The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-01
G0THAMS BROKEN BANKS
THE EQUITABLE MAKEsTHH THIRD
TO SUSPEND.


Two-President Claasen Taken Into
Custody and Denies Wrong Doing
No Statement Made Public by Any
OF the Examiners.
NEW YORK, Jan. 31.-George H. Pell,
the broker, who was arrested last night for
the part he took in disposing of the gilt
edged securities of the Sixth National Bank,
was taken before United States Commits
sioner Shields to-day, and held in S25, 900
bail for examination ON Thursday next.
Peter j. Claasen, president ofs. s.the bank,
FOR whose arrest a warrant was issued at
the same time as was that of Pell is still at
large. He has undoubtedly fed, for IA
corps of United States deputy marshals
who have been in search of him since early
last evening have been unable to locate
him. They spent many hours shadowing
his home in Brooklyn, and his office ia this
city, but without result.
ANOTHER BANK CLOSED.
The Sixth National and Lenox Hill banks
are still closed, and at 10 o'clock "a notice
was posted on the door of the Equitable
which stated that that bank was closed
temporarily.
Morris Goodhart, attorney for the Lenox
Hill Bank, as well as a director called upon
State Superintendent Of Banks Preston this
forenoon and said he was anxious TO know
the exact condition of affairs at the bank
as well as if the cashier, Mr. Van Zant.
was criminally liable for the certification of
two checks for $4,000, each held by the
Sixth National Bank
MR. PRESTON NoN-COAfMITTAL,
Mr.. Preston told the lawyer that no was
not sufficiently conversant with the law on
that point, and that he was consequently
unable to answer the question Just at pres.
ent, beside, sit was not question he thought
ne would be called upon TO answer. 1t Is
rumored that the cashier, Mr.. Van Zant.
was being watched by the police, aud it
was thought he would be arrested as soon
as the statement being prepared was ready.
Examiner Hepburn, when seen at the
Sixth National Bank at noon, said the bank
would not lose more than $3.50, 900. OF this
amount 100000 was represented by bonds
and securities, which had already been sold
and the other $350,00 represented checks,
which are held against the Equitable and
Lenox Hill banks.
CLAASEN ARRESTED.
Claasen, who is Implicated in the.insolv-
ency of the Sixth National, Equitable, and
Lenox banks, was arrested this afternoon in
|. Kiernans news agency at Broad street and
Exchange place, where he had been making
a statement He was locked up in the Lud-
low street Jail.
THE EQUITABLE DOORS NOT OPENED.
All day long it was expected that Presi-
dent Tallman would call at the Equitable
Bank and furnish the $50,000 necessary TO
resume business, but he did not appear,
and the doors remained closed, with big
policeman on one side and the colored
porter on the other 1t was given out in the
morning that Examiner Preston would
make public statement during the after
noon, but this was not done A great many
depositors called at the bank during the
afternoon, and were told that the business
of the bank would be resumed in few
days, that the affairs Of the institution were
all right, and that it was only closed be-
cause an examination was in progress.
WORKING AT THE LENoX
The examiners worked all day at the
Lenox Hill Bank. They also expected TO
give some statement, but it was not found
possible TO tell anything about the work
until late hour. When the afternoon had
nearly passed, the shades of the Sixth Ma
tional bank, which had been down all day,
were suddenly pulled the doors were
opened, and Cashier Colson, accompanied
by three clerks and a policeman, stepped
forth They carried number
Of old valises and canvas bags. A carriage
drove up to the curb, and the whole party
getting in, drove rapidly away The whole
transaction occupied less t1an two minutes,
and it was learned later that the bags con-
uained the remaining securities of the bank,
which were being carried to some deposit
tory by Examiner Hepburn. Reporters
were not admitted TO the bank,
and it was with some diff
Guilty that information was obtained.
Examiner Hepburn sent word that he
would probably finish his work before
morning and would make no statement to
the press but that he would Immediately
forward his report TO the cotroler at
Washington. During the afternoon the
bank was besieged by depositors who were
very anxious about their money Many
ladies were among them and were told that
their funds were safe.
BAIL OFFERED FOR PELL.
Several persons offered themselves as bail
for George H. Pell during the afternoon,
but no one could give satisfactory evidence
of responsibility. and at O'Clock Pel was
taken to the Ludlow street Jail again.
Claasen was brought before Commissioner
Shields about O'Clock this evening. He
had come over from Brooklyn this after
noon, spent some time seeking lawyer to
undertake his defense, went to the
news agency, where he dictated a
statement to a stenographer and
then surrendered to the deputy marshal,
having first, through an intermediator,
stipulated that he should not be obliged to
spend the night in jail. The commissioner
set his examination for tomorrow morning,
and Claasen, his counsel, and the deputy
marshals took quarters for the night at the
Astor House. Claasen asserts mis- thorough
innocence of any wrong doing in the affairs
Of the bank, and denies that there was any
misrepresentation or embaZZlement