Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1890 — A MONEY CLERK MISSING [ARTICLE]

A MONEY CLERK MISSING

THE PACIFIC EXPRESS COMPANY A HEAVY LOSER. A Trusted Employe at Dallas. Texas, Absconds with a Package Containing 835 - 000, Left with the Company for Transportation—The Fugitive's Past Record. F. A. Walton, money clerk in the Pacific express company’s office at Dallas, Tex., has absconded with S3S,(XX) deposited with the company by the Citv National Hank of Dallas for transportation to the Commercial Bank of St, Louis. Walton was employed by the American express company for five years at lonia, Mich., and went into the Pacific company's employ at Dallas from Wells, Fargo & Co. His father resides at St. Joseph, Mo. He has been traced to the Indian Territory and a detective is on his track. The exposure of Walton’s crime has caused the biggest sensation experienced since “Jim Cummings” robbed Messenger Fotheringham on the St. Louis & San Francisco road of $50,000 or S7S,(XX) of the Pacific express company’s money. The Commercial bank was expecting a remittance of $50,000 from the Dallas bank, and receiving but $15,000 in gold in a canvas bag notified the bank of Dallas. Learning from Dallas that $50,000 had been shipped Feb. 1 in two packages—the $15,000 in gold and $35,000 in greenbacks inclosed in a regular express package—the St. Louis bank notified Supt. L. A. Fuller of the Pacific express company of the loss. On receipt of this decidedly alarming information Superintendent Fuller telegraphed Assistant Superintendent Aiken at Dallas, notifying him of the shortage and asking him to investigate and forward information as soon as possible. Mr. Aiken replied that there was no trace of the missing package there, and that Walton had been missing since last Sunday night. Walton’s flight led to the belief at Dallas that he must bo a defaulter and an investigation had been made, but without result, as the cash of the Dallas . office was found to be intact. When Assistant Superintendent Aiken received Superintendent Fuller’s message, however, it opened up a new avenue for investigation, and the cunning scheme of Walton t*secnre delay in the discovery of the shortage was unfolded. He had made out two receipts, which were on file in the Dallas office—one for $15,000 and one for $35,000 —on one blank. On the duplicate forwarded to St. Louis, howevei, no mention was made of the $35,000. The discovery of this fact revealed Walton’s guilt,and the assistant superintendent telegraphed Mr. Fuller that Walton had stolen the missing money. Descriptions bf-tho absconding money clerk have been wired everywhere by Superintendent Fuller, and the following circular was sent out.: “Absconded—F. A. Walton, clerk In the .Pacific express company’s office at Dallas. Texas,; left that city Sunday morning, Feb. 2, and was last seen on a Missouri, Kansas & Texas train going north. “Description: Good looking; smooth, red face; hair dark; weight, 137 pounds; height 5 feet 6 inches; medium build; round scar on the back of head; deaf in right ear; dark clothes, derby hat.” Superintendent Fuller says that Walton was always considered a young man of good habits. The Guarantee company of New York is bn his bond for $2,000. Waltoii had been with the company since last October. He was first employed in the office at Jefferson, Tex., and from there went to Dallas last November. He is 25 years of age and unmarried. A Mr. Kerney, a clerk in the Dallas office, now In St. Louis, says Walton’s habits were of the best. He was not a drinking man, nor did he gamble. There was some sort of a story about Walton having shot and killed a man in Mexico, but beyond this his record was supposed to be unblemished.