The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-15
SAFE IN THE VAULTS.
Frank McNeaIly's Brother Returns
the Funds of the Bank.

SAco, Feb 15.-The end of the Saco bank
robbery sensation came this morning. The
institution has recovered every dollar of the
$265, 900 worth of registered and negotiable
bonds stolen by Frank G. McNeally last
August This morning the trustees held a
meeting and drew up the following official
statement:
A registered package posted in Liverpool
February 3, directed to 5. L. Goodale, Saco
and Biddeford Savings Institution, was re-
ceived at the Saeo post Office by the evening
mail of the 14th instant. Upon being opened
at meeting of the trustees on the 10Th in
slant, it was found to contain the thirty-seven
United States registered per cent. bonds of
5000 each, and amounting, to $1S5,OOO, to-
gether with the negotiable bonds amounting
to $4,000, with all their coupons attached,
which were stolen feom the Saco and Bidde-
ford Savings Institution in August last by
Frank c. McNeally.
The bonds we've recovered by Harry A. Nc
Neatly, his brother, who thereupOn arranged
with Messrs. Brown, Shepley q Co., Of Lon
don and Liverpool, for their safe delivery to
said Institution at Saco under notarial seal
and by registered post, the insurance upon
the same having been first effected with the
Thames and Mersey Marine Insurance Com
pany
The return of the bonds is accompanied
with no conditions whatever Harry is un-
questionably entitled to the reward offered.
Besides this, he has earned the gratitude of
the institution and of its dep0sitors by his
untiring and self sacrificing efforts, begun on
the day of the discovery of the theft and
continued until success crowned his laDors,
and until the recent trip to Europe. All his
expenses in these efforts were paid from his
own earnings and savings. How much OF
this success is due to penitence or remorse,
or to Egyptian fever, or to other causes, no
mortal knows. There seems to be room for
hope that the youthful offender may not be
beyond reclamation.
The Brothers Statement.
Harry A. McNeally, the brother of the de-
fauIter, was called upon by reporter, after
the meeting of the trustees today. He did
not seem inclined to talk freely about the
recovery of the bonds, for he admitted that
he had done his best to redeem his brothers
crime and he did not now care TO discuss the
matter.
81 will say this" he continued, ''that Frank
is entitled to great deal of sympathy. The
surrender of the bonds was remarkable oc-
currence. He might have disposed of every
negotiable bond within fifteen minutes after
he arrived in London, and could have lived
like prince without any fear of ever being
brought to pay the penalty of his crime"
"Where is Frank now?" asked the reporter.
81 do not know where he is now," Harry
replied. HE was with me part of the time
in Europe, but could not state where he is
now"
''Will he ever return to this State?"
Probably not In few years he could
come back here without fear of arrest, but he
seems to think the best thing for him to do is
to 90 West and settle in some of the British
possessions. He is young and has yet an OPP
portunity to regain an honest name. He told
me while in England that he had no fears
about earning his own living"
"Will the reward offered by the bank for
the recovery of the bonds be paid to you?'
the reporter asked.
''Well," was Harry's reply, "the bankIofli-
cials say l am entitled to it, but what have
done have done without any hope or thought
of the reward"
'sThe general opinion is, continued the re-
porter, 'that you will be paid the reward,
and after deducting part to meet the ex-
penses incurred by your visits to Halifax and
England, you will turn the balance over to
Frank, to start him again in lfe."
s'Such course might be pursued" said
Harry. "but have not had any talk with
the bank yet about the reward, and Franks
surrender of the bonds was made without
any promise of reward"