The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-28
Bakers Death.

NEW YORK, Nov 24-The Press this
morning says in an article concerning the
drowning Of Frederick r. Baker, a
wealthy lawyer, at Flushing bay and the
defa,cation at the National shoe and
leather bank with which A. Frederick
was connected:
'It is impossible to verify the state
ment that the Mr.. Baker who was
drowned is the one who was mixed up in
the embezzlement at the Shoe and leather
bank. AL information OF any kind Is re-
fused at the house. Two detectives from
New York visited Flushing, but their er
rand cannot be learned"
NEW YORK, Nov. 26.-The doors of
the National shoe and leather bank were
opened this morning just as unconcernediy
as though the institution had not recently
been plundered Of $354,000 by one Of its
trusted UOOAkeepers. we are prepared
for any emergency" said one Of the di-
rectors I'VE stand prepared to pay out
every dollar Of our Indebtedness just as
soon as 1t is called for, but indications are
that we viii not be very hard pressed"
There was no apparent danger Of a run
on the bank, although necessary precau-
tons were taken. The directors haYe held
numerous conferences, and when the. bank
doors opened this morning all were in
readiness for whatever trials or tests TO
which the solidity Of the institution might
be subjected. A meeting Of the bank d-
rectors viii be he'd today to fix the rate OF
assessment of the stockholders to meet the
deficiency caused by the Seeley defa.cation.
The bank officials hout the idea that Seeley
and his accomplice. Baker, were aided by
another confederate. Baker is credited
with 5000 balance, but il is understood that
this credit is bogus. The sons Of the late
Frederick Baker insist that their fathers
business record was immaculate; that 1t Is
absurd to charge him with completely IN
Ie.f--r 4 a-f#
In the bank and left no papers as evidence
that he had even had any transactions
with the institution. on the other hand,
the bank officials assert that Baker had
been a depositor for the past thirty years.
1t Is intimated that the directors are In
communication with counsel regarding pro
ceedings TO secure property left by Baker
rs indemnity for the banks losses through
his operations with Seeley.
Bakers BODY Identified.
Despite the assertions of Frederick Ba-
ker's sons to the effect that their
father was not the man implicated with
See.ey in the lootins of the Shoe and
Leather bank and that he did not even
have an account there. Paying Teller Gil
bert Sayres of the bank, the man who
for eight years past has cashed checks for
Baker personally at least three times
week, averaging about 5000 each. has posi-
lively identified the body Mr.. Sayres
said TO a reporter today:
There is not the shadow Of a doubt
that the man who was found drowned
at Flushing on Saturday was Frederick
II. Baker. the man who assisted Seeley to
rob the bank and the man whom person
ally paid the money. l have known him
for at least eight years and during that
period have paid him money at least three
times a week. Baker always presented
his checks personally. I never remember
him sending one by any messenger or
clerk to be cashed all the time 1 have
been in the bank. He generally came
about three times a week and the checks
would be drawn for odd amounts. never
exceeding over S40O at a time. though gem
orally S315, $3.50 or S215, or sums like that.
In order to ascert1in positively whether
the man who was found drowned at
Flushing on Saturday was the same Baker
I made a journey there last night, and l
no sooner saw the body than I identified
ii. The sons told me they could not be-
lieve II. as they never knew he had any
account at the Shoe and Leather bank
and could not find the slightest trace Of
anything to verify it among the dead
mans paDers.