Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-27
THE SEELY STEAL.
Bakers Sons Insist There Is a Mistake
as TO Their Father. -
STORIES OF CROoKEDNESS.
The ook.Kceper Said to have "een
Pool.Rooin Gambler, the Lawyer
nm Embezzler.

cd at Sands Point about IL o'clock on
Saturday forenoon, would have peeh ar
ras.ed that night but for his death, on q
charge OF plundering the Shoe and Leather
Rank of more than $35i,Oo0. with the con-
nivance OF Samuel c. Seely, the runaway
book-keeper.
while this is true, his sons insist that
the bank-ofiicials made horrible mistake
ord syyore out a warrant for the wrong
man They say that their father had not
had an account at the Shoe and Leather
Bank for five years; that there Is nothing
among his papers showing any transac-
tions with the bank: that he died rich
man. and that II Seely had an accompice
named Baker 1t must have been another
Baker.
Against the dead mans sons assertion
that their father had had no account in
the Shoe and Leather Bank for five years
IS the Identification Of the body by Paying
Teller Gilbert Sayres, of the bank, who
asserts that he has paid collaterals 10
Baker personally at least three times
week for eight years past Bakers ac-
count is still open with balance to his
credit Of several hundred dollars.
BANK OPEN AS USUAL
The bank was omen to-day for business.
and no one could tell by the appearance
of cashier clerks. or paying-tellers that
ANYTHING out of the ordinary course had
taken place. Business was begun with
million and a half in the vaults. There
was not the slightest sign OF any run.
On the contrary, the president has re-
ceived letters from large deDositors and
presidents Of out-of-town banks rendering
assistance in every way. and ohering 10
jncrease their deposits If necessary. The
president declined all offers. He said to-
day: "The defalcation has been placed at
the maximum. There Is not the slightest
chance Of its exceeding the amount pub
lished-namely. $25i0cO-but 1t may possi-
bly, prove less. We can easily make II
good, and the bank is in no difficulty.
'In manner 1t is better for us that
Baker Is dead. We understand that he is
q very wealthy man. and, although he has
pursued peculiar methods In investing his
money we have no doubt of, in time
being able to place our hands on large
amount of IL, and It will certainly be
easter TO proceed against the estate than
against him personally. for II he were
alive he would undoubtedly fight us in
every way"
Up to date. no word or trace of the
absconding book-keeper. Seely, has been
heard. Stories are coming TO light about
both Seely and Baker. Bakers friends 90
not deny that Baker and Scely were ac-
quainted. Some OF them assert that
Seely was an inveterate pool-room gam
bier
BAKERS VAGARIES..
Against Baker it is told that he has de-
frauded estates of which he gained con-
troll as executor or trustee through his
generally-good reputation.
4 man named Augustus Kagel, who
lives on Staten Island, was tracing prop
erty to-day of which Baker held possess
sion as trustee for Kagel and his sister
Part of the Kagel estate consisted OF
siXty-five shares of Chatham National
Bank stock. KaCel learned at the bank
that Baker transferred the stock 10 other
parties I'm 1879. but he has paid to the
Kagel heirs continuously since tnat time
the dividends declared upon the stock
The transfer was legal. as Baker had the
power as trustee 70 dispose OF the stock.
The Seely defalcation led to considerable
shifting Of book-keepers in the down.
town banks to-day. number of the
leading banks also called in their deposit
tors books for the purpose OF eXamlna-
ton.
ANOIltEk DEE Al'-R lON.
It leaked out to-day that a discount
clerk in the National Bank Of the Repub-
lie was found last August to be $4,000
short in his accounts. When the discovery
was made the defaulter was promptly
dismissed. and relatives. it is said, made
good a great part Of his stealings The
bank officers decline to give th> mans
name. although they admit the facts.
and assert that the net loss to the bank
was a little over 5000.
Baker had a compartment in the Ma
tional Park Bank safe-deposlt vaults. Al
the instance of the Shoe and Leather
Bank this was opened to-day, but nothing
was found except a small amount OF
money. Bakers will. and other legitimate
papers. There was nothing TO throw any
light upon his transactions with Seely.
LAWYER Angel, Of Jersey City Seelys
counsel, is in an unenyiabe position. lie
IS constantly shadowed by detectives,
and his house was searched early this
morning by Pinkerton men, upon the
supposition that Angel was harboring
Seely in hiding Angel stoutly defends
Seely from all aspersions upon his habits
and character, asserting that he was
Bakers victim. Angel expresses the be
lief that Seely will shortly give himself
up.
SEELY'S CONFESSION.
Lawyer Frank w. Angel. of lOS Fulton
street. who lives at 19l Wilton street,
Jersey City, to whom Samuel Seely went,
said that he had known the book-keeper
for the last ten years, ever since the
latter had married Miss Ida Bennett, or
Wnliamsburgh, an intimate friend OF his
own wife.
"He was" said Mr.. Angel, "the last
man would think guilty Of dishonest
action The first | knew about the affair
was on November 18th, when Sam Seely
came to see me, and asked me TO ac-
cept a retaining fee to help him through
some trouble at the bank. l told him
that no retainer was necessary 10 gain
him my help. and that he ought 10 know
It. He then told me that he had 10
go back to the bank. but would come
in again and explain what he wanted
The next day QFriday) he came TO my
office about 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon,
and told me the story of the defalca-
ton He was very reluctant to give the
name of his accomplice, and only did
so when ! threatened to throw up the
case unless l was told.
at first I thought the amount taken
was small, and when Seely told me how
large an amount 1t was | thought that
he was crazy, especially as his father
himself had been a little queer at times,
often sitting for hours in a crowded
room gazing straight before him and
uttering no sound. However, he appeared
at that time perfectly rational, and when,
after telling me the whole story. he asked
my advice / said: Go over to the Brown
building and give yourself up to the
District Attorney. You haven't one
chance out OF 1000 OF escaping Well
he replied, I'll take that one chance
Since then have not laid eyes on him,
and | haven't the faintest Idea where
he is or what he Is doing, and l DO not
want to know.
when he had left went TO a number
OF the most prominent lawyers In this
city. and asked their advice as TO what
/ ought to do. In every case the reply
was: Keep still and say nothing. The
knowledge came to you professionally,
and you have no right to diyulge It,
This advice 1 followed. and. much TO my
surprise, for l have not the slightest
conception how he learned that l had
anything to do with the affair. Mr.
Bishop, of the Shoe and Leather Bank.
came to me last Thursday moDiing
and asked me 10 name approximately the
amount taken by my client l refused 10
do so, and he went away, while again
consulted a law firm which ! had retained
as my counsel. Then / returned TO the
tNal