The herald., 1893-09-11
BRYANT HOWARD TALKS
HIS HEART WAS WRAPPED UP
IN THE BANK.
He Appears Greatly Worn and Makes
no Special Denial of the Charge
IS to the opium
Habit.

oau DleSO ouu DIyaut IOWniu nhu
wife returned last night from their trip
to San Francisco, and were this morning
found at their home at the corner OF B
and Twelfth streets, by San Diegan-
Sun reporter. Mr.. Howard presented q
csre-worn and weary appearance ae one
who is over-tired from long mental ef-
fort. He himself commented upon that
fact and said that the work of the past few
years, and especially the last few weeks,
had been about all he could bear, but
that it was not yet over, and he WAS
still go burdened with business whose
lines led out innumerable directions,
that he found it difficult to divert his
mind to an interview. He was there
fore at first disinclined to make any
statement for publication. He subse-
quently, however, talked.
"For years." he began, slowly and
with some apparent feeling, as he re-
called the past, "for years the Consoli-
dated National bank has been my pride
and almost my life. l have worked with
all the energy and all the zeal In my
power to promote its interests. During
the hard years of struggle we have had
to preserve everything-(the bank and
the town. from going to wreck, as the
town certainly would have gone If 1t had
not been for the efforts of very few
men, of which / can without egotism
claim that l am one-during these
years I have resorted to all honorable
means to bring money to the city and to
the bank. l believe have in large
measure succeeded in that effort. In the
last ak years l do not hesitate to say
that have been the principal means of
influencing the bringing OF at least
million and half dollars to San
Diego. This has bridged US over our
difficulties and saved us time and time
again. Among the means adopted to
keep up q good reserve in the bank at
all times, / have used my own funds,
borrowed from my friends and have in
duced others to purchase the paper OF
the bank. In all cases, the paper has
been paid for in full, principal and in.
terest. After the California National
bank failure, at least $780, was held
in the Consolidated National by the
means above outlined, and which other
wise would have been withdrawn. Had
1t been Withdrawn the Consolidated Ma
tional would also have been compelled
to suspend at the same time. A disaster
was then averted.
'But it is now claimed" continued
Mr.. Howard, "that these transfers were
technical violation of the law. then
deemed them absolutely necessary in
order to protect the interests of the
bank and the interests Of the CITY,"
"In these matters and Others" con-
tinued Mr.. Howard, after pause,
whenever I have endeavored to help
the bank aud the city, have made no
gains for myself, but on the contrary
have been large personal loser. II
have erred at all have erred simply in
Judgment. The preservation Of the
| Consolidated National bank has been ae
dear to me as life; all other considera-
tions sank into insignifcance when
compared with it,"
Efforts were made to bring Mr.. How.
ard to direct statement as to the
charge that he had used opium. It was
hoped that, without asking him the fiat,
bald question as to whether he has OF
has not been addicted to the use oil
opium, he would see the importance
Just at this time of making explicit
comment one way or the other. II
was hoped that he would see the
mistake of attempting to ignore the mat
ter or of even seeming to evade 1t, if II
was not tr1e. He declined to talk te
that point. Whenever question wal
given suggestive turn, out of respect
for his feelings, he returned to the sub
iect of the bank and his pride in 1t. He
had seen the opium charge in yester.
days dispatches on the way down from
San Francisco. He knew that thou.
sands OF friends were anxious to read
his emphatic denial. Yet not until neal
the close of the interview did he make
any reply to the point to which q reply
was specially sought and which has fol
"a hours caused the most talk and won.
derment. And then he simply said
''There are many statements made
which are wholly untrue, or which hav,
but slight foundation in fact. do no
think it worth while to discuss them.