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VIRGINIA EVENING REPORT
April 29, 1901

SKIPPED.

John F. McDonell Disappears for Parts Unknown Under a Cloud.

A sensation was created here yesterday by the startling news that John F. McDonell, Financial Secretary of the Miners’ Union and Vice-President of the Western Federation of Miners, was short in his accounts had had left town yesterday via the Geiger grade.

After the meeting of the Miners’ Union last Friday night, ugly rumors began to circulate, but what transpired at that meeting people could not exactly say. It was whispered among a few that McDonell had been denounced upon the floor of the hall and accused of dishonesty by a member of the order. The Union’s proceeding are conducted under the seal of secrecy, and it could not be definitely ascertained how much truth was in the report, but the rumors continued to spread until yesterday evening when it became generally known that the officers had gone in search of McDonell and found that he had left town. He was seen yesterday morning headed north on the Geiger grade and it was presumed that a carriage was awaiting him at some point further north on the Grade.

Just what the defalcation amounts to is not known, but it was stated last evening that the Finance Committee of the Union, which has the task of investigating the books, and to whom are due the discovery of the shortage, had found McDonell about $1100 short up to date and had only proceeded part way with the investigation.

McDonell, before leaving town, completely exonerated John L. Finnegan, Treasurer of the Union from all blame. McDonell stated that he and he alone had handled the funds of the order for the last five years, and that he was responsible for the entire shortage. He said that it was his intention to seek the aid of a wealthy relative and get enough to make good the deficiency. Those who still feel some degree of confidence in the man believe that this was his object in leaving town, and that he will return.

There have been many rumors of malfeasance in the office of the Financial Secretary during the past four years, but these have as regularly died out, and it finally came to be an accepted fact that nothing would ever come of the many ill reports, when the sudden denouement of Friday night took place.

What became of the money is not known. McDonell always enjoyed a good salary, and so far as known, had no expensive habits. The greatest source of expense to him was probably his custom of paying up the dues of members, who owing to their inability to keep up their assessments had fallen into bad standing. This was a heavy drain upon his purse, but it was by this means that he was enabled to hold office so long in defiance of the reports concerning his manner of conducting his office, as those whom he befriended in this manner felt themselves bound to support him.

In addition to these he had many other friends and attained to a certain degree of popularity and notoriety. He was elected to the office of Vice President of the Western Federation of Miners for three successive terms, and it was asserted with some appearance of truth that he might have had the Presidency of that organization at the last election had he consented to run against Edward Boyce the present incumbent. He also took a prominent part in local politics and was a delegate to every state convention of the Silver Party up to the last one, and was the Silver Party nominee for County Recorder in 1896.

The officers of the Union today turned over the books to District Attorney Pyne and that official will at once determine whether the evidence to be obtained from the accounts will justify the county’s being put to the expense of a trial. In case he is satisfied that the case stands a chance of being successfully prosecuted he will draw up an indictment which will be presented to the Grand Jury without delay.

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DAILY EVENING REPORT
Virginia City, Nevada

Federation of Miners’.

OFFICERS.
President and General Organizer, Edward Boyce, Wallace, Idaho; Vice President, John F. McDonell, Virginia City, Nevada; Secretary-Treasurer James Maher, (Box 572) Butte, Montana.

EXECUTIVE BOARD.

Edward Boyce, Wallace, Idaho; John F. McDonell, Virginia City, Nevada; William Walsh, Butte, Montana; Anthony Shovlin, Butte, Montana; Anthony Morton, Sand Coulee, Montana; R. J. Lyons, Altman, Colorado; John H. Frere, Lead City, South Dakota.

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NEVADA APPEAL
April 28, 1901

Clark People Lose.

Yesterday afternoon Judge Varian of Salt Lake city arrived in this city. He applied to Judge Hawley for an injunction to stop the Clark people from continuing with track building and preventing the Oregon Short Line people from building over the grade granted them by the decision rendered by the U. S. Attorney General. Judge Hawley after hearing the matter as presented, granted the order of injunction.

This practically settles the matter, and Clark will have to give way to the order. The defendants are given until June 3d to show cause why the injunction should not continue. The Short Line people have filed a bond of $25,000 to secure the defendants against any loss that may occur.

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CARSON NEWS
The dispatches announce that Senator John P. Jones is largely interested in a new mine in San Diego county, which is described as consisting of a mountain of high grade ore.

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Snow fell in Virginia City and Washoe Valley yesterday while it was raining here.

The Lake Tahoe & Truckee railroad is in running order. Regular trips will be made after May 15th.