New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-07
CAUGHT at Last.

On Sunday, February II, Rudolph II.
Dreyer. caehier of the Farmers and Trad
ers' Institution, No. 1888 Market street,
absconded. leaving deficit OF nearly
as was then stated, had enjoyed a good
reputation and large confidence, as was
attested by the possibility OF such large
defslcation.
A few days before his disappearance the
confusion of his accounts was discovered
and the bank was closed. He entered into
negotiations with Mr.. w. II. Blanke, vice
president of the bank, and was so plausible
in his representations that it was deter
mined not to prosecute him criminaIly, but
to allow him to make good the deficit. His
sp,endid mansion at Glendale station
siren gthened the probability that he could
do this. 1t was found that he had been
speculating very heavily with the bank
| funds in corn and hogs, and this accounted
| for his arrears.
On Saturday night before his disappear
| ance he had conference with hlr: bianke,
| and when they parted he promised to meet
Mr.. Blanke again on Monday. He said he
| was going out home, but subsequent events
| show ed that he remained in toe city over
night He was not missed until Monday
morning. when il was found that he had not
been home, and Chief McDonough was noti-
| fed. The chiet was not at all surprised
and he had several days before urged the
| arrest of Dreyer as the only safe course.
| Photographs and printed descriptions of
him were at once circulated all through the
| country, especially in the South and South
| west. it being kno wn that he had q very ex-
| tensive acquaintance among the grain man
| of that section. The detectives went to
work and succeeded in ascertalnlng that
Dleyer had purchased Mardi Gras round
trip excursion tickst to New Orleans, that
/ fn
| that on Sunday night. wearing linen base
ball cap and q linen coat. he boarded q
night freight train on the Iron Mountain
| road bound south.
| He was traced to Belmont and there lost.
The chief Of police at New Orleans was no.
tilted. and was advised that, as Dreyer had
relatives in Havana, he might be on his
way there, and 1t would be we'll to notify
the consul not to issue passport to that
Dreyer did not apply. Nevertheless, he
did 20 to New Orleans, probably to take
look at the jetties, in which splendid pro-
iect he had some money invested. he was
met in New Orleans by man who knew
him we'll, but who did not know that he
was "wanted." He soon left that city and
proceeded to Galveston, where he was
again recognized by men who had known
him here. Thence he went to Dallas,
Il
nized. Finally he went to Austin, and
happened in there about the time Chiel
McDoaough's notification was received
Deputy Sheriff Sempeiman captured him
and on Tuesday notified Chief McDonough
of the fact by telegraph, asking what re-
ward was offered. The chief telegraphed
that q reward of $500 would be paid if ar
officer was sent from here for him, and 8
reward of $500 would be pai} for the de
livery of the prisoner in this &ty. Yester
day Sempelman telegraphed that Dreye
had concluded to waive the formality Of ,
requisition, and they would start tor st
Louis last night. They will probably reacl
here in q couple of days.
Meanwhile the bank has been closed, ant
the board of directors has held daily meet
ings to make some arrangement to max
good the deposits. They have shown
commendable spirit of fairness, and muc
credit is due to Mr.. Blanke, who has givel
nearly all his time to righting the affair
/ of the bank.
Dreyer's family received no warning fror
him Of his departure, and have not receive
any communication from him since.-S
Louis Republican.