New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
SEEKING BAKERS PROPERTY
THE SHOE AND LEATHER BANK WILL
TRY TO RECOVER PART OF
WHAT 1T LOST

OTHERS MAY ALSO FILE cLAIMs-sEELY rs STILL
MIssING-A RUMOR THAT HE WILL GIVE
HIMSELF UP AND AID IN GETTING
BACK WHAT WAS STOLEN.
Confidence in the National Shoe and Leather
Bank has not been impaired by the loss OF
s254,OOO. and the affairs of the bank appeared to
be going smoothly yesterday as If there
had been no robbery The bank is expected to
money enough to make up the loss In time.
even If the law cannot aid the bank officials to
regain good part OF the stolen money. John M.
Crane the president of the bank. said yesterday
that he hoped good part Of the money would
be recovered. although he contradicted report
that he had declared that at least 100000 could
be got from the estate Of Frederick Baker In
order that there might be no mistake as to the
identity Of the man who had robbed the bank
with the assistance Of Samuel c. Seely the
banks bookkeeper. Mr.. Crane yesterday had
three Of the men connected with the bank go to
identify the body Of 'ker. They were George
L. Pease the vice-pres.dent Of the bank; Clarence
Lampman, the receiving teller. and g. L.
Pegram, a clerk. They all had seen Baker at the
bank and they knew HIM we'll
"At least part Of the money stolen from the
bank Is in tangible shape and can be sezed,'
said Mr. Crane ut is not as II the money had
been sauandered or lost by the thief. The prop
erty which Baker had. which he had caused 70
be transferred to members Of his family, can -
taken possession of by the courts and sold to
make up the impairment Of the capital OF the
bank Mr.. Bishop the counsel Of the bank, Is
now having the necessary searches made for the
purpose of the actions which will be brought IN
the courts Until the work is finished 1t will DO
impossible to tell what sum Is likely to be re-
covered. 1t Is thought that the insurance poll
cies In favor of Bakers wife cannot be attached
by the bank
sEELY'S HELP WOULD BE USEFUL
James L. Bishop. the banks counsel, said that
he could not speak at present OF the proceedings
which would be taken looking to the recovery
Of the stolen money, and he was not in position
to guess how much property might be attached.
II was evident from the guarded statements OF
the LAWYER that the death Of Frederick Baker
and the careful destruction by him OF all docu-
ments. checks and memoranda which showed his
connection with seely and the bank, had greatly
increased the legal difficulties in the way of re-
covering property. 1t was apparent that Seely
could be of great service to the bank which he
had helped to rob If he only would return and
make full statement Of the transactions ty
from the bank. When asked If Seely might re-
turn and aid the bank to regain some OF the
stolen money, Mr.. Bishop replied Il hope ne
NAV but have no knowledge that ne WILL
"If Seey gave assistance in recovering the
money stolen by Baker, could Seely be protected
from severe punishment
THAT is something We could have nothing 10
do with. It would rest with the prosecuting o'n-
Ger and with the court.
Has there been any arrangement with Seelys
counsel by which Seely may return and give all
possible aid to the bank in the hope OF having
his own punishment mtigated?'
"Not that am aware Of"
.'Is II known where Seey went?"
eve DO not know. We hope that he may DO
found. but we have no knowledge where he is
Has the family of Baker promised to aid the
bank to recover the stolen money II 1t Is proved
that Baker was the thief!
II have been allowed by Frederick X. BAKER TO-
make an examination Of the papers ieft by baker,
and have begun the examination IN company
with Mr. Ogden. the counsel for. the fahi'is'
was at Bakers office this morning for that pur'
pose Mr.. Ogden, understand, mas prepa'eo
statement on that subject
STATEMENT BY MR.. OGDEN.
Herbert S. Ogden, the lawyer, at No. 81 Pine-st.
who was retained on Monday as counsel Tor inc
Baker family, made the following statement !"
the afternoon:
Frederick r. Baker came 10 me yesserusS d n WHAT hat
mpoyed me m "a as unser s the present
and told him that in my opnaioh pm ather the Rank
in every way possible. Then II was agreed Upon
between the officers Of the bank the 0ieers h OF trs
PARK Safe Deposit Company ana myseIi Una. ws
meet and open the safe deposit box yesterday as
has been described in the oassd pagedfs all assistance in
his for the examination W found of ms nohnS in
his fathers transactions with the bank fester h.
Mr. Baker 3 M BsSo Sy
II any light could be thrown on the matter: we
,hrouph his fathers checkbooks and papers MI;
Bishop, Frederick r. Baker ana nlysei otnvu a..
scran Of paper that in any way. shape or manner
shows any connection between the pamn ii ,i Trsw
sums 'e Of money from that bank. We have not as
yet made an exhaustive examinhc,Uh ho hat The de-
eased had any connection with Samuei u oeeiy'
When Mr. Ogden was asked about the probable
value Of the Baker estate, he said that ne
thought IL would be found to be much less tnan
had been supposed The estate consisted OF vari-
ors pieces Of real estate, he said and as the prop
erty was mortgaged heavily. the equity might
not exceed 500 900 He said he would ADVISE the
family TO give up to the bank Whatever i'eeieS'
thev had in the property il it were shown that
Baker had robbed the bank.
II was announced yesterday that Baker hao
been a bankrupt since 1885, and 1t was ior 'ha'
reason that for nine years he had bought prop
erty in the name OF Robert Is. Merritt WHO was
associated with him in the real estate ousihess'
Baker is supposed to have used the money s'o'ea
from the bank to buy the property, ana MERRITT
was the dummy through whom the property was
xt~nec of
,on,uv The fact that Baker was a bankrupt at
o., ,,,a NAV have some influence upon the legal
agbt for the recovery of the property by the
hank The following official notice, which was
ssrved unon Bakers creditors at the time he be-
oor,a q ban,rupt shows that thirty-nine per-