The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-09-20
ABroken Banks Tragedy.
III. Cashier and Pr..is.n. Csanil Suicide


phyxia. Scarcely had the news
of his death been made public,
than the directors of the bank
began an examination of his ac-
counts. They worked night and
day until Sunday, when about
three fourths of the work was
done. The total deficiency as
then figured was S235,93 81. Of
this sum Hill had stolen $196,S2S
Ga. The difference, $780, 67,
was the shortage of President
Mahlon Runyon.
A run on the bank began on
Thursday, and up to Frinay night
about 800. 600 over the average had
been paid out. On Saturday the
run continued, and at l o'clock
$4,000 had been paid out for the
day. There was a temporary sus.
pension awaiting the arrival Of
cash raised on collateral. This
came at 2:20 o'clock. Payment
was resumed and continued until
the regular hour for closing.
President Runyon had been in
formed soon after he arrived at
the bank this morning that his ar.
rest would follow some time dur
ing the day. When he received
this news he accepted it as the in
cyitable, and without changing a
muscle said that it was what he
expected. Soon after he was Wis
tied by his friend, Stephen Van
Wickle, who offered assistance if
needed. But Mr.. Runyon declin-
ed the proffered assistance, and
said as Mr.. Van .Wickle went
away, "a whole million gone-a
whole million gomez
Turning to an officer, he sent to
the bookstore Of Mr.. Shiveler
with a request to get the copy of
The Times belonging to James s.
Walker, q young farmer living
near Mr.. Runyon's place. Once
in his hands Mr.. Runyon turned
eagerly to the column containing
the account of the condition OF
affairs of the National Bank of
New Jersey. Only half of the ac-
count as published did Mr.. Run.
yon read, when he dropped the
paper and rose to his feet.
"My Godw he murmured, "the
truth is out"
There were present in the room
directors Letson, Stoddard and
Martin. In the other room a
short, sandy.bearded, belligerent
looking individual had arrived,
and without y word to any one,
scrawled in red ink, on a twofoot
square of white, tho following
which was posted on the door ol
tho bank in the face of the wait
ing 500:
"This bank is temporarily clos
ed, pending an examination by the
Examiner, who has arrived ant
taken charge. No business vii
be done except the payment o
debts and notes, for which pur
pose people will be admitted b,
the policeman.
ED. II. SHELLEY,
National Bank Examiner
| While this notice was bein,
posted President Runyon stepped
into a closet, a room not large
than by 8, with window on tn,
north side. He took off his Goa,
having previously left his waist
coat in the directors room, OWN,
to the sultriness of the day. The
he deliberately rolled up hi
sleeves and took from his pocke
a small black handled penknif
and opened one of the blades
dull, hacked blade, an inch and
quarter in length. He then toe
from his pocket gold watch an
set the open face on the windo'
sill in plain sight, edging it up wit
a piece of paper. Then taking hi
, knife in his left hand, he deIibei
+, ately made two deep gashes in hi
/. right arm at the elbow joint, SCI
ering the basilar artery. Changin
his knife to his right hand b
|. gashed his left arm in the sam
manner.
, Steadily his eye was fixed 0
the watch. He saw that he woul
be discovered before death cam
by so slow a process. Then /
deliberately took up again I'll
blood-stained knife, and on Il
g right side of his neck laid bare Il
common carotid artery. Aga
taking the knife in his other han
he cut open the left side of b
throat to the bono and severe
the iugular vein. Death came, al
speedily, to the desperate ma
with his eyes fixed on the dial
y his watch.
"Wbere's Mr.. Runyonp ask
!. director Myers, who entered Il
- directors room in q few moment
: "He's gone out, | guess," W
u the reply. In the meantime a Gle
: tried to open the closet, but foul
it locked. Director Myers becar
: impatient, and, as Mr.. Runyon hi
" been under surveillance all t
morning, Janitor Wesner was &c
) out to look into the closet. |
came back terror stricken, al
gasped, 'There's some one de
in there ~
l.. "Great God 7, said the dir(
tors in q breath. The door of t
closet was burst open, and wi
blanched faces the directors gaz
upon the body Of the second 8
Is eide within the circle of the ba
: officials within five days. "Runy
is dead.n AS the word we
through the bank the clerks drC
ped work as though a pestilen
had fallen upon them. Only |
aminer Shelly kept on. never ra