New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-02
A BANK PRESIDENT MISSING.
WILLIAM H. MCNEIL AN ENIBEZzLER.
GONE TO CANADA WITH 800, ,000-THE LANCASTER
NATIONAL BANK sUsPENDs.

NATIONAL BANK SUSPENDS.
BosroN, Jan. l (SpeciaD. The Lancaster
National Bank OF Clinton. Mass. closed Its doors yes
srday and rein ed to transact any business whatever
pendIng an investigation. The president, William H.
Mcneil It Is reported fed Canada. The institution
has been placed in the hands OF Bank Examiner
Gatchell. His Investigation is not hnished put Inc
Indications that Mcneil is an embezzler TO the
amount OF about 100000. AS matters now stand II
seems probable that the entire will be dead loss IT,
depositors Mcneil gave bonds nor did lie opNge
his cashier to give any, and does not leave largo
amount OF available property. He made his nome IN
Lancaster and had a house In Hyannls and larh ln
New Hampshire. But they more or less mortgogcd.
Lancaster Bank. which failed ten years ago
day. had $4,000 deposited in the National Bank,
and t Is believed that at least one halt OF this amount
was stolen by Mcneil. The disappearing president took
with him lo about $4,000 of socureson whichhe had
placed his name and put in the bank
Suspicion has recently strongly attached 10 McNets
course and II ha had remained at homo day longer he
would have been arrested He left Lowell on Tuesday
and Clinton and called at the bank and replen
shed his pocket with all the available assets that could
be transferred from the safe neglecting to take
large amount Of securities which lay there, and on
many OF which his name figured, obtaining la this way
It is surmlscd nearly onol alf the total dohct Then
entering carriage he drove rapidly to Fitchourg lie
had a coml anon with him. "a stranger to people IN
Clinton and whose connection with the affair remains
North wrere oil trace OF them lost
Chief Wade OF the State detective force Is at work on
tile case Mcneil Is not known TO have lived fast ana Is
believed to have lost money In speeulaiions. Ills wIe
owns valuable real estate In Boston. but that is In her
name and cannot be touched by her husbands creditors
Ono OF McNcils ventures was in the Low Cattle Com
pauy of Chevcnne. He also interested In marble
works at Rutland, Vt. and In tho Hyaunis Land Com
pany. lie Is about fortye years old and has wife
and children The cashier of the bank says thore
are about $227 900 In deposits $4,000 surplus ana
sl4 900 undivided profits The bank holds promissory
notes OF the Low Cattle Company to the amount OF
10000. aud notes indorsed BY that concern for
$4,000. These supposed to he good
The Lancaster Bank was organized In 1885, with
5000 900 capital and became National Eank In 1864.
formerly at Lancaster but was moved TO Chntoh
in June 1868 whom 1t became the Lancaster National
Bank Last January when the directors held their
mectnl marked exceptions were taken to the business
methods OF the institution. and H. C. Greedy member
OF tho Governors Council, in pAin aud uhmeasured
t.rms spoke for those differing from the management
relative TO tho course pursued Cashier W. H. Mcneil
lis sened to the scatning denuncatOn OF his methods,
but made no reply other than to say, with peculiar
smile. Gentlemen, we will now proceed to vote for
diiectors" tho result being that W. H. Mcneil, OF Lan-
caster: Ira A. Lowe, Of Wyoming; General W. r.
Bachelor. OF Lowell; c. l.. Hosmcr. of Newton; f. C.
MoNen and william Russell. OF Iancaserj Jerome
Gardner OF Shirley. aud Alfred Page Of Aver were
elected the board together with Elisha
j. T.. Howe. OF Lancaster. Neither Of the last two
mentioned has ever qualified. Mr.. Greedy and d. i.
Ingalls, recalcltrants. were dropped W. H. Mcneil was
subsequently president Tue charter OF tho bank
was extended in October 1884. Just before which Bank
Examiner Neetham mIds a special examination and
pronounced IL In hrst-class condition On November Il
Bank Examiner Gatchcli made an examination hut was
dissatisfied with OF the loans and In his report 70
the Treasury Department at Washington he sent more
extended account affairs than usual ft was ten years
ago that the Lancaster Savings Bank suspended W. H.
Mcneil being that time its treasurer, although the
causes leading 20 its suspension arose prior to his
assuming that position. Mr.. Mcneil Elisha Brlmhall OF
Lancaster and BENJAMIN Snow, Of Ptchbure. we're
app dated receivers. The affairs OF that bank have
ne icr been settled.
FircHBURG, Mass. Jan l.-W. II. Mcneil the missing
president OF Lancaster Bank. OF Clinton was at the
depot here about - p. III. Tuesday and probably
took the Cheshire tram tho North One OF hls nc
quaintances twice tried to speak TO hn, but Mcneil
took notice Of him.
LOWELL. Mas Jan l. The CITY Institution for saw
ings has deposited In the Lancaster Bank which
has boon regarded with distrust for some months
McNers nam, refused by bank here more than
year ago The city institution has 1000 deposiors
and q surplus OF 100000. Charles j. Ghdden Treas,
Of the Erie Telephone Company. one OF me small
dopositors In the Clinton Bank There are but Few