Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1906 — FALL OF A CLUB MAN [ARTICLE]

FALL OF A CLUB MAN

He I* Short About $30,000 And Has a Criminal Charge • to Face. 1 ■ I' 11 —— I FRIENDS ALSO ARE BACKWARD They Don’t Come Forward witb Bail —Railway Gets Into Indianapolis—State Items. Muncie, Ind., April 6. George C. Benham, club man; society leader, lodge man, and manager of the Muncie Garment company, is in the custody of the police here, with the prospect of criminal charges beingpreferred against him by the Muncie Garment company, from which lie is alleged to % have embezzled a large sum Qf money while acting as manager. Although Benham has been under surveillance by the officers, and although the police once went to the Union railway station in time to prevent a conteuiplqted trip to Ohio, lie probably wouki not have been arrested for a while had he not appeared at the station. Is Short $30,000; Has Many Friends. Tlie amount of tlie shortage, the officers of the company do not know-, as the accounts are so tangled, but it is believed to be about $30,000. Benham's friends are endeavoring to obtain his release pending the filing of criminal charges. It is understood that the officers of tlie company are willing to drop the criminal charges if Benham is able to pay back the amount he is short. Benham has many wealthy friends in this city, and it is alleged that his efforts to keep up with tne pace of these associates caused his downfall. He earned a good salary, but is said to have spent as much money as tlie men of wealth with whom lie associated. Funds Don’t Come Forward. It is thought that some of these friends would help bring about his release, but none of them have offered assistance in his behalf. Benham is 32 years old and unmarried. The plant from which Benham was deposed as manager, a few days ago, has practically shut down, pending a settlement. One of the stocknolders said that he had lost everything, and would not invest any more money in the plant to put it on its feet again. However, as the concern has made money, it is believed the factory will be reorganized and placed in operation again. COURSE OF TRUE LOVE Seems to Have Struck Just Here a Particularly Hard Road to Travel. Patriot. Ind., April 6. —Laura Vaw ter, 16 years old, who recently eloped with Benjamin Grey and was married at Warsaw, Ky., escaped from her father's custody at night and drove along the Hooded banks of the Ohio river, in water sometimes reaching the dashboard, to join her husband at Coal City, 0., where he had been hiding from bls enraged father-in-law. The man and >wife then continued their flight to the west, with the father in pursuit. While attempting to effect a reconciliation a neighbor narrowly escaped witli his life, the aged grandfather of the bride knocking up his son’s revolver in time to send the bullet wide of its mark. The I. O. O. F. and tlie Pythias are bearing a part In the trouble and a rupture between these two orders is imminent. Taxpayer with a Conscience. Princeton, Ind., April 6. County Treasure! Foreman Ixnowles has received a letter containing a $lO bill, which, tlie writer said, was for taxes he justly owed the county. He explained that a few years ago his property was assessed for S3OO, when it should have been S7OO, and bethought the $lO would about square the bill. Develops a New Industry. Greenfield, Ind., April 6. Claude Gladden, near Glen, this county, is succeeding in an unusual business. He has several incubators, and hatches chickens at “60 cents a dozen delivered,” or 6% cents each if he supplies the eggs. He is doing more business than any other man in the little town. Judge Foster Renominated. Evansville, April 6. —Judge John H. Foster, of Evansville, was given his second nomination for congress by the Republicans of the First Indiana district, at Petersburg. The selection was unanimous and complete harmony prevailed. The convention was little short of a love feast. Entrance for Indianapolis Southern. Indianapolis, April 6.—The Indianapolis Union company has entered into a contract with the Illinois Central RailroSd company to allow the Indianapolis Southern to use the Union tracks and enter the Union station in this city. This Is authoritative. * i Ohio Comes to a Stand. Evansville, Ind., April 6.—The Ohio river has become stationary, after rising for over a week, and stands 41.1 feet. The Wabash and White rivers are stationary and will probably commence to fall by this afternoon.