The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-08
BENJAMIN HOPKINS DEAD.
The Fidelity Hank swlndIsr Passes AVA,
Surrounded by Ills Family,

The Fidelity hank Swlndlsr Passes Away
surroundedby Ills Family.
CINCINNATI, o., Jan 7.-Deniamin Z.
Hopkins, late assistant cashier Of tho do.
funct Fidelity National Bank, died at
$3.50 this morning, at his residence, No.
2GS Richmond street. He was pardoned
by the President December 90, but the
paper did not reach the Columbus peni.
tentiary until Friday morning, January
4. Mr., Hopkins reached home that
evening, and aftera joyful meeting with
his faulty, seemed TO be exhausted by
the excitement, and visitors were exClu-
ded. He never fully rallied, and died
this morning, surrounded by members
Of his family.
Tie death Of Mr. Hopkins Is fastened,
in the opinion Of his friends, by the long
suspense awaiting his pardon, and by
tho excitementof his return to bis home,
rs well as by the painful fact that one oil
his sons in jail charged with being an
accompllce OF young Tinker, the iorger.
His family were unremitting In their at
tentions since his return, and his wife,
who 1t Is said, has not closed her eyes In
sleep since he came, was bending over
him this morning when he died.
Hopkins was 55years old. His father
was at one time chief OF police Of Gin.
cinnati, and his mother kept boarding
house on Fourth street where Pixies
Opera House now stands. Hopkins be-
gan business as halter but Jailed. Sub.
sequently he went into Kuhn's bank as
paying teller and occupied the same po'
sition In the Central bank, also in Gil.
more, Dunlap & Co.'s bank, and finally
went into the Third National bank.
Here he met E. L. Harper, who was "
director. When the troubles In that
came, which resulted in Harper and
Amni Baldwin leaving the bank and
the suiCideofT Theophilus Baldwin. Hop.
kins went went out with Harper and
Baldwin and the three men went into
the famous Fidelity National bank,
where Hopkins had the place Of asssis-
tant cashier. He was, however, a sort ol
solicitor, owing to Ills very extended ac'
quaintanco among business men. He
secured money deposits and aided ma
terially in selling the stock ot the bank
In all this time his reputation was ex'
cellent, and he was public spirited citi
zen. He served in the sChooI
board, and for several year
was treasurer OF the board OF. exposi.
tion commissioners, Harper Seems
TO have been his evil genius and 10 have
led him into speculation which brought
against him the charge Of having wasted
In that way an estate Of $50, 900 belonging
to a relative for whom Hopkins was adj
minisLrator. Suit for this WIS pending
when he went 10 the penitentiary. He
was indicted with Harper and Baldwin
for enbeEzlement and fraud In connec'
ton with the Fidelity National Bank
Harper was sentenced to the penltenti
ary for ten years. Baldwin died and
Hopkins, in Februarylast was sentenced
for eight years. He went 10 the peni
tentiary April 1S, 1883, a very sick man
The Fidelity bank failed June 20, 1887.
In less than two years two of its leading
men have died as the direct result Of thai
stupendous wheat speculation, and The
third Is serving o ten yeara' term In The
penltentiary with q probability Of end
ing his life In mad house. .o