Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-26
LAID TO THE LOTTERY
How Young Harry Flann Ex-
cuses His Embezzlement.
1T FOOTS UP AT $35,297,
Yet He Says he Was Induced to Begin
Taking it Just for Luck.
THEN HE SPECULATED IN STOCKS.
A Bank Official Admits There Was a Little
Lottery Syndicate.
1T FOOTS UP AT $35,297,
THEN HE SPECULATED IN STOCKS.
THE OBJECT OF TO-DAY's Q. S. HEARING


(not Flamm, as good many have known
and called him), will be held before United
States Commissioner McCandless, in the
latter's Office, at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
The only object of the hearing is to try
and get Flann out of Jail on bail. The
Commissioner will be asked to fix the
amount of bail, and, if the young mans at
torneys can find somebody to go on the
bond, he will be released. Mr.. McCandless
would not state yesterday what amount of
bail would be required; but it will be suf-
fcient to satisfy the bank, in the
event of Flann's non-appearance for
trial. The latter event will not
franspire until the third Monday in Octo-
Der, as the United States Court will not sit
in this city before that time. The Court
will sit at Erie in July. and at Scranton in
September. To try the case at either of these
places, would entail too much expense upon
the prosecution, and it will lie over until
October.
II Flann is not released upon bail to-day,
he win have to stay in jail until October.
1t was learned yesterday that the line of
defense to be offered by young Flann is that
the other employees of the bank, one of whom
was his superior officer, really made him 60
into the lottery hazard by organizing club in
the bank. He also states, that another en-
ploye in the bank induced him to go into
SOME STOCK TRANSACTIONS
by which he lost thousands of dollars. His as
sociate agreed to take his chances, and share
half the losses in the event of his losing. The
scheme was, it is said, agreed to, and Flann
lost When the time came to pay up, his part
ner, it is alleged, backed out of the agreement
and left him to stand the brunt of it. This
really caused his heaviest losses, it is claimed,
and he had to draw on the bank to make them
up. The employe of the bank, when questioned
yesterday about the charge, said that 1t was
not true.
A representative of The DISPATCH, after
considerable trouble, obtained an interview with
young Flann yesterday afternoon In iail. He
at first refused to talk, saying that he had been
so advised by his attorneys. He afterward de-
cided, however, to give his side of the story,
and said:
"The newspapers have treated me very un-
justly and said everything that was bad about
me. would not mind it 50 much if the stories
III bub buCg dlO hOb. ~ pICoCub
time it would do my side of the case no good to
talk for publication, but cannot restrain my
self from answering the attacks of some people
through the newspapers.
In the first place, L would like to publicly
deny that there is any woman in the case, and
! did not spend my nights away from home.
Since have been married have been at home
five nights of the week and / have not spent
dollar in any of the illegitimate haunts since
that time. L did not work for Joseph Horne &
Co.. and consequently could not have stolen
anything from that firm.
'My position at the bank was that of individ-
ual bookkeeper, and the assistant tellership
was forced upon me. l entered the employ of
the bank three years ago this fall and had
been there but few months when l began to
speculate. One of my associates came to me
and asked me to Join a lottery club that was
being formed by few of the bank employees.
We played every month, and the employe
speak of is playing it yet.
ALLEGED NECESSITY OF IT.
'My salary at the bank was not very large,
and the most of it l had to spend for the sup
port of my mother. To get the money to meet
the assessments of the club, 1 had to draw on
the funds of the bank, which passed through
my hands The amounts were small at first,
and supposed that would be able to make
hAuhAhE dhO pay Az bdOh bCAOAS VIC luOu61
would be missed.
AFTER had lost considerable money at the
lottery scheme, another associate in the bank
asked me to invest in some stocks, which, he
claimed, were paying big 1 thought could
recoup my lottery losses by this means; but in.
stead of getting out got deeper in the mire
every month. He said we would form part
nership and play the stocks on shares. If I
lost he was to stand half of it; but, when the
time came to put up he was not there
~ worked for Attorney Porte for two years,
and in all that time there was never word
said about my honesty or my character. The
hundreds of people who know me will not be-
lleve that am as black as painted"
Mr.. Flann shows the wear and tear of his
confinement, and, while speaking to the report
er, his voice trembled with suppressed emo
tion. Dozens of people have called to see him;
but as they went out Of curiosity, the jail Off
cials have politely refused them admittance,
The prisoner is member of several secret So
cieties, and number of his brother members
have called to see him, with a view of helping
him out.
In regard to Mr.. Flann's insinuations against
his late associates in the bank. the reporter ap-
preached Mr. George MacCrum, the teller, and
interrogated him about the matter Mr.. Mac
Crum saId:
THE charges are without foundation. and
of the other employees did play lottery; but not
in the manner Flann states. There was little
syndicate here
TO BUY LOTTERY TICKETS,
but the employees never went into the business
on an extensive scale. They put In g or So
apiece every month; but the speculation did
not extend beyond this. The story about the
stock speculation l know nothing whate ever
about and do not take much stock in it. We
have already said too much about the matter
in the newspapers. and had better await the
hearing tomorrow. No; Mr.. Flann was not
forced in the assistant tellership of the bank"
1t was published yesterday that William NJ.
Granger, the general agent of the Guarantee
Company of North America, had said that his
company would not pay the bond of IS, 900 they
had guaranteed Flann for, on account of the
bank allowing him to handle money. Mr..
Granger said yesterday:
1--WE will certainly pay the bond, if we think
we are liable for the amount. So far we have
had no claim presented, nor any official notice
from the bank that they want the money, We
bonded him as bookkeeper; but there will be
no trouble about payment"
James H. Porte, Esq, one of Flann's attor-
neys, said: Il am going TO see Major Montooth.
of the prosecution, and see what can be done
in the way of compromise.
VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS.
u think we VIII have the young man out OF
jail tomorrow, and do not anticipate much
trouble getting bail for him."
Major Montooth, when seen, said: There
will be no compromise, as far as / know. The
case is now in the hands of the Government,
whose officers have entire charge in the matter.
The attorneys for the defense may ask the
bank for leniency: but 1 cannot see how the
case can be compromised. 1t is the duty Of
FIann's friends to turn over every dollar they
can get of the money to the bank. Then they
may ask for leniency."
The exact amount of the defalcation, as dis
covered by a thorough overhauIing of the
books is SIS 297. Flann has been in the en-
ploy Of the bang just exactly two years and
seven months.