New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-17
TRAGEDY IN A BANK.
TWO EXAMINERS SHOT BY A CLERK, WHO
COMMITS SUICIDE.

Council Bluffs. Iowa. Dec. 1G.-John F'inting-
ton, remittance clerk in the Citizens STATE Bank
Of this city. this morning shot and seriously
wounded +. y. Hayden. of Chicago. and a.
Cromwell. Of Minneapolis. respectively super
intendent and inspector of the Fidelity and
Casualty Company Of New-York City. and then
committed suicide, shooting himself through the
head in the private Office Of the bank at First
ave. and Main-st.
There was a shortage in the bank accounts
Of $500. and this caused the act The shortage
dates from last July On the 10Th Of that month
four $500 checks passed into the Citizens Bank.
Only three Of those checks have ever been
accounted for The first the cashier of the
bank. G. r. Harmon knew of the matter was
about the middle Of August, when his book
keeper Mr. Rof. called his attention to the
fact that there Il difference of $500 between
the statements Of the Citizens and the Union
Stock Yards Bank Of South Omaha. The Citi-
zens' Bank had 500 charged up 10 the South
Omaha bank which the latter had failed to give
credit for Inquiry was at once made of all the
employees Of the bank who might know Of the
matter. and an investigation made. The
whole matter was checked over without locating
the mistake.
The investigation showed that on July 10 four
Of the receiving teller. Three of these items
were traced successfully To their settem mt.
The other item, It was found. had gone from the
receiving teller into the hands OF Mr.. Hunting
ton the remittance clerk His records showed
that the item had been charged To- the - nth
Omaha bank and that the check had been sent
to that bank Written and telephone corre-
spondencc with the South Omaha Bank followed.
developing the statement from the latter b2nk
that 1t had never been advised of the receipt of
this item. Huntington's records show ID this
item a cashiers check
The discount clerk Mr.. Buchanan, was sent
to Omaha to ascertain from the First National
Bank whether a cashiers check had been Issued
by the Union Stock Yards Bank at the odte pi
the check I'm question July T. and not returned;
The record OF the South Omaha Bank mo vfd
three items Of $500 issued On the dat" men 10 led'
and still out. All these were traced, ana were
found not To come near Council Bluffs. \
further delay was made I'm tn" hope nat me
Item might have been missent in the mail "ni
might have been received by some oi the core
spondent banks Of the 'it. SANK 'h',
out the country. when the reports from These
banks were all In no Information had '"'n lr-
ceivod t. throw light on IN" shortage. NJ trace
~ the missing item could he found
! constant investigation was kept M, anu
finally when the directors met. Cashier hann'n
reported tho matter q them. Every employc ~
the bank WAS under bond signed by ~" Fidelity
and Casually Company. and 10y instruction ol inc
directors Information - IN" shortage Was Sent
- the company which sent o. ms city ,. y.
Hayden. ~ Chicago, and \ Cromwell gi Mln"f-
auolis 10 ascertain the truth. They airiNrl mere
Friday and began the investigation. rae yr-
cumstantlal evidence was naturally Idit'N
against Huntington. and he was the hrst sunJ ''
- Inquiry He was called - Prifat" n'oINf"
with the officials - the bank and the represent
afiyes OF the company. IL happened ila' Ohe
.hartags occurred the day before Huntington
started on hts vacation last sumner. ana he WAS
questioned ~ to the money he spent AT me tine .
and whore ne gpt IL. He stated saturday thd'
he borrowed from his sister. but could not re,M'i
b.r the amount II" stated mat WINE III -
YORK he gave his brother. whom he was VISIT
inx "A check on the Cfiiz"ns' Bank f'r so or 80
To-day Huntington met the repres, ,niat.yes OK W
the bonding company and Mes,,s ''"',i''''.,,',
and Harmon At tn" bank bulnl"S- IT, "
,her. when the men came in. He was sltunt III
his desk talking with another clerk VINO ""' %
al work Huntington walked 10 IN" front ~ 1''
hank from behind the wire screen ana went I'M"
,he hack room II seems that he nrsi went 10
the drawer of of the receiving le'i.IS VI.
Spooner. and took from the drawer "a ,",lo'r ''
Colt's revolver. He went with the "tnrI men
into the rear Office. and the inquiry whioh hau
been begun the previous day was resumed.
II was Just II o'clock when the conference De
tween Huntington the bank officials ana Mcssrs
ia vden and Cromwell began. Huntington was
asked regarding the money he borrowed fr"n his
sister and ~ replied that the amount was apVut
tiOo Asked what was his disposition Oh inns
money ne sald IL was none OF the other men
husincss Cromwell. who did most Of thc talking
with Huntington. replied sharply that INA, "as
not The Kind OF thing thcN cam" l'r' i''' '"''
uras worse than useless for Huntington To TAX
,bat way md they wanted no more OF II hunt
ington became excited ana angry anu ''"""h
forward raped on the table ana Salu' ,.,
You can I com" mere an" "u''"'"' ~
Mr. Hayden interfercd and succeeded in calm
ing him. For five minutes or 80 'n' vn.,,'1
lion proceeded. Huntington sald n" u'p"S'''I
about $40 I'm the bank here before s"lhs dM"i ~"
his vacation and took the remainder with Min
Hayden asked him the question ,,, -,
Gf,FI a
ceived from your brother in Ncw-Nork on 4
check which you had drawn on this bank 800
or sfO?"
aTben said Hayden. "how is IT that your
bank account shows that between Juy ~ ahu %
August : only two checks were s@.'si''.l: @ an" .n |
amn,,nts Of these were 50 and 500 Ne1tner "l
,h,s. amounts agree WITH tn amount ~ 'n'
rhcck given your brother which "i theSe
checks could that have be'h -
When these words were spoken the pirN N'S
rr, ,,gcd about A small table. Cromwell racing
Huntington Hayden had turned t1waru mum
ington Herman had just been callru mo ~,
,,tar ooice As Mr. Hayden asked IN" pu'StI"h
ahova yivrn Edmundson started for IN" '"ur'
Tho interview was becoming pdintui Tor NUM- re
had steadfastly declared I'M, ilun,,ns,'" ,i, %
not be the guilty persor iiunthg'oii - p,.
and examinations were not clear ana sillSlh'''S
lie left his chair and started Tor the 9'her sue
of the room. He had recovered l'"lr "na
-, :, fow moments before and appeared p'ric'NS
calm although apparently excited. liiyI'l ana
Cromwell supposed Huntington was Eo'ns ~ =" ,,s r,s
washroom closet Conversation ioi III. , .a,''' i.
susncnded Huntington however s'epp'" -
Ua vden and pulled revolver from ms PTrhr.'
Refore Edmundson had reached the door iium nun,
inptnn placed the weapon close 10 'roh"'I
head and fired. Cromwell was entirely umhr1 nlh,
pared for the atyck. The bullet sru'h hhn, t s she
side Of the neck passing through psi''nr ,h th
windpipe and lodged in the left side ot the
neck. IT.. ,,.o,no, ON uav-
Huntington then turned his weapon on iias
don who, startled by the first shot' had s,ar',u |
IN his chair and before his victim could rlSn NO ~
his foot sent "A bullet through the neck lhe
bullet narrowly missed the spnai co,u.,.H nnL and
nassed out Hayden felt the singing sensation,
but the wound was not deep enough to stun MN In
ond he ran out Instantly Huntington turned on
"',,,,,aiI " hefnre the latter had time To rise.
and fired thi,d time. Cromwell threw up ms
rIpht hand and received the bullet JUST below
the wrist. Both bones OF the arm M'I' ', Thr
tared and the coat sleeve was perioraitd' i"'
hall lodged In the arm. AS Ciomweli su''etu'."
a.. .ottinn ON his feet Huntington nrcd aEAln,