The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-22
PRICE FIVE GENTS.
hered to his clothing when it was taken
away from him. His tongue was in the
same condition. and it is quite certain his
lungs have suffered in the same manner.
CLOTHED IN STRIPES.
Harper, the Banker, Celebrates His
Earfx=sacansl

harper, the Banker, Celebrates His
Forty-second Birthday.
To-day Is the forty-second anniversary Of
the birth Of E. L. Harper, the wrecker of
the Fidelity National Bank of Cincinnati,
says Columbus dispatch, December 18th,
to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
1t marks also the completion of the third
year of his imprisonment, he having arrived
at the penitentiary shortly before midnight
OF Decemler Il, 1887. to serve a ten years
sentence for misappropriating the funds Of
that institution. of which he was the Vice.
President and General Manager.
Since his imprisonment his faithful wife
mas VISITED him regularly every month, and
her visits are so arranged that she can be
with him on each recurring anniversary of
bis birth, and, as is her custom, she came up
HON HON Cincinnati this morning. and with her
little daughter Grace, aged years. and her
sister, Miss Matthew'S who accompanied
ner, spent the day with the imprisoned
banker visited him in the Secretary's office.
Mrs. Harper and her child reached the
prison about noon, and remained with the
husband and father until o'clock tonight
when they took leave of him, going to a
hotel in the city, while Harper repaired to
his cell and was locked up for the night, as
are the other 1000 other unf0rtunates doing
penance for violating the laws.
1t was O'Clock in the evening when the
Enquirer representative made his way
through the prison-yard to the office where
Harper was employed. Everything was as
quiet as tomb, the prisoners having had
their supper and been locked up nearly a
half-hour before. Entering the office, which
is on the second story OF the chapel building,
your correspondent found sitting at a table,
from which number of books had been re-
moved Tor the occasion. the ex-banker, his
wlIe, chlld ana sister-ln-law. apparently en-
Joying supper, which consisted princi-
pally OF waffles, made by Mrs. Harper her
self, and other luXuries in the shape of
fruit and preserves, which she was per-
mltted TO bring her husband in honor of his
birthday. Besides Harper, three other
prisoners employed in the office were in the
room. but they respectfully kept aloof. leav-
ing the little family gathering about tho
supper-taole In corner OF the room to
themselves. Harper, always averse to
talking 10 newspaper men, was somewhat
surprised and embarrassed at the reporters
entrance, but received him courteously, in
trOduced him to his family and extended an
invitation to join him at supper, which was
declined.
This is my forty-second birthday" said
the eX-banker, "and the third that 1 have
spent behind these walls, and my wife
always visits me on my birthday. Warden
Dyer has kindly permitted us to take supper
together. My punishment has certainly
been sufficient and the greatest sufferers
from my imprisonment now are my creditors.
In here my hands are tied, whereas if
were out l might be able to do something
toward lquidating my Indebtedness"
The impression is very general that Har-
per saved considerable money out of the FL
deity wreck, but he has always insisted
that this is not true, and claims that his wife
to great extent is dependent upon her rela-
tives for support.
The prison officials, who have many oppor-
tunitieS of learning all about Harper's af-
fairs, are of the opinion that he has little. if
any, money. Like nearly every other man
In the prison, he is hopeful OF receiving
pardon, and never tires of talking about the
efforts his friends are making for him in
this direction. He is in excellent health and
somewhat stOuter than when he arrived at
the prison three years ago.