Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-03
THE WHEELING BANK ROBBERY,
Stealing Has Been Going on for Two
Years-YOung Seybold Bailed.


There is now no doubt that the total loss of
the bank of Wheeling, W. Va, by dishonest
employees will foot up $4,000. There is no
hope of recovering any Of the money aside
from that obtained from Harry Seybold Thurs
day night. The bank is a private institution
within the family control Of the Lists-D. c..
Henry X. and d. c., jr.-and all the employees
are members Of their families or relatives
Joseph Seybold, the cashier, has been with the
bank in the capacity of teller and cashier for
many years. His son Harry has been in the
bank for about seven years as bookkeeper and
teller. About three years ago Mr.. Gibson
Lamb the old cashier and also q relative Of
the Lists by marriage, left the bank and the
city, while retaining an interest in the institu-
ton, and embarked in business in Kansas City
and later in Cincinnati Almost simultaneously
with his departure the populations seem to
have commenced. Various small sums Of
500 and 5000 were missing from the vault, but
there was not the slightest clue to the thief. As
time went on the sums grew larger, and on one
occasion package of 81 500 was missed Still
there was no clue and the matter never reached
the ears of the public, the sums being merely
carried to profit and loss. When the loss of the
wenty-four-thousand package became known
it seems to have been accepted something
which had been looked for. There was still no
appeared and that was all there was about it
The Messrs. List endeavored to solve the prob
lem, but could find no trace or clue upon which
to work, and from April 10 until yesterday
morning they were in the dark
About ten days ago Mr.. List determined to
call in outside aid. and Capt. B. b. Dovener
was sent for. So much of the facts az were
within reach Of the bank officers were laid
before him, and the latter set to work upon
the case. Inquiry brought suspicion upon
young Seybold. It was ascertained that he
had placed large sum Of money to the credit
of himself and George Hennig jointly in the
bank of the Ohio Valley, and that a smaller
sum had been placed in the Mutual savings
bank and other sums in the Dollar savings
bank. He had also taken stock in the new
Wheeling ice and storage company, had paid
off several debts and was generally flush of
money. To allay suspicion he had stated he
had won $4,000 in the Louisiana lottery, and
that he did not want the fact known at the
bank where he had been employed.
Last Saturday Captain Dovener posted off
to New Orleans to see about the lottery story
He found, as he suspected, that Seybold had
never drawn $4,000 or any other sum in the
lottery, and, armed with this information, he
posted back to Wheeling, arriving yesterday
morning. After conference with the bank man.
agement warrants were prepared and the ar
rests of Seybold and Hennig were made, as
stated in The STAR yesterday.
Harry Seybold was arraigned before Justice
Ankle yesterday afternoon. He waived exami-
nation, and was released in $4,000 bail to
answer an Indictment before the grand jury.
Bail was furnished by his father, the cashier OF
the robbed bank. Harry stoutly denies having
taken the other money which has been missed
from the bank, saying the S24,0OO package was
his first and only offense. His young wife ia
completely FRUSTRATED, and the affair has
created great sensation in business and society
circles. Cashier Seybold knew nothing Of his
sons arrest until o'clock yesterday morning
when he found his sons wife lying on his front
door steps. He asked her what was wrong,
the police during the night, and that he had
done something wrong. Mr.. Seybold ct once
started up town and secured copy Of morn
ing paper, where he saw the story.