The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-15
A BANKING TRAGEDY
Suicide of Cashier After Burning
Bonds and Securities.
A DEFAULTER FOR OTHERS.
Lamberton's Bank Of Franklin, Pa, Sees
100000 Of Its Money Destroyed-Par-
ticulars Of the Tragic Affair.
FRANKLIN. Pa, March IA. 1873.

FRANKLIN, Pa, March IA, 1873.
This community was shocked this morning be-
yond expression by report Of the suicide OF
Thomas F. Anderson, cashier OF Lamberton's Bank
OH Thirteenth street, Franklin. The injured man
fingered in great agony till four hours after
the occurrence, when he expired. 1t appears that
Anderson, who is IA man Of about thirty-four years
OF age, came to the bank at the usual hour
this morning and unlocked the safe and removed
the contents to the accustomed places and had
everything arranged for the transaction OF bust
ness. Several customers came In, did what bust.
ness they had to do, and left without noticing any
thing ont OF the way with the cashier. In about
fifteen minutes after the last person
noticed coming out OF the bank Anderson the
cashier, was seen stepping hurredly from
the door OF the banking house to the street. When
he reached the street his pace quickened, and
finally he commenced to run for dear life, having
one OF his hands thrust In his coat pocket. He
hadn't got far away when some persons, aston
ished at the action OF the cashier, noticed smoke
issuing from the main entrance Of the
bank and, supposing the house was on fire, ran
across the street and entered the room. Here they
found several members OF Mr.. Lamberton's family
pale with fright, but reserving sufficient presence
of mind to extinguish the flames, which were
issuing from the CRATE and rising to some
| wooden work on the wall above. AS
| that the crate had been piled up with green
backs, bonds, securities and other valuable papers,
AS quickly as possible these were drawn out and
water splinhled over them; but IL was found that
most all OF the heap was in a charred state, and
that some Crumbled to ashes and was blown about
the bank by the wind that came In through swing
ing doors. what valuable papers and money that
lay in the middle OF the basket which the crazy
cashier had piled in were found to be little injured.
But this was Of meagre value in comparison with
that destroyed In the meantime number OF gen.
tlemen had followed Anderson down Thirteenth
from the bank. When he reached the front door
he turned the knob eXcitedly, and, finding the
e me eps Ana N sSe e
| and, finding his wle In the sitting room, handed
her . letter, saying to her, 81 am going to do an
awful deed" lie had pistol in his right hand and
his wife, supposing that he was about to Kill some
| body, closed the door and came over to
| finally grapped the pistol but the frenzed
man shook her or again. She caught the weapon
but Anderson pushed violently away through the the
put the muzze OF the pistol to his forehead and
| fired. His wife uttered one scream Mt the dis
charge OF the weapon and iel iainting in the arms
OF lady friends who at that moment arrived at the
scene. Her husband dropped the pistol from his
stream moved from q wound in his temple.
The contents Of the letter to his wife are not yet
maze Known, put tne substance Is snat ne was car
amount and that he was determined not to leave
any trace, and therefore destroyed the bonds and
| money. On his desk IN the banking house
he lett letter in conspicuous place, the contents
OF which went on to state that all special deposits
| and bills receivable had been destroyed; that his
| death was that OF suicide; that his family were
| ruined and disgraced forever
1t is dificult tonight to approximate the loss by
| the bonfire of bonds and money, but rough esti-
mate puts IL at 900, of which sum there Will be
| recognized and saved perhaps forty thousand dol
| lars. This includes Mr.. Lamber ton individual and
| government bonds, the balance being securities.
| This afternoon despatch was sent to the United
| States Treasurer requesting that an expert be
| sent on Immediately to examine what remains OF
the burned money and bonds. Until this party ar.
| rives and makes an examination the full extent OF
| the loss can only be cOnJectured.
| Mr. Lamberton had the utmost confidence In An
ders0n. He was sober, Industrious man, and his
| employer trusted him as he would one OF his own
family. There Is no way OF accounting for the &C
ton OF the unfortunate man, except upon the the
DRY of his having been deaulter to an amount es-
| was about transferring his hank to X. A. Cochran
formerly OF the First National Bank, O. w. Gillfelan
| and others. The books were to be balanced and
| the concern transferred this week. Anderson,
| knowing full well that his crime could not longer
be concealed, took this course to hide 1t II pos
| sibe.
The opinion is expressed freely by business men
| as o catspaw by persons whose names cannot be
At present discovered. The cashier had not been
known to use money in speculation or otherwise,
It Is said, except for household expenses, and 1t Is
| generally conceded that whatever he defaulted
| somebody else is responsible for.
| An inquest was held over the body tonight,
| when, after hearing the testimony OF number OF
| tomorrow. The dreadful nature Of the crime has
cast gloom over the city OF Franklin, and the sad
ending OF promising lie Ii the theme Of general
conversation.