Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-31

high living; so purse was made up Tor
him. He was driven to the Short Line
Depot in cab, and, half harrassed to
death by the weight of his guilt, half
carried by his friends, was put on the
train. 1t was given out two or three
days ago that he had been sick, and that
was the secret of his illness.
At 1928 the train pulled out. If he
caught his connecting train all right at
Cincinnati he reached Detroit this morn
ing and was over the border into Cana
da long before the fact Uf his flight
began to be whispered and
then boldly uttered on the streets AZ
noon yesterday. To those who knew Of
Major Tillman's unhappy state of health,
and who made inquiries, his friends
gave out that he had been harraSsed 10
death and had gone to Cincinnati to visit
his married daughter, Mrs. Clifford
Woodrow. Yesterday morning, when it
began to be whispered that Tilman had
gone, his friends vehemently denounced
it, and inquiries at his residence met
with flat rebuffS, but the statement
made by the assignee later in the day
that he was short sienced all protest,
and even his family connections cOncede
that he has fed to Canada.
The amount of the shortage is eSti
mated to be from $4,000 to 100000,
though it may exceed this as the falsi-
fed depositorS' accounts are investi-
gated further.
Major II. V. Sanders, Secretary of
the Mechanics Trust Company, the
banks assignee, said this evening: 81
don't know where Major Tillman is.
He has not been here for three or four
DAYS, but we were told that he had left
the city. l don't know whether he has
gone to Canada or not, but | do know
that il ! were he, l would have gone
there long ago."
"What reasons are there for his
=
crepancy in the banks saving account
of about S37, Mind, l don't say
Mr.. Tillman took all of this. Some of
IL may be accounted for otherwise. The
discrepancies are chiefly in overdrawn
accounts. There are two ways he could
have managed this. He could take
money out of the bank and charge it to
certain accounts. Or, for instance, if
one made deposit Of $4,000, Tillman
could have pocketed this after making
an entry in the depositor's book, with
out making any entry in the banks
book
Major Sanders acknowledged that
there were other crooked features, but
would not discuss them now. On Till
mans bond as cashier are his brother
in-law, Charles H. Petit, of the whole
sale drug firm of r. A. Robinson & Co.,
for S25, 200, and the New York Guaran-
tee Company for $50, 200.
Tillman was also president of the
Falls City Insurance Company, but he
in no way tampered with the funds Of
this corporation, as was found several
days ago, when he resigned his position
as president.
The story of Major Tillman's career
and downfall is one of the most remark
able In criminal annals. He was born
in New York in 1894. The breaking out
Of the civil war found him in Michigan.
He was appointed on the staff of Gen
eral A. S. Williams, but was then made
a paymaster in the army. He resigned
in 1863, with the rank of Brevct Lieu
tenant Colonel. 1t was intimated that
h9 was forced to resign because of ir-
regularities in his accounts. He met
and was married to Miss Pettot, mem
Der Of one Of the wealthiest and most
prominent families of Louisville, and in
1875 came to Louisville TO live, securing
a position in the bank. In November,
1850, he was made cashier.
Not content with the usual routine Of
banking he soon developed taste for
politics as an adjunct to his business.
He was elected Sinking Fund Commis-
Sioner, which placed 5000. 600 Of the
city's money In his bank, and 10 hold
his position made large advances TO pol
iticians on their prospects for office.
Two years ago, when his term expired,
the Democratic caucus nominated John
J. Otter 10 succeed him, but his friends
succeeded in making deadlock in the
Council and the bitter fight was taken
TO the courts and is now on the docket
OF the Court of Appeals. He is under
stood to have spent large sums in this
contest with the expectation of having
the use of the city's money for two
more years and this withdrawal and ex-
DenQltuTe OF LueSe luuuS ldSL WlLLcT
was the finishing blow TO the bank.
Still turning to politics for financial
investment he in the summer of 1890,
as it now transpires, backed VIM. p.
johnson for County Clerk, and spent at
least $50, 600 in the race. Johnson had
agreed to let the bank have the pro-
ceeds of the Office, worth SIS, 600 year,
which would have been good specula-
tion for the bank in the four years
term. 1t was q hot fight, $50 being
paid for votes.
Johnson's forces were confident that
they had won and quit work, when
Webb, his opponent, rushed in the vot-
ers and won by 104 votes.
This was his death blow as political
banker, and was practically an end OF
the bank whose money he had stalSed on
the decision at the polls. Tillman's last
official act was the resignation yester-
day Of his position as Sinking Fund
and his old opponent Mr.
Otterberg elected to succeed him. His
political schemes illustrated his business
methods. He would take risks on almost
any venture, and among the institutions
he carried was the Louisville Base Ball
Club, which be had loaned $1,000 with
the promise 1t would never be collected.
The other bank officers had the utmost