The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-27


winch Ssa Scesn BY this time fortunately pro-
vided for In came the depositors one on top
OF another almost, so great was the anxiety to
get in towards the paying teller's window.
When the depositors saw the quiet, orderly look
OF things they were no doubt greatly astonished,
after hearing all the sensational rumors OF the
street. Some even plucked up courage and left the
place without drawing their money, but still by far
the greatest number were anxious until they felt
the soft pliabiity OF their greenbacks in their I'm
gers. The paying teller worked away very hard,
and was kept busy counting the pieces OF money
and paying them out, and putting down the figures
as they were given over. But most singular OF all
was that Mr.. TaintOr went behind the trelis work
and was experimenting and ordering the clerks
around just as II he held the same position as ever
He even addressed jocular remarks to some
of the aepositors whom he knew at all, and
no one would have supposed that he was
the man who had but just confessed such a
crime as his. 1t is singular, too, that
he should have been permitted to do So OF course
no one OF the outside public knew the facts OF the
case, but the Officers In the bank themselves IT
might have been supposed, would have stopped any
such display. At three O'Clock sharp the window
at the paying tellers as well as at the receiving
posts as usual, went down with click, and after
that time not penny was paid out. IL was AZ
with the other gentlemen OF the committee. They
Immediately were shown into the presidents
determined to begin the examination into the
banks affairs on the moment, and the committee
AFTER OFFICE HOURS
In the meantime the dep0sitors kept coming in
pretty FAST but in every case they were refused any
satisfaction, and in spite of all protests they
told ut is after banking hours" When the clerks
questioned as to the real trouble they refused
to state it, some OF the depositors went about
10
with grief When told that the bank had not sus-
pended they would not believe it, bur said it a
crowd OF depositors became so great that the out
side iron doors were closed, and after that time one
couid only get In by being intimately acquainted
with the officers.
Mr.. Southworth went round among the depositors
telling the trouble TO some he knew we'll but con
ceahng II from others. He was himself almost mad
with anxiety and despair. What had been Il Hour
ishlng institution in the morning was now, in his
eyes, disgraced. Some OF
THE DEPosrToRs
surrounded him and said they wanted to know the
truth, no matter what IL might be- Mr.. South
worth said he did not know himself, and would let
tnem know what Developments there were. He
then escaped back to his own room and did not ap
pear again Tor some time.
Then, one by Que the directors OF the bank came
dropping in. They had been telegraphed for and
had come in haste. only part OF them were pres
ent, however, and they congregated together and
discussed the issue with great indignation One
OF them said that "a man VINO would abuse conf
dence as Taintor had done ought to be lynchedo
The sentiments of the others, While not so warm
this, were not far below II III luminosity to the
cashier. The directors shortly after mad an inter
view with the president, but no conclusion was
come to as. to what should be done with Taintor
They were all old gentlemen and seemed TO be be-
widered about the sudden turmoil they had got
into.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS.
When the reporter OF the HERALD first went in,
early in the afternoon, he saw the president, Mr..
SOuthwOrth, who said that he could not say any
thing about the matter until the next day. Suisse
quently, however, when the reporter saw Mr..
Southworth, he was slightly more communicative.
He persisted in keeping the facts of the secret
and simply told the reporter that dinlculty had
could not then state, and what would be the future
of the bank he did not know.
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. TAINToR.
Mr.. j. F. Taintor Is young man apparently not
over twenty-seven years OF age. He may, possibly,
be beth, thirty however He Is slight and small much
he wears a blonde moustache and has blonde hair.
s hs yes there blue but piercing tnst
nour and water look about him that some
blondes possess. In dress he is natty and stylish,
and wears closely fitting shoes over a neat foot.
One would take him for young, but solid "bloOd,"
and possibly think he was Wall street man.
There Ia determined air and dash about him
point. He, in one word, locks like man who, hav
ing played bold game and lost does not shrink
mt q SSs a
ness AS lie walked ronnd the Office yesterday
he was the~ least emotfoned OF all those IN the
place, and there was something to admire as
well as condemn in his courage. Nor did this out
ward bearing fail him for single moment. 70
some men who came up and shook hands with him
and sympathized in his 'misiortune," as they
termed it, he said, "Oh, It's all right; don't fret
about me.o
When the HERALD reporter failed in getting any
information OF any account from the president OF
the bank he looked around to see VINO could be
best buttonhoied for the desired news 1t was before
the fact had come out and the reporter was not
aware that
TAINToR WAS THE MAN
who caused all the hubbub. Not having the pleas
ure OF Tainror's acquaintance in lact the reporter
went up to him and aakcd him whether the bank
bad failed. This gentleman said =
II really don't know whether 1t has or not. No
body, in lact KNOWS The Clearing House Commit
tee is in session present. and until il gets through
we really can't tell what the condition OF the
bank 49,"
not ~ asked the reporter naivey.
Eyes, ! have an executive position here" an
swered Mr.. Taintor with admirable GOODNESS.
"But what Is the cause OF the trouble Even
though the bank may not have failed. there is some
reason for the diiliculiyy'
"Yes," responded Mr.. Taintor, with admirable
coolness 'sihey say the cashier OF the bank is IN
a difficulty. but don't want to say so, because you
know it Is never safe to say these things OF other
.sAnd you have heard nothing of what the alleged
mo, nothing that am at liberty to say. The
president might be able TO tell you more than l
can. am SIMPLY his subordinate, and it wouldn't
look well Tor me to say too mucn'
''Will the. committee get through tonight, do
II don't know. It'has a great deal OF work to do
yet and very probably may not be able to examine
everything Tonight. But perhaps you had better
remain ana Something startling may astonish
you by and by.n
Ten minutes alter the reporter found that the
man he had been talking to was the great de.
lauter, and the effect, as he had said, was some
what startling.
REEPING BACK THE FACTS.
1t was a long time, however, before any thing re-
liable could be obtained. Everybody belonging To
the bank seemed to be interested in Keeping the
truth as secret as possible. The president went
around TO one and another and forbid anything
being said to the members or the press Even the
depostors lips were closed, and they would say
nothing, PROBABLY under the idea that the more
they made friends with the president the more
they were like to be well treated when the clearing
up day CAME
At length the reporter caught Mr.. F. ID. Tappan,
the Chairman OF the Clearing House Committee,
who had been hard AT work all this time inside the
presidents Office, and asked him some definite in
formation about q matter which no one seemed TO
be willing to converse upon.