The Republican journal., 1873-07-24
Defalcation and Suicide.
NEIy YOpE


New YORK, July 10.
1t is stated that the personal accounts
OF +. S. Mills, late President of the
Brooklyn Trust Company who was
drowned at Coney Island last Tuesday
morning are overdrawn 100000, and
that he allowed :he loaning of over $780,
600 of the funds of that institution upon
doubtful security.
The suspension OF the Brooklyn Trust
Company was a great surprise to all, and
caused a temporary depression on the
stock exchange to-day. Many of the
brokers were in the habit of borrowing
money from the concern, and not one of
them ever suspected that anything was
| wrong. The capital OF the concern was
| 5000. 900, surplus 100000 and deposits
| s., POI. 900
| Mr.. Mills the late President, is a de-
! taulter to the extent of S146, 900, and has
let Sl50,0o0 in the Willimantic Air Line
capital railroad bonds, which have some
value, but not enough to cover the amount
OF cash taken. Mr. Chauncey. one Of the
| directors, has been trying for a long time
past to get up an examination Of the COM
pany, but the directors generally objected
a. it would be a reflection upon Mr.. Mills.
| 4 asst he obtained consent OF five of the
! directors, the requisite number required,
| for an examination, and soon as Mills
found this out he committed suicide.
New YORK, July 20.
The belief that Mr. Mills late President
of the Brooklyn Trust Company, commit
ted suicide is becoming quite general. 1t
is said that on the day before his death
some OF the bank directors informed him
that an examination of his accounts would
be commenced the next day Monday
afternoon Mr.. Mills obtained full settle
ment of his land agent and deposited the
check which he received from the latter
in the Nassau bank to his wife's credit
After this transaction he settled the ac-
counts OF his butcher and baker, which
were usually paid at the end of each
month All the we'll authenticated ru-
mors circulated last evening are to be
credited With conduct at Coney Island
during last night his lite gives natural
support to the suicide theory. 1t is stated
that he did not retire to his bedroom ill
a very late hour, and the next morning it
was found that his bed had not been slept
in. At The time of his death these facts
were studiously concealed. but yesterday
those in possession OF them concluded
that further secrecy was useless. 1t is said
in Brooklyn to-day the examination of
the books OF the bank as far as prosecr-
ted last night develope a loss of $500, 900
1t was threatened last night that war
rant would be issued for the arrest of
Secretary Rodman, who continued to
countersign Mills's checks, although be
knew that his account was heavily over
drawn.
70 EUROPE BY BALLOON. Many par
ticuars are published OF the construction
of the great Graphic balloon, wherewith
Professors Wise and Donaldson intend to
attempt the passage OF the Atlantic, start
ing from New Y ork about the goth OF Au-
gust next. The only chance for success
tai issue ol this hazardous voyage, al
most the only chance, indeed, tor life
which the daring aeronauts will possess,
depend upon the tiotant endurance of the |
aerial snip. TO ortlfY the apparatus in
this respect will be the paramount consid- |
Grafton OF the navgators. Doubtless |
they would be glad to eongate the bal |
loon, provide propellers and steam power
and so continue the experiments in aerial
navigation ably begun by De LONE and
others. But the necessities of the present
occasion forbid. The ordinary rotund
form Of balloon, although unsuited for
mechanical propulsion, is best adapted |
Tor strength as Il gas holder, and this is
the form that has been wisely chosen. |
Professor Henry, writing to the Graphic |
also 10 Professor Wise, fully indorses the |
views OF the latter in respect to the eXis- |
fence OF constant easterlv currents above |
the earth and expresses the belief that if
the balloon can be kept aioat long enough
she may be waited over the ocean to Eu- |
rope. But he does not recommend the |
attempt. and, il it must be undertaken
wishes that some other person, Tor whom
he had less personal regard than Profess
or Wise, were about to make the trial |
He thinks that us preliminary to this
ocean voyage, Professor Wise ought to
MAKE an overland flight from the Pacific
to the Atlantic, a distance nearly equal to
the width OF the Atlantic ocean. To this |
Professor Wise replies that the easte1ly
currents VIII be found Steadier and safer
over the ocean than above the land and
he prefers % take the risks OF dropping
into the SEA- rather than the chances of
humping against the cliffs of the Rocky
Mountains. In view OF The professors
experiences on his great voyage from
Missouri to New ok, IN 1899. described
iii our last number, we think his conclus-
lon is correct. He expects to be able to
keep alloat in the air for at least ten days
while only three days will be actually re-
CURED tor the great ''watt." To us the
probabilities OF his success appear to be
little better than those of an individual
WHO, in an open boat, without sail or oars,
should attempt to float across the Atlantic
upon the surface of the Gulf stream
Scientific American.