The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-07
CAN'T Find Mr.. COOK
lhe Treasurer of the Green
vile Building and Loan
Association Has
Vanished.
ALL SORTS OF GHOST STORIES
But the Associations Officers Say
the Funds Are All Right.


Loan Association, first exclusively re-
ported in THE JERSEY CITY NEWS of
Monday, has given rise to considerable
gossip in that section of the city.
All sorts of absurd stories about Mr..
Cook skipping away with the funds of the
association have been set afioat. Some
even intimate that there is woman in
case.
The officers of the association, one and
all. declare that it was utterly impossible
Ior Mr.. Cook to embezzle its funds. And
yet it is fact that each, when asked point
blank If, in his opinion, Mr. Cooks dis
appearance had any significance whatever
as to his connection with the funds of the
association, would give some such
answer as this:-
II know nothing of Mr.. Cooks other
affairs. The association will not lose a
cent. OF course it was necessary to ap-
point treasurer pro tenn; because no
money can be drawn from the bank with
out the treasurer's signature When we
heard that our treasurer mad disappeared,
and members were becoming suspicious
the only proper course for us to pursue
was to appoint committee of investiga-
ton, merely to ascertain if the treasurer
had really disappeared"
LITTLE CHANCE TO STEAL.
Secretary Richard Routh said:-"Up to
July 20, our account in the First National
Bank of Jersey City, where all our
moneys are deposited, was $2,212.S7. One
deposit of 81 $50. .S9-receipts of last nights
meeting-has since been made This I
banked myself, because Treasurer Cook
was away. Treasurer Cook could not
handle any moneys of the association that
had once been deposited; because the sig
natures OF two trustees and of the secre-
tary were required in addition to his own,
accompanied by the seal of the associa-
tion, which is always in my possession,
and locked in my safe, to which no one
has access but myself. The only chance
the treasurer OF this association has to get
away with any funds is within forty
eight hours after the receipts of one nights
meeting, the rule requiring deposit to
be made within that time after the re-
ceipts have been collected. The bank
book l have shows that the last money
Mr.. Cook handled was deposited.
"Mr. Cook came into the Office on Mon
day week-the day of his departure on the
fishing excursion--and signed all the
checks for Withdrawals and expenses on
the hooks. He stated that he would be
back In time to sign any others that might
arise. have not seen him since have
no idea as to his whereabouts His dis
appearance was as much surprise to me
as to anyone. He was to have appeared
on the following Wednesday, but did not
materialize. l found it necessary to re-
port the failure of his appearance at the
promised time, because his signature was
required upon number of checks. Be-
sides, there are lots of members who do
not understand that it is impossible for
the treasurer to embezzle the funds. Out
of nearly thirteen hundred members per-
haps one-tifth never look at the bylaws -
Interviews with President John S.
Southeran and Mr.. S. L. Harvey, who
was appointed Monday night chairman of
throw any further light upon the matter.
The committee has done nothing as yet.
1t will meet this evening.
AT MIR. COOKS HOME.
found Mrs. Cook, the wife of the miss
ing groceryman, in apparently fearful
state of anxiety as to the whereabouts Of
her husband. She is a pleasant-faced.
medium sized woman, whose light hair is
just beginning to assume a silvery tinge,
though she does not look to be more than
thirty. The store, well stocked and with
every appearance of thrift; three interest
ing children, and even her husbands
books of the Building and Loan Associa-
q
sideration from her willing mind and
helping hands in her efforts to tighten the
burden of her helpmate.
II do not know what to think of it,"
she said, when asked if she could give
any, possible explanation of her
left home Tuesday week to go to his
stepfather, Mr.. Nicholas Jansen. at
Brielle. There he was to meet the Merry
Anglers, fishing club of which he was
member, and go with them to Barnegat
Bay. For some reason he did not meet
the crowd and returned home about two
O'Clock Friday morning. He was sur
here. He didn't say much ,lbut didn't ap-
pear to be out of sorts. He left about
eight o'clock that same morning and has
not been seen since," and Mrs. Cooks
eyes began to water. 1T is terrible" she
said, wiping the tears from her eyes. 'I'm
afraid he's met with some accident. The
suspense is enough, but to have people
circulating all sorts of rumors about him
running off with the funds of the Build
ing and Loan-that's awful. Even his
own auntcame in just while ago to see
about her books"
"Were is business affairs running
smoothly" | asked.
"Well-yes," hesitatingly, "business Is
not so good as one might wish for; still
it's fair"
"His domestic relations were pleasants"
| ventured.
"Oh, yes; Mr.. Cook is kind husband
and good father. Never a word has
gone amiss between us. l can't, for the
life of me imagine what has become of
him."
WHEN DID HE LEAVE?
Notwithstanding the majority with
whom / conversed upon the subject in
formed me that Mr.. Cook left on Friday,
l found one gentleman who is sure he
saw him talking with Mr., Jansen on
Ocean avenue Saturday morning, but
thought nothing of it till he heard of Mr..
Cooks disappearance. The gentleman
was President George Chesebro, of the
Greenville branch of the Young Mems
Christian Association.
Mr.. Cook has been treasurer of the
Greenville Building and Loan Associa-
ton for eight years succeeding his step
father, Mr.. Jansen.
The Weather Bulletin.
WAsHINGToN,D c., August 7,1SS9. For
Eastern New York:-Fair, followed by
showers in southern portion;l warmer in
northern. Stationary temperature in
southern portion; northerly winds. For