Further Adventures of Clyde and Chester

The following investigative report, Corned Beef and Cabbage, is taken from the Chester P. Karrick, Jr. book entitled Clyde and Chester, The Investigators: Fraud, Embezzlement, Theft.  More reports are to follow.  Also read Over the Fence They Will Go. 

On Monday, April 9 at 7pm, Author Chester P. Karrick, Jr. will be at Friendswood Public Library to discuss some of the investigative cases conducted by himself and legendary Houston private eye, Clyde A. Wilson.

Corned Beef and Cabbage by Chester P. Karrick, Jr. 

Clyde and Chester went to the Mid-west to investigate possible inventory shortages in a client’s paint, dye and colors plant operation.  The client suspected that the plant manager was probably involved in fraud.

The client requested the plant manager meet with Clyde and Chester at a motel a few blocks from the plant at 2:00 pm the next afternoon.

Clyde and Chester arrived in the city about 11:00am on the day of the meeting and checked into the motel.  As this was hours before the manager arrived, they went to the motel restaurant for lunch.  The luncheon special that day was corned beef and cabbage.

Clyde quickly said he wanted the luncheon special.

Chester said, “Clyde, you know you have a spastic colon. Corned beef and cabbage will tear you up.”

Clyde replied, “No sweat, I’ll be alright.”

Clyde ordered the corned beef and cabbage and Chester ordered a BLT.

Over lunch they realized the need for a secretary that could take shorthand and type the statement that would be taken.

Chester went to the motel office to see if someone there could help them around 2:00 pm that afternoon.  The motel clerk introduced Chester to a young lady who said she would help.  She was told to come to the room at 2:00 pm.

The plant manager and the young lady arrived about the same time and were asked to take seats around the table in the room.

The girl got out her shorthand pad to be ready for taking a statement.  Clyde turned his charm on the manager.

The manager persistently denied any involvement in the inventory shortages.  After about ten or fifteen minutes the manager started crying and began telling Clyde about his thefts.

Clyde started dictating a statement to the young lady.  Every few minutes she furiously scratched her upper body.  This was distracting.

Finally, Chester asked her, “What is the problem?”

She replied, “Several friends and I spent last Saturday in Aspen skiing naked in the snow.  I got sunburned and am now peeling all over.”

Chester told her to go back to her office, as they didn’t need her anymore.  Chester told Clyde that he would write the statement out longhand on a notepad.

Just as Clyde starting dictating the statement again, he excused himself.  The corned beef and cabbage had just taken effect.  He headed for the bathroom.

By the time Clyde returned to the room, the plant manager had regained his composure.  He didn’t want to talk anymore. Clyde confronted him again with the plant losses.  In a few minutes the manager began to cry again.  He then began to tell Clyde all about his thefts.

Just at that time Clyde had to excuse himself again.

When Clyde returned, they had to start the procedure all over again.  Just as Chester was getting started writing the statement Clyde excused himself again.

When Clyde didn’t return in a few minutes, Chester told the manager to get his chair and pull it over in front of the bathroom door.  Chester also pulled his chair over to the door.

Chester then kicked the bathroom door open and there sat Clyde in the lavatory sink splashing cold water up on his behind.  The corned beef and cabbage had not only given him diarrhea but also aggravated his hemorrhoids.

Clyde yelled, “What is going on?”

Chester replied, “If this statement is ever going to be finished we figured we will have to join you.”

There they all three sat while Clyde dictated and Chester wrote in longhand the manager’s statement.

The manager was married and had three children living at home.  He just wasn’t making enough money to meet his family’s demands.

The plant where the manager worked was open five days a week.  During the weekend, the manager went to the plant and loaded his car with various dyes, colors, and paint.

At various times during the week the manager went by plant customer offices and offered to sell the products at a special discount price for cash.  The manager had converted about $90,000 in plant products into $45,000 in cash during the past nine months.

Afraid that his wife might find out about his activities, the manager stored his ill-gotten gains in shoeboxes hidden in the bottom of his closet. 

About $11,000 remained in the closet that Clyde and Chester recovered.  The plant manager was terminated.

The client advised that he did not wish to pursue prosecution.

The fidelity bond insurance carried by the client had a large deductible which precluded recovering the client’s loss.