The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-10-04
DEFAULTER DANN'S END
Belief General That He Com
mitted Suicide.
DOCTORS TALK OF APoPLexY

Ahey luihk the IoAt~ hOrtem VIII JUSTLY
Their Opinion-story of the IGnhrzzIe-
ment of Halfa Million DoIlars--The Case
in Court Yesterday.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Oct 4.-The death of
the notorious defaulte1 Edward S. Damn
last evening, has created a sensation here,
and the generally accepted theory as to
the nature of the mysterious illness is
that he committed suicide, taking a
heavy dose of morphine or some other
poison. The physicians who attended
him declare, on the contrary, their
belief that he suffered a stroke of apo
plexy, and confidently predict that the
post -mortem examination will confirm
their theory.
Damn died at o'clock. He was pre-
loundly unconscious at the time of his
death, having been in that condition for
40 hours, the attack occurring on Satur-
day evening at o'clock.
Edward S. Damn stood high in church
and social circles. When the bank ex-
aminers found that there was a shorta ge,
in the accounts of the bank and recon-
mended the arrest of the trusted secre-
tary and treasurer, the trustees could not
believe that the examiners were right in
their conclusions. They had trusted him
implicitly for over 20 years-ever since
the bank was started.
He had been looked upon as a model of
faithfulness, industry and integrity. He
was always first to arrive at the bank
and last to leave; he was the custodian of
church funds, and widows and timid
women came to his bank because they
had so often seen his silversd head bowed
:. Al, ,,1k l. ,1-
vacation, and always balanced the books
himself. Such an attentive officer the
trustees thought could do no wrong.
The examiners limited that perhaps
Damn had reason for working personally
over the books and wearing the cloak of
sanctity. But the trustees scoffsd at the
idea. However, private detectives were
called in and Damn was put under arrest.
He was cool when confronted with accu-
sations, and said he could explain all if
time and access to the books were given
him. The examiners said they could hg-
ure the books without him.
The news of his arrest caused great ex-
eitement when it was made known in
June. He was not locked up like a COM
mon criminal at first, but was allowed to
90 to and from his house under suryeil-
lance of a detective. Then it was that
Damn made his first and unsuccessful at
tempt to take his own life. He swallowed
20 morphine pills His stomach rebelled,
threw off the poison, and he lived on in
disgrace.
The examiners found in column after
column of figures distractions running
back for a long period of years, and con-
tinuing up to the day he was apprehend
ed, when he stole package of $40, ,O0C
! deposited by exrJustice Charles Daniels oi
! the Supreme Court The shortage al
first was stated at 100000, then al
/ 5000, 600; then. it was said to more thar
reach the banks assets.
| The trial of Damn, ex-Secretary anI
Treasurer of the National Savings Bank
on 16 indictments for felony, was to hav
begun yesterday or to have beel
avoided by plea of guilty.
At 1915 District Attorney Quinby said
81 desire to move the case of the peopl
against Mr.. Damn.
"It the court please" said Mr.. Hoyt
Dann's counsel, ~ shall be obliged Il
ask that the case 90 over for week.
have here the certificates of two reputa
BILE physicians to the effect that Mr.. Dan
is i'll and unable to leave his bed"
He then submitted the certificate q
Drs. Harrington and Hopkins to tn
| tltCb luhb MS Clltub ID II q CIlglCdA Jul
dition.
No objection was made by the Distrio
Attorney and Judge Titus postponed, tn
case for one week
The cases of Dann's accomplices, Arm
strong and McCredie, we're then called.
II next desire to move the case of th
People against Armstrong" said Mr.. OUR
by.
Attorney KisselbUrg, for Armstrong
objected to this on the ground that th
presence as a witness of Mr.. Damn migh
be an imperative necessity for his client
defense, aud for that reason desired Il
case similarly put over until Mr.. Damn
recovery.
The request was granted.
The case of MeCredie was next move,
and his attorney, Tracy @. Becker, ais
made application for adjournment, pr
; senting certificates from physicians thi
McCredie is suffering from chronic alcC
holism, which has impaired his ment
faculties so as TO prevent his being able
make defense in legal proceeding
Counsel desired a postponement for 1
indefinite period until McCredie could In
prove and asked that the case be put Ov
tue term.
3; The District Attorney objected al
" Judge Titus postponed the case for o.
p week.
RiiIIARDISTC MEET