Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-16

1 lfrOm l00CpTlHBuclu W. IsoPupliOt 'f'l
The Exchange Bank Closed up
The Banker, B. w. Allen, Absent
"A Mysterious Package the Sup
posed Cause. err
On Saturday last, by order OF the FRS
National Bank of Springfield, Sheriff Flem
| ing took possession of the Exchange Bank
kept on Main street, west of Limestone
street, north side, by B. w. Allen. Or
| Thursday morning last, Mr.. Allen present
| ed draft on Duncan, Sherman q Co., New
York, to the Cashier of the First National
Bank, for $1,000, stating that he was short
of currency. After consultation with Other
officers of the Bank, the cashier cashed tn:
draft.
On Friday dispatch was received by one
of our prominent business men, from the
Notary of well known bankers of Cincin-
natl, inquiring about the financial ability OF
B. w. Allen, and stating that nine thousand
dollars had been sent him by mistake. Up
on inquiry it was ascertained that on We'd
nesday, Mr.. Allen received from Cincinnati
by express, a package containing $lO,OOO
and that on Thursday he had taken the noon
train on the Sandusky and Dayton Railroad
for Cincinnati. These facts were telegraph
ed to the Cincinnati Bankers. A reply was
received that Mr.. Allen had not been in
Cincinnati. Upon further inquiry, it be-
came known that on Tuesday Mr.. Allen
had telegraphed to Cincinnati that pack
age of money, sent by mistake, had reached
him, and that he would remit; also that on
leaving his father-in-law's house. he told
his wife that he was going to Cincinnati, to
correct mistake which had been made by
bankers with whom he was doing business.
When these facts became known to the
officers of the First National Bank. they
suspected fraud in connection with the draft
obtained from the bank on the morning be-
fore Aliens departure, and proceeded to at
tach his property. When Sheriff Fleming
entered the Exchange Bank he found safe
with the key sticking in the door, the con-
tents of which were four dollars in notes, a
variety of personal papers, a balance sheet,
showing Mr.. Allen to be worth about So
600, book of drafts on New York, some
dated Springfield, some Oxford, Indiana,
some filed up, others blank. In the bank
were the counter and desk, some chairs, a
lounge, an overcoat, writing materials, and
other minor articles, upon all of which the
Sheriff put his mark; and also upon about
$500 worth of lumbur, part of which had
been delivered upon a lot on Main street.
east of David Shaffer's residence, which had
been presented to his wife by her father.
The incidents we have narrated excited
wide comment, and of course there were
many opinions respecting the Exchange
Bank, and its proprietor. The situation is
provocative of a decidedly sensation article,
but we wait for further developments.
Meanwhile, however, it is proper to explain
that the Ohio Valley Bank sent Mr.. Allen
$4,000 by mistake. intending to send him
$1,000. By telegraph from Cincinnati 1t
is known that Mr.. Allen was In that city
on Friday morning last, and by telegraph
from New York it is known that the draft
cashed by the First National Bank is worth
less. q
Mr.. Allen came to our city last winter,
aud opened the Exchange Bank in March.
His subsequent career furnished much gos-
sip, about which it may be proper here
after topresent our readers some comments.