Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1899 — CASHIER IS MISSING. [ARTICLE]

CASHIER IS MISSING.

HAS SIOO,OOO OF BANK’S MONEY WITH HIM. His Peculations and Flight Cause the Closing of a SupposeMv Solid Financial Institution—V cm: i Paid a Supposed Gambling l)eu in Missouri. The Middlesex County Bank of i’erth Amboy, N. J., has closed-its doors. Cashier Edward M. Valentine is reported missing with SIOO,OOO of the bank’s money. The president of the bank, U. B. Watson, informed the police of Perth Amboy of the condition of affairs and reported that Valentine had not been seen for three days. The details of how the money was converted or misappropriated are not known. Cashier Valentine has been in the employ of the Perth Amboy bank for several years. He was considered a man of steady habits and lived with his family in Perth Amboy. His family consists of his wife and two or three children. He is under 40 years of age. On the day when he was last seen Valentine cashed checks amounting to between $3,000 and $5,000 at the Park National Bank, with which the Perth Amboy bank transacted business. The police say that Valentine’s peculations had extended over a period of several months, and that he managed to cover up the shortage by false entries in his books. WOMEN RAID A GAMBLING DEN. Kingston. Mo., W. C. T. U. Determined to Close Alleged Obnoxious Resort. For several weeks the W. C. T. U. at Kingston, Mo., has been making war on the “White Elephant,” which is said to be a saloon and gambling resort, in addition to a drug store. The city refuses to grant a liquor license. Two of the women learned the sign of admittance to the poker room —three knocks and a scratch on the door with the fingers. They got in. One found her father, the other her sweetheart. There were others, but they jumped twelve feet to the ground. The W. C. T. U. held a meeting and determined to make a raid. They marched up the street in a body to the “White Elephant.” The occupants of the place learned of the intended visit and before the women reached there not a soul was to be found in the poker room, while the bar was also deserted. The women held the fort and refused to go until induced to do so by Mayor Prickett and several citizens.

HARD WOOD PRICES RUN HIGH. Wisconsin Supply Is Very Rapidly Being Wiped Out. Hard wood lumber has advanced during the past year at an exceedingly rapid rate, and the price is now higher than ever before in the history of the trade in Minneapolis. The high prices are due to the shortage in the supply of northern grown hard wpod and the rapidly increasing demand. The Wisconsin hard wood forests are gradually being exhausted, and it is asserted on good authority that the local trade will in a few years have to depend almost wholly upon the southern forests for a supply. Prices now are from $4 to $7 higher than last year. Every variety of hard wood has been asJeoted and all have gone up above the previous maximum. GOOD OPENING IN RUSSIA. Field for American Capital* Machinery and Business Methods. Herbert H. D. Peirce, first secretary of the United States embassy to Russia, says: “The relations between the United States and Russia were never on a more cordial basis than at present, and the friendship which is traditional between the two countries finds constant expression in Russia, not only among officials, but also among the people of all classes. There is a great opening in Russia for American capital and for the introduction of American machinery and methods of doing business.” WEALTH FOR PENNILESS MAN. Miner* Whose Life He Saved Years Ago, Leaves Him ssoo*ooo. According to a Letter received by Chief of Police Bishop of Springfield, Mo., Robert M. E. Cooper is heir to $500,000 in Cripple Creek mining property and Texas real estate, left by Captain Crego, a frontiersman, who died recently in Cripple Creek. Cooper formerly edited a paper in Springfield and was at one time prominent in Missouri politics. He became penniless and has for years lived in St. Louis. Years ago in Texas Cooper saved Crego’s life. . Booms Municipal Ownership. Municipal ownership of Detroit street railways has taken a' fresh start, in spite of the recent adverse decision of the Michigan Supreme Court annulling the appointment of the street railway commissioners. The Common Council by a vote of 19 to 14 has passed the so-called security franchise ordinance. Test a New Explosive. Officers of the ordnance department, U. S. A., conducted three tests at the proving grounds at Sandy Hook. The tests consisted of the throwing of high explosives. the firing of a new high explosive and tiie testing of a steel tower and range finder. All were accounted successful.

Tbree’Die in Freight Wreck. Three tramps were killed and five others were seriously injured by the wrecking of a freight train on the Chicago and Alton road near Glendale, Mo. The wreckage consisted of ten car loads of merchandise, hogs and cattle. The train left the track on a sharp curve. Ft. Louisan Fhot by Wife. George W. Holladay was shot and probably fatally wounded by his wife, Annie, at their home at St. Louis. Mrs. Holladay declares that she acted in.selfdefense. Murderer Surrenders Himself. Edwin J. Brogan of Fulton township, Pa., 43 years old, with a wife and three children, has surrendered himself to the -district attorney on the charge of murdering Mariop Wiley. Lockjaw Epidemic in Gotham. . Nine persons have died of lockjaw in New York and vicinity within thirty-six hours. Nearly all are cases resulting from wounds received from pistols on the Fourth of July. Paymaster General of tbe Army. The President has appointed Col. Alfred 83. Bates paymaster general of the army to succeed Gen. Asa B. Carey, retired.

COLORADO TRAIN HELD UP. Express Officials Declare that the Robbers Got Nothing. The south-bound passenger train on the ■ Colorado and Southern Railway was robbed by four men five miles south of Folsom, N. M. After the train had been brought to a standstill and the crew had been intimidated by guns, the robbers used dynamite with good' effect/ blowing open the sides of the express car. Superintendent Webb and the Wells-Fargo express agent, Glover, both declare positively that nothing was secured by the robbers. As soon as the robbers had searched the express car they mounted horses which were hitched near by, and firing a few shots to alarm the trainmen and passengers, fled without any attempt to go through the mail car. Parties who claim to know say there was a large amount of money in the express safe, as well as valuable express matter. TERRIBLE FOREST FIRE RAGES. Monntaing in Montana Covered with Leapine Flames. A terrible forest fire has been raging in the mountains west of Anaconda, in the vicinity of Mount Haggin, Mont. It started six miles west of Anaconda, near the base jof the mountains, from the camp fire of two boys picnicking above Vineent’s ranch. Before sundown over 1,500 cords of wood owned by three poor woodchoppers, the work of a year, was consumed. So great was the volume of smoke and its altitude that it was visible more than 100 miles away. At midnight the flames covered several thousand acres. The mountain sides are heavily wooded. The forests are dry and the fire must burn its way out, to either perpetual snow or to the timber line.

WHITNEY’S RESIDENCE BURNED. Magnificent Long Island Home of the Millionaire Destroyed. The magnificent country residence of William C. Whitney on Wheatly hills, two miles from Westbury, L. 1., was destroyed by fire and one of the three big barns in which Mr. Whitney keeps his thoroughbreds was burned. Mr. Whitney was not at home, having sailed for Europe a few weeks ago. It is understood that most of the furniture, personal effects and handsome fittings were burned. The loss on the house alone will be $50,000. Wealthy Girl Js Missing. Miss Ida Carr, aged 26 years, daughter of David Carr, one of the wealthiest men in East Tennessee, disappeared several days ago from her home at Old Town, and no trace of her has since been secured. It is rumored she was kidnaped by two men, but her family do not believe it. They think she committed suicide. Coal Breaker Burns. The No. 12 coal breaker at Plymouth, Pa., owned by Haddock & Shonk, was destroyed by fire. The loss js $90,000. It is supposed it was struck by lightning. About 450 men and boys are thrown out of employment until the breaker is rebuilt. Granite Quarry Combine. James G. Batterson, Jr., vice-president of the New England Granite Works, confirms the report that a combination of "various Eastern quarries is under There are about fifteen properties which will be included in the combine, which will represent $12,000,000 capital. Kansas City Packing House Closed. Schwarzschild & Sulzgerger’s Kansas City packing plant was closed by the local management rather than grant a second advance in wages to its 200 butchers and their helpers. One thousand men are out of work. 1 hoshoncs Make Trouble. Advices from White Rock, Shoshone Indian reservation, say there, are prospects of disturbances on that reservation in connection with the Indian school, and that the fourth attempt to burn the school building has-been made. Another Body Recovered. The body of Captain Brown of the wrecked steamer Olwell was found by the tug Daisy near where the body of his son had been found earlier. The corpse, which was badly decomposed, was taken to Lorain, Ohio. Alger Decides to Quit. It is announced from Washington that Secretary Russell A. Alger's resignation of the war-portfolio is now in the hands of President McKinley. Five Fatally Hurt in Fire. Fire in a crowded five-story tenement in Monroe street, New York, resulted in fatal injuries to five persons and the overcoming by smoke of eight others.