Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-11

HOW the Mechanics, National Bank
scoti BRltilnore WAS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Hundred Thousand Dollars Gone
The Fraud Undetected for Twenty.
seven Kears-The BeOk-keeper the
PerpetratOr.
ea.iIFrom the Baltimore Commercial. March
FOR the pastnforty- hours the com.
munity have been considerably exercised
upon-the subject of "a heavy banL
de ale ton perpetrated upon, the MechaIi-
les n .Gional Bank of this city, corner OF
Fay tsee and Calvert streets, to the extent
of a about $30OOO0. The matter first be-
came noised abroad on Saturday morning
last but was so enwrapped in obscurity
however, that there was but little excite
ment about the matter until the afternoon
when it was announced that two of the
bank clerks had been arrested, and rumoT
soon exaggerated the matter to astounding
PfopOrtions: The particulars of, the ease
Solar as wehave been able to learn, seem
to be briefly as follows s:EAGovernment in
spector, whose duty it is to examine into
the affairs of national banks was engaged
In the discharge of that duty on Wednes-
day and Thursday last, when he discovered
evidences of fraud on the part of some one
or more of the officers, aud Immediately
began a most strict investigation, which
resulted in the discovery, as he ALLEGES,
that there had been system of fraud prac-
ticed during period of tI0enty-seUen years
by the general book keeper, Samuel III.
.Wentz, who, it is alleged, had, during
false entries and charges against
foreign banks, amounting, GO it = is
Supposed, to over 100000. - The
Information was at once given to the direc-
tors of the bank, who continued the inves-
tigation, and on Saturday authorized the
arrest of Wentz, as also John II. Rogers.
the paying teller of the bank, who were at
once taken into custody by Officer Irving
and sarraigned before lJustieea Hayward,
who upon q statement. of the facts, COM
mitted Mr.. Wentz to jail to await the action
of the grand jury, upon the charge of'tsteal-
ing money and drafts rom the National
Mechanics Bank" Mr.. Rogers, the paying
teller. was also examined before the JUS
tices and was released In the sum of $4,000
to answer the same charge. In anticipa-
tioillof the excitement which it was, very
naturally supposed would ensue among the
depositors in the bank, the directors re-
1uested q meeting of the bank presidents OF
the city, which meetiG g was held. on Satur-
day, when afull and fair statement of the
facts was made, and a statement OF the
affairs OF the bank exhibited before said
meeting, the result of which was the
publication Of q card blythe president
and directors of the bank. The various
bank presidents concurred in the propriety
of the publication of the card referred to.
and further c0ncurred in the opinion, aud
EXPRESSED a Willingness to sustain the Me-
chanics' Bank in meeting all their present
liabilities, so that the depositors in the in
stitutii n may rest easy as to their depOsits.
The 1reGt RS also announce their willing
ness t. e. nee meet all demands made upon
them b5 uepositors as readily as they have
done heretofore, and express determina-
tfon to sustain the uibblemished reputation
OF the bank for reliability which it has en-
joyed throughout period of over sixty
years, the bank having been incorporated
in 1906. since which time it has been most
suceessfu,. aud has always been deemed
safe and reliable. Tile unfortunate affair
mas cast dark veil of gloom and sorrow
over the families anu friends OF the Unfor-
tunate clerks named above, botl of whom
enjoyed the reputation of being exemplary,
upright and thoroughly reliable officers.
Mr.. 'Wentz- has been in the employ OF the
bank during thirty five years, and enjoyed
the entire confidence of the directors and
the immunity. He was also respected
member of tue church, and had always
been looked upon as most worthy and re-
ligious man. The affair has proved sad
hlOwsto his family, one of whom, it is stat
ed, Immediately upon learning of the af-
fair, closed ups his place of business and
delivered the key into the hands of the di-
fectoFs, with authority to take possession
of the premises, in part payment of the
amount of the alleged defalcation. Mr..
Rogers, the paying teller, was also man
OF excellent reputation, and had been in
the bank during period of twenty-five
years, being considered man entirely re-
liable and trustworthy. AS to the mode of
concealing the frauds through such a long
series of years, there are many conflicting
statements, which will doubtless be shortly
made public by the grand jury, before
whom the matter will 20 for investigation.