser, Mr. Clarendon, sat
In his ofllee nt his desk when the donr
opened to admit a man of about fifty
years of age. who said, "Are you James
Clarendon?" "es, sir." "Legal nd
vlser for Mrs. Van Houston?" "I nm,
sir. But what Is your business with
me?" "I should like to make my will."
the man replied. "It's n long story.
Have you time to listen?" "(in on."
The newcomer leaned forward. "Don't
you know me, Mr. Clarendon?" "I do
not." He laughed n low, bitter laugh.
"Forgotten by every one, I suppose.
The ne'er-do-well, the Hack sheep!"
Mr. Clarendon looked nt him keenly.
"You nre not" "I nm Peter Van
"I BHOULI LIKE TO MAKIJ JII WITA,."
Houston!" The lawyer fell IvieU !:i
surprise nnd dismay. "Well," lie sa!,l.
"and what do you want?" "1 desire
to make my will. I'll not l:iv; you
long," his visitor said dryly. "They
say that the wny of the transgressor Is
hord, but I have reason to doubt the
truth of that statement, for the stolen
money brought me luck from the mo
ment I went to the far west. The grent
business out there was lassoing wild
horses. I became nn expert nt this nnd
bought nnd sold until I hnd accumu
lated a good sum of money."
"Are you married?"
"No. Women have no attraction for
me. A little blnck trunk that I keep
under my bod nnd that holds all my
securities is my only love. Teople cnll
me a miser, nnd I rather enjoy the
name. U means so much," be cried,
"and such a sure means of revenge!"
"Revenge. Ah!" The Inwyor grew
attentive.
"Mr. Clarendon, I acknowledge I did
wrong, nnd I have suffered. An out
cast for thirty years, hidden, unknown!
And my sister Elizabeth she is rich
nnd sensitive to disgrace! She would
not receive me, for Instance?"
"Of course," the lawyer said, "I can
not answer for my clients. As you
sny, they nre proud, but money is often
a strong influence."
"Get your papers out, Mr. Claren
don." The man's voice wns husky.
"Draw up a will for me. Walt." He
grew white, put his hnnd over bis
heart nnd gasped. "An nttack of the
heart! The doctors say I cannot live
a yenr. Draw up the papers,- lawyer.
I want revenge!"
"You will lea re the bulk of your for
tune owny from your family?" the law
yer queried. Mr. Van Houston np
lenred to be waiting for strength to
continue. "Tomorrow I sbull go to my
sister's house. I wnnt them to think
I nm poor! I want to And out If they
nre cruel enough to live in luxury
knowing that the rightful heir Is starv
ing In their neighborhood. You nlone
nre to know the truth! My fortune
nmounts to $1,000,000. 'In a black Iron
box la my room are my papers of
value. I have decided to dispose of my
fortune In this manner-$ 100,000 to
you, Mr. Clarendon, nnd the bulk to
my sister Ellznbeth but with this stip
ulation: If she or any of them slights
mo then I leave my fortune to chnr
Ity."
When Vnn Houston hnd gone Mr.
Clarendon paced up and down thought
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
fully. "If I do not net nt once It will
lie loo late," he observed.
That evening when Mrs. Van Hous
ton and her daughter, Mrs. Odcll, re
turned from the opera they found Mr.
Clarendon In the reception room.
"I hope this visit Is not to tell us
Hint our funds are low," laughed Mrs.
Odcll.
"I have not come to scold, dear
madam, but to tell you 11 bit of news.
I have business of a private nature' to
coiiimuulente to you, Mrs. Odcll. Pe
ter Van Houston was In my 'olllee to
day." Until women uttered sharp exclama
tions; the younger shivered. "1 hoped
he was dead," she said.
"Will he sue for his share In his fa
ther's eHtnte?" cried Mrs. Van Hous
ton. "Oh, what n blow! lOH.nbeth, we
will not receive him!"
"I always expected it!" Mrs. Odell
said. "And now this nwful news Is
brought to us! I shall refuse to see
him!"
The lawyer, liistriietlng the ladles to
secrecy, told them of Mr. Von Hous
ton's will and the conditions imposed
and later took his departure.
"Peter evidently Inherited his fa
ther's talent for money getting," Mrs.
Van Houston observed. "Thank for
tune, he can live but n year longer.
Peter ns n young man was extremely
tiresome."
"Never mind, mother." Mrs. Odel)
cried. "I aui going to get that money.
Ah, the front door! Martnaduke," she
called out, "news!" Her husband, a
fastidious looking man, entered the
room.
The next day Peter Van Houston
presented himself nt his sister's house.
Mrs. Van Hmiston ond her daughter
received him.
"Wo nre so surprised!" said the older
woman, extending her band cordially.
"Only the bad penny turning up
again," her stepson answered. "I've
had n hard life, mother. For years,
rather than return to my family pen
niless, I have lived by doing odd Jobs
here nnd there, but at last III health
and poverty drove me home."
They asked him to remain to dinner,
and he accepted the Invitation.
Later In the evening, ns Mr. Odell
wns showing him to the door, Mr. Van
Houston surprised him by asking for
the loan of .V0.
"I nm 11 poor mini, Marmaduke," he
said as he "took it. "I do not know
when I can return it."
"Do not let that worry you, my -good
fellow," Mr. Odell replied. "Any time
will suit me." He shut the door.
"How the man tries to cnteh us!" he
exclaimed.
A night n week Inter Mr. and Mrs.
Odell were receiving their friends.
The house was ablaze with the glare
of many lights. Women in handsome
toilets and men immaculate in evening
clothes moved nbout exchanging greet
ings. All the pleasure of anticipation of
this evening's enjoyment had been
spoiled for the hostess by the uncer
tainty In her mind whether to Invite
her brother or not. After much talk
ing she decided to run the risk of his
accidental coming nnd resolved that If
she got over this night safely to ven
ture ou uo more public entertainments
until Mr. Vun Houston's heart trouble
had relieved them of his presence. But
now she could not keep her eyes from
glancing apprehensively toward the
doorway. Half past 10 mid he hnd not
arrived! She wns certain now that he
would uot come and begun to talk
brightly until suddenly Bhe felt the un
welcome touch of n cold, clammy hand
on her bare nrm. Peter was ut her
side, snylu'g slowly: "Good evening,
Elizabeth. Having a party? I nm
Just in time!"
"Why, Peter! I nm glad to see you."
Mrs. Odell smiled, but her voice trem
bled. Mrs. Vnn Houston Instinctively cross
ed over to her daughter's side and ex
tended her hand to her stepson with
well feigned cordiality. "Would you
"WHY, PETBlt I I'M OI.AD TO 8KB YOU."
like to join Marmaduke In the smoking
room or would you prefer to meet some
of our friends?" she Inquired. With
cruel nnd deliberate slowness he said,
"Elizabeth's nnd your friends nre my
friends, mother, so I would be glad to
know them." His stepmother slipped
her hand through bis arm, saying, with
a nervous laugh, "Ah, here Is Mr. Clnr
endon," as the lawyer crossed over the
threshold. "You must meet the fain
lly advisor, Teter. Mr. Clarendon, this
Is Peter Vun Houston."
"Glad to see you back, Kir," Mr. Clur-
endon said genially.
The next day Mrs. Odell was 111 In
bod. Peter's way of claiming every
one's uttentlon, with lamentations over
bis poverty, was maddening to hlu
mother and sister, and the fear that
he Would resent the tT' ! I of 11 it hav
Ivg been Invited it.lt : .1 li their dis
comfort. It was Just before Lent whin Mr.
Van Houston eati-e 1; .;:ie. AM through
this season the faiuiiy lived ipiletly.
As he saw more of h!i newly found
family Mr. Vnn Houston appeared to
get 011 with them heller, lie would
sit for hours at 11 time with his brother-in-law,
smoking one after another of
his best cigars, and 110 matter how
slrlng'iit the money market was or
what bills were pressing Peter did not
scruple to nsk Mr. Odell for loans of
money. Throiivh the summer he visited
them nt their country place, turning up
at odd times, usually when most In
convenient, frightened them with fn
iiueiit attacks of weakness of the heart
nnd in the iiutiimn when the leaves
wenvfalting he died.
This Is how It linppcniHl:
One morning he sent for Mr. Claren
don, slating he was 111.
The lawyer made haste to reach Mr.
Van Houston's bedside, A way nt the
THE MAN THEN CEASED TO nilKATIIK.
top of the house In a small hall bed
room Mr. Clarendon found Van Hous
ton stretched on n pullet In the corner,
weak, gasping, dying.
The lawyer's quick eye caught a
glimpse of the black Iron bos under the
bed.
The sick man smiled sarcastically.
"Well, I guess I'm done for," he
whispered. "The folks can take n little
comfort now."
Clarendon took his hand. "My dear
friend," he said sadly. "Any parting
messages to your family?"
Peter had to struggle for strength to
say, "No fortune."
The startled lawyer lowered his head
to catch the whispered words.
"A scheme for revenge." The man
then ceased to breathe.
With something cold elutchin: nt his
heart, Mr. Clarendon hastily lifted out
the black box nnd raised tho lid. He
discovered some soiled collars, a few
wornout neckties und 11 new pair of
shoes. In the small, bare room there
was nothing else that could hold or
conceal anything. The lawyer, stun
ned and dazed, walked down the stair
case nnd out of the house without a
backward glance.
Outside the fnll day had grown gray
er. The wind had risen, raw and
bleak. Mr. Clarendon felt cold and
proceeded ou his way shlverlngly.
The news of the death of Mr. Van
Houston had preceded him, so later
when he presented himself nt the resi
dence of tho deceosed mnn's family he
found them all assembled In the draw
ing room. Lurking under looks of de
corous mourufulness, the lawyer could
detect expressions on their counte
nances of relief aud exultant Joy. Mr.
Clarendon had put off the telling of
these unpleasant tidings as long ns be
could, and now that the disagreeable
duty wns fully upon him he hnrdly
knew how to proceed.
"I nm tho benrer of very, very bud
news," he begnn solemnly.
Mr. Odell approached blm.
"Of course, Clnreudou, you imme
diately secured possession of the black
Iron box? And you have the will?"
"I am not good at breaking bud news
gently," tho lawyer paced up and
down tho rooms nervously "or pro
longing suspense. The truth Is that I
did not secure the blnck Iron box be
cause It contained nothing but trash,
nnd the will Is not worth tho pnper
upou which It Is wrltteu. Your broth
er, Mrs. Odell, died absolutely penni
less." They turned blanched, startled faces
toward blm, and no one spoke. Then
their son Hubert broke the silence with
u sharp laugh.
"A cool hand, by thunder! Fooled
the lot of us, Including the lawyer!"
"Tho devil!" exclaimed Mnnnoduko
Odell, fairly shaking from shock nnd
chagrin. "It can't be true! Why, man,"
approaching Mr. Clarendon desperate
ly, "think of my cigars and the money
I loaned him! Am I to have nothing lit
return?"
"It Is nil terrible, of course," Mr.
Clarendon assented gravely. "And
what adds to the misfortune Is that
you, being the next of kin, will have to
defray Uie expenses of burial."
Mr. Odell shook his head und groaned
aloud.
"Wo hnvo been deceiving tricked and
cheuted!" his wife shrieked. "I shall
go mad thinking of It! Such fools ns
we have been!" She wrung her hands
In un ngony of suffering.
Equally distressed. Mrs. Van Hous
ton rose from her chnlr nnd, throwing
out her nrm truglcully, exclaimed In
nngry tones, "peter Van Houston was
always a ne'er-do-well, n black sheep,
II disgrace! And he died one!"
And while his family alternately
Htormed, rag'l mid wept, the dead
man lay rigid on his pallet In his little
room, n smile of peaceful satisfaction
udor.iing his white, set feature.
DKMOCltACY IX ATMfXKTTC.
President Talks to Harvard StmVmta
, on Football.
Cambridge, Mass, Feb. 20. Presi
dent Roosevelt, on his visit to Har
yard, made a frank speech to Har
vard men. Ho discussed some sub
jects that have been moot points at
tho university for some time, ni
did It with such frankness that man
of his hearers were astonished.
He characterized the proposal W
abolish football and other rough
sports as "simple nousenso." f!
did not think Harvard should turn
out "mollycoddles." President KlJu
has favored tho discontinuance of
football, basket ball, and hockvy ao
tll those pports are placed upon ft
reform bntils, on the ground that
ta'-y in'o lough uud sonietfiuoe
brutal.
Mr. llooiicvelt also protested
nalr.nt clb;ues in college. He was
scornful about "oversensitive" and
"overeducati d" men who hold itloof
from ft rife and merely criticise, lu
etend of engaging in the hirly-burly
of politics and buslnens.
S U I
. w ': .-1. .SZiiK
lie v. C. I'. Aked, 1). 1).
the pastor and famous preacher of
Pembroke chapel, Liverpool, who ha
been offered and accepted the pa
torate of tho Fifth Avenue Church,
New York. The latter has one of
tho richest congregations In the
world , numbering millionaire
amongst its deacons.
FIX.WCIA L,
Negotiations between the MorrrsB
and Bradford Interests hnvo resulted
In annulment of sale of Culcuao,
Cincinnati and Louisville roud to the
Cincinnati Hamilton and Dayton.
Dulness and irregularity charac
terized the last week on tho Loudon
Stock Exchange says a cable da
spntch. In Paris tho Bourse, us pointed out
by a despatcn, was under tne So
Influence of a boom In African mluoe
and depression In other securities.
Figures of the bank statement
showed a decrenso In surplus reserve
of $121,475, a decrease In deposits
of $12,524,500.
Development plans of the Atchi
son, Rock Island and Colorado and
Southern systems are blocked la
Texas owing to restrictive legisla
tion. Osteopaths and others devoted te
healing went to Albany, N. Y., to
oppose the Medical Unity bill, which
provides that they must submit to
examinations and spend four years
in a medical school.
IM 11 1 I H1W i.linifM WW
r
k ' . i 1 ti l
k 'IS
NEW VOltK MARKETS.
Wholesale Prices of Farm Produce
Quoted for the Week.
The Milk Exchange price for st
dard quality Is 3 He per qt
ISuttcr.
Creamery, extra $2 S214
Firsts 29 ft 81
State dairy, fancy 27 J8
Cheese.
Fancy lthiM
Small 1IH4C14H
Part Skims 7V4 4P ik
Kggs.
Ftate and Ponn 28 3l
Western Firsts 26 Vi 2T
Duck .. 30 0 31
Live Poultry.
Chickens, per lb 11
Fowls, per lb 13
Dressed Poultry.
Turkeys, per lb 10 1$
Chickens, Phlla. lb 20 21
Geese, spring, lb 11
Ducklings, per lb If
Fruits Fresh.
Apples Greenings
per bbl $1 60$1 3
King, per bbl 2 75(g) 4 99
Ben Davis, per bbl. . . 1 60 I It
Vegetables.
Potatoes, L. I., bbl. . $ 1 60$1 Tl
Cabbages, per 100.... 2 60 4 51
Onions, per bbl 8 00 4 60
Carrots, per bbl 1 00 ) (I
Turnips, per bbl 75 I it
Hay and Straw.
Hay, prime, cwt.$l 00 $l IS
No. 1, per cwt. 95 .l 00
No. 2, per cwt. 95 w I 09
Straw, long rye. . 65 67U
Grain, Etc.
Flour, Win. pats. $3 00 $3 86
Spring pats.,. 4 10 4 90
Wheat, No. 1... . HH
No. 2, red 82'i 83
Oats, mixed .... 44 ,
Clipped white. 48 48
Live Stock.
Beeves, city drs'd. 7 f
Calves, city drs'd. I A 14
Country, drs'd. 7 11
Bhcep, percwt...$8 00 (8