The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-26
sroLE A GREAT FORTUNE.
How Book.koepsr seeiy. of the Shoe ant
Leather Bank, Committed hts Thefts.

How Book.kOeper Seeiy, OF the shoe and
Leather Bank, Committed Hts Thefts.
New YoRE, Nov. 25.-samuel @. seely,
an assistant book.keeper In the Ma
tional Shoe and Leather Bank, has dis
appeared with sS54.oOo Of the banks
funds. He was aided by confederate,
the bank officials arc certain. Indeed,
they 20 90 far, as to assert that the
Identity Of Seely,s sccomplice is known
10 the police, and that detectives either
have him in custody or will soon appre-
head him. Tue confederate was not an
attache OF the bank, though 1t is init
mated that he was q depositor. Accord
ing to Vice President Pease, Seely has
been fleeing the bank for come time
past. His method was not ingenious,
neither was il brilliant. 1t was ardous,
difficult, dangerous, but withal success
ful.
Mr.. Pease says the entire execution OF
the scheme lay in Transporting the nc
counts with the assistance OF confed-
crate. On Thursday, November 10. the
bank commenced IN prepare for the in
auguratIon Of 4 new system OF book
keeping. This, Of course, blocked
Seeley's game. The introduction Of
new method OF keeping accounts would
necessitate q review OF the books, and
such a review would probably, II not
certainly, disclose the deficiency. Ex-
posure stared Seely in the face. Mr..
Pease and his associates suspected moth
lug wrong until Friday, but whom on
the evening OF that day. their suspicious
were aroused, the assistant bookkeeper
had disappeared.
Work was commenced on the bank
books and accounts, and early last week
the investigation resulted in the discov-
cry OF seely's wrong-doing. + The re-
mainder Of the story is beat told In
Weep President Pease's own words:
1.-THE moment we discovered the ex-
istence OF an irregularity in our ac-
counts" said he, I'VE called in the bank
examiner, and subsequently We aaked
the assistance Of the clearing house.
The stability OF the institution, how
ever, has not In the least impaired by
this unfortunate affair. How Seely ac-
complished his work is difficult to say.
That it required close figuring and &C.
curate calculation lie evident. He must
have kept private SGT of books for his
own intormatlon-a sort OF record oil his
own shortcomings"
For a short time 1t was feared that
the bank depositors would become
alarmed over the defalcation, but
though q number called at the institu.
tion during the afternoon, they
were easily assured that ali Claims
would be met without difficulty. seely
was under s., 500 bonds to the bank. He
Is forty years Of age and resides with
his wife and two children in Brooklyn.
He had been in the banks employ Tor
fourteen years.
". b. Van Vleick, cashier OF the
bank, began steps also for apprehension
of the bookkeeper and his alleged &C.
complete. Accompanied by Lawyer
Bishop, he visited District Attorney Eel
lows. The crime being federal odense,
Mr. Van Vleick was sent to United
States District Attorney McFarlane,
with whom he had conference. Then
they went before United States Commits.
sioner Shields and had some papers
signed, which It was understood were
warrants. Whether warrants had really
been issued, nobody would say. Com
missioner Shields referred everybody to
the district attorney, and the latter was
very reticent.
ssely's operations are said to have ex.
sendsd through period OF nine years.
Lawyer Angel, his counsel, asserts that
Seely was victimized BY his accomplish,
who is said TO be q lawyer. Angel says
seely got only $1,000 OF the large
amount taken.