The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-01
His Failure 10 Appear Determines His Ac.
cu,ers 10 Begin Criminal Proceed ngs,
Which Will Be Done This Morning.
He Started West on Saturday but Haa
Not Appeared in Indianapolis.
Fellow officials Unable 10 Account for His
Continued Silence 900 of the
Funds in bis Bank.


Criminal Process Decided Upon-s750.o0G
of the Orders Money In His Bank.
The non- appearance of Freeman ID. Som,
erby, supreme Justice, is just now the most
startling of the developments in regard to
the Order of the Iron Hall When the appit
cation for a receiver, containing charges OF
fraud against Somerby. was flied. his enc.
mics said he would do one of tw o things eth
er come here at once to tight the charge OF
fee the country. They rather expected
him to take the former course, as he had
never displayed any lack OF courage in .
fight upon the order. and his friends were
confident tha. be would take the first
train for Indianapolis. Evidently he did
not take the first train for this city. He
has had ample time TO get here from any
point in the East since the news of the suit
was scattered broadcast through the news
papers of the country. but he has not ap-
peared at any of his usual stopping
places in Indianapolis. HIS attorney
in Philadelphia wired on Saturday
that he had left for the WestS
If his destination was Indianapolis he
should have arrived yesterday at noon.
Supreme Cashier DAVIS intimated that pos
slhly he had started for Detroit, where he
formerly resided. Detroit is situated on
the Detroit river. just opposite Windsor.
Canada. Trains have been watched since
Saturday morning. and If Somerby came at
all he did not como through the Union Sta
tion.
This continued absence of Mr.. Somerby
has determined the plaintiffs in the suit to
file information against him here, alleging
fraudulent diversion of the funds, in order
that officers throughout tho country may
be put upon his track. In an interview.
given below, Mr.. Baker intimates that it
was Somerby's connection with the Phila-
delphia bank that precipitated the suit.
The assistant cashier of this bank, the
Mutual Banking. Surety Trust and Safe De-
posit Company, was the brother OF the
cashier of the Key stone Bank. and the Mu-
tual concern lost heavily by the Key
stone failure. In the January issue
of the bank directory this con-
cern was given. with capital
of S150,000. but no surplus or undivided
profits In the July directory it is not
given at all. Yet it is stated by those in q
position to know that year ago $500, 600 of
the Iron Halls funds were on deposit in
that bank, and that last spring S250,000 of
the orders money was checked out of
single Indianapolis bank in one hunk and
sent to the Philadelphia concern.
1t was noticeable that in the interviews
published yesterday morning the officials
did not agree by about half q million
as to the amount on deposit in lndianap-
oils. Either they did not know or would
not give accurate information. As nearly
can be learned from other sources the
order has about s500,OO0 now on deposit in
the lOoal banks.
These facts. that have gradually crept out
since the suit was filed. in connection with
the failure to locate Somerby. have con-
vInced the plaintiffs to the suit that there
Is more rottenness in Somerby's manage
ment than even they supposed. Their
chief fear lies in the direction of the funds
supposed to be in the Philadelphia bank.