The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-03
A FORGED $1,000 NOTE
w. Il. Thornell Is Accused of a
Serious Breach of Trust.
STATEMENT or JUDGE STRIVE.
Captain TayIor's Endorsement Forged to
= Note ON the Boston National
Bank-He Pays 1t in silence.


II was announced yesterday that w. r. Tn Srn.
ell, late cashier OF the Boston National bang
naa forged toe Endorsement Of his iather-In-
Law. Captain William II. Taylor, to note on the
bank for $1,000 The announcement was insde
by John r Gale, the banks attorney, TO the
evening papers II was also stated by Mr. Gale
that Captain Taylor had immediately paid the
note. and that ali rumors OF defslcations or
other dimcuties were false; that Mr. Thornei
was Hnder bonds IN the sum of SIS 900. bus that
cEfSaln Taylor's settlement OF the affair bad
made II unnecessary 10 call en- the bondsmen
Judge II. q. stfnve. vice president OF the bank
ana acting president during the illness OF Pfes-
dent Chaplin, was asked last evening whether
he had seen Mr.. Gales statement, and whether
II was accurate. He replied:
II have just returned from the East and prior
20 my return hal no information Whatever con
cerning any alleged improper conduct in the
part OF Nj. Thorneli as cashier of the Boston
National bank Upon my return found that
MI Chaplin had been Frustrated by an attack OF
typhoid fever and was therefore compelled to
assume management OF the banK as yiee-presl-
dent have been unable to see Mr.. cnapin on
account 4 the serious character of mis- iilnssy
and viii therefore not pretend to give a strictly
accurate version. derived from authentic
sources, a. TO the alleged misconduct Of Mr.
Thornell IS cashier OF tho bank. I have read
the article In the Press today .lating TO the a.
state that did not authorize its publication. al.
though informed OF its contents this afternoon
BY Mr.. Gale just before iis publication
This morning made an investigation of the
AFFAIR and found shat Mr.. Thornell. while
cashier of the bank, had borrowed from the
bank some 5000 in ell, which was the total
amount OF his indebtedness to the haak. ex-
elusive OF interest. OF this amount ali but
100 was secured by Mr.. Thornelps note ami
nntclass collateral security, legitimateiy de-
posted with The consent of the president Tie
amount OF $1,000 above referred 10, was secured
BY Ar. ihosnelis note. bearing the alleged in
dofsement OF Captain Taylor. the fathenin-i law
OF MI. Tnorneli When the 81 Geo note mHtured
Mr.. Thorneil had been taken sick and
the usual bank notice was sent to Captain Tsy-
Tor. informing him OF his liability as indorser,
and II Is claimed that Captain Taylor repudiated
the genuineness of the Endorsement and pro-
nouncsd II forgery. My long experience as a
lawyer disinclines me to form nasty cone usioas
On disputed questions OF fact, aud therefore
Will say that do not know, nor do I have accu-
rate means OF knowing whether this charge is
true. 1t 10 positively affirmed on the one hand
that Captain Taylor claimed that the indorse-
ment was not sanctioned by him, but in in-
tervisw which had with Captain Taylor late
this evening he said that no ore
had right TO complain, that he had
ratified and adopted the act OF Mr.. Tnornel
tn making the Endorsement on the back Of the
note In his name, that he had paid the note and
that he did not consider himself defralded.
Whatever the true version may be cannos
state In the absence OF personal knowledge, but
Il - certain that Captain Taylor hiss taken up
al OF Mr.. Thornell's paper and the bank has
been paid In full every cent OF the Indebtedness
due from Mr. Thornell and that Captain Taylor
exonerates Mr.. ThornelL
ssAll rumors about defalcations ahd short
comngs by Mr. Ihcrneli Ia other respects are
false, 80 far as his conduct towards the bank is
concerned Since the affair thorough investi-
CATION Of the affairs OF the bank has been made.
the cash has been counted. all the securities
have been thoroughly examined, everything
has been checked up and everything has been
found all right, to the complete satisfaction of
the United States bank examiner.
80 many idle fumors have been set afioat
concerning the bank this afternoon thai have
deemed it best to make the foregoing statement
OF tue conduct OF Mr. Thornell in his position as
cashier Of the Boston National bank"
TTsslf. Tnornell still cashier OF the bank?'
mo; he severed his relations with the bank
ever month ago. since he was taken ill"
Captain William L. Taylor, Mr.. Thorneli's
father-in-lsw. said yesterday: THE note ia
question was discounted at the bank two or
three months ago. 1t fell due some two weeks
bsck and paid IL The amount was $3.50
never said IT was forged and make no such
statement now. In fact have nothing to say
In the premises"
Nj. Thorneli was taken Ill with typhoid fever
about two months ago, and still lies at Captain
Tayior's residence. The forged note is said TO
have been discounted about two weeks after he
vas taken III. lie was taxed with it and cor
1essed. and Captain Taylor paid the mole.
Mr.. Thornell has since had relapse, and t.
now in precarious condition.
Mr.. Thorneil came 10 Seattle from Colorado
Springs. Col, in 1885, under the name OF Ray
mond Hope. and obtained clerkship in the of.
Aaa xnf nj hta 4. p,oa Rs,t
when II. G. Ward was superintendent of the
road, and retained 1t under 7. ]. Miner At this
time no took great interest in
baseball and other open-air sports,
aud II was alleged that during his absence al
some races at Portland. some money belonging
10 the company was used for betting. John l.
Howard, resident manager of the Oregon I'm
proyement Company at San Francisco, came to
the city at the time, and ON examining the az
fairs OF Mr. ThorneiPs office. found the accounts
Ill straight The affair resulted. however. in
Mr.. Thorneli's res ignation. Mr. Howard think
Ing that Mr.. Thornelfs interest in sporting al
fairs was inconsistent with strict attention TO
business
While Mr.. Thornell was employed BY this
company, q detective arrived from his old home
~ Colorado Springs, said his real name was
William X. Thoraell, arrested him on charge
OF embexzement and took him back there Tor
trial Then IL was learned he had been EN-.
Colorado Springs, and was also manager of the
Union Pacific Baseball Club. famous team AT
that time. He left the railroad sn a went into
the real estate business in partne-ssle with
man named Richardson, mo had bs,n auditor
OF tho Gsaver & Rio Grande railroad, kieh-
srdson was n dissipated man aud squsndered
HIS money. Taerneil also lIyet Aiga. and in
Cured many debts Seeing ne hope OF getting
out OF his difficulties. he ca ne TO Seattle and
adopted the name Of Raymond Hope rival
real esfats man named DeCoursay. aud other
personal enemies al Colorado Spri gs went 70
Sheriff Daley and offered him $3.50 60 bring
ThorEsll back on charge OF cmbezz slling $50
from the Colorado Springs Athletic Assoclauor,
of which he had been secretary. His arrest
and return TO Colorado followed.
During his residence in Seattle Mr.. Thorneu
had made many warm friends among the best
citizens. ana had become engaged To marry N IS
Cora Tsyior. daughter OF Captain w. l. layer
Mr. Miner. his EN- ployer, teegrapAed To als
friend Ed Noleott who was then practieng law
and is now United States senator from Colr
sdo. instructiug him to inquire into the case.
and. II he found that ThorDea appeared 70 o.
innocent TO defend him. retainer of sl03
was sent. Mr. Moieolt tslegraphed that 0e
found Thornel hsd good case, defended him
and secured his acquitIaL
Mr. Thornell then returned 10 Seattle. deter.
mined TO 1--we down the fmpgtatiors which bad
been made against his character He resumed
his real name and returned TO his oil position
On the Columbia & Puget SQUAD railroad on
leaving there. under the circumstances already
related, he became manager oi the Puget Sound
Construction Company, watch hSd the contract
for the construction Of the seattle. Lake Saare
& Eastern railroad, and afterwards cashier and