The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-03-15
EXTRAORDINARY BANK pEFAL.
CATION.
Three Hundred Thousand Dollars Stol.
en- from q Baltimore Bank.


The following account Of how Baltimore
Bank has been swindled for the last twenty
hv. years by pair of ducks, and to the
amount Of 100000 will give one an idea
how Banks are managed in this country,
and how rotten they are:
From the Baltimore American, Marcia
This comparatively quiet and unsensa-
tlunal community was startled on Saturday
last rs rumurs OF the discovery OF heavy
aeialcation upon the part OF TWO officers of
The National Mechanics Bank. well known
to the business community, and subsequent
developments only proved the rumors too
well founded for the comfort of dcpositors
III the peculiarly unfortunate institution
concerned
The particulars, so far as can be learned,
appear to be that on Tuesday last United
states government bank inspector, Mr.
Calender, commenced an investigation into
the condition OF the National Mechanics
Bank, located on the south east corner of
Calvert and Fayette streets and during the
uay discovered false entries upon the books
in which are kept the accounts of foreign
banks, and which are in charge of Samuel
IL. Wentz, who was known as the foreign
book keeper" He suspended his work
and went to dinner, and upon his return
discovered that during his absence false
entries, to the amount of $4,000, had
been made He Immediately stopped all
the business Of the bank, closed the books,
aud proceeded to ferret out the matter of
the apparent maj practice. This was con-
tlnued until Saturday last, when all the
cv;Jnn.o ,,o,ctol 70 xNont1 n,,1 LII II
Rogers, the paying teller, as the criminals
and this system of peculation was traced
back over a period of twenty seven years.
Upon being informed Of the suspicious
and evidence against them, both Wentz
and Rogers made full confessions, at least
70 tar as their statements can be relied up
On. The former says that this system Of
ROBBERY has been In progress ever since he
Las been In the bank-a period OF thirty
i've yeafs-though nothing has been dis
covered Beyond twenty years back.
lie admits having stolen over SOC, 900,
and though somewhat worried at predica
n,ent in which he finds himself, seems to
think he has committed no very grave of
fcn>e. He Processes to have a very bad
memory as 10 dates and figures, and has
given no particulars as to what use he made
OF the money, further than it has all been
used up. Rogers acknowledges having
taken ST, 900 altogether, 81, 900 at one time
aud 81, 600 at another.
1t has not been definitely learned by what
process the money was gotten hold of by
the guilty parties, but the Deficiencies are
understood to have been covered up by
charging them to the acc ,unt of foreign
banks. The sum of $500, 900 is supposed
To he about the amount missing Sufficient
evidence of the guilt of the accused having
been obtained, the cashier of the bank, Mr.
Coleman, with Mr.. Caughy one of the di-
rectors, appeared before justice Hayward,
and hlving made the necessary affidavit.
procured warrants for their arrest, which
were placed in The hands of policeman Irv-
Ing, who at once took them into custody
and took them before the magistrate,
Wentz here had but little to say, while
Rogers stated that he was entirely taken by
surprise, and, as ne had ro counsel, would
like to make some remarks in explanation.
The justice, however, advised him to say
nothing until he consulted with counsel, and
required each party to give bail in the sum
OF $4,000 tC await the action of the grand
jury. Michael Warner, the president of
the bank, who is a brother-in law of Rogers
was sent for and became his bondsman, but
Wentz, being unable to procure bail, was
committed to jail
Both of these parties having long been
employed in the bank, and up to the last
week enjoyed the confidence of their EN-
ployers. Rogers, who is about forty-five
years of age, was one Of the principal wit
ncsses in the celebrated case of Turner and
Birch, who were convicted about twenty
years ago of embezzling money from the
same institution. He resided with his
family at No. SIS Lexington street. and
was regarded as living in moderate style
nothing indicating an approprlatlng of III
gotten grain. Wenz is man of nearly
sixty years, with large and extravagant
family, but lived in a house of moderate
proportions, neatly furnished, at No. 337
West Lafayette street, and nothing in his
conduct wou'd have led the most skeptical to
suspect that foyuhaf his lifetime he had
been appropriating with lavish hand the
funds of other people. He was plain
man in appearance, known as a prominent
member of the Lutbern church, and reg
uar Sunday school teacher, and was scarce
" ever observed out of the routine Of his
business at the bank. Both parties are
very respectfully connected, and their con-
tession and detection in crime of such SER
ious character must fall with crushing
weight upon their respective families and
friends.
The robbery is regarded as one Of the
most adroit on record-the length of time
for which it continued evidencing this
and, probably, ran through longer series