The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-11-27
THE. BANK LO0TERS.
Seely, the Fugitive Bookkeeper,
Not Yet Located.
BAKERS SHARE IN THE BIG STEAL.

Evidence Accommodating That the Dead Man
Had Contemplated Suicide for Some Time.
Believed to Have Robbed Eststes Of
which He Was Executor.
:. NEW YORK, Nov. s7.-Tbe doors Of the
National Shoe and Leather bank were
opened yesterday Just as unconcernedly as
though the institution had not been re-
Gently plundered of 1864 600 by one Of Its
trusted bookkeepers eve are prepared
for any emergency" said one Of the bank
directors. 1--WE stand prepared TO pay out
every dollar Of our indebtedness Just as
soon as 1t Is called for" There was no
run ON the bank, although the officials
were prepared for one. There was 1000
paid out, an average days business, while
the receipts were largely in excess OF that
amount.
Despite the assertions Of Frederick
Bakers sons to the effect that their father
was not the man implicated with Seely in
the looting of the bank, and that he did
not even have an account there, Paying
Teller Gilbert Sayres, of the bank, the
man who for eight years past has cashed
checks for Baker personally at least three
times q week, averaging about $500 each,
has positively identified the body.
II Seely is alive the bank officials will
do all they can to bring him back, as his
evidence is absolutely necessary in order
to recover the losses from Bakers estate.
IL the fugitive bookkeeper can be COM
municated with, 1t is thought, the bank
officials will offer him Inducements to re-
turn, which in effect will be o practical
guarantee of immunity from prosecution.
The box Of the late Frederick II. Baker
in the vaults of the First National bank
In, the
presence of the vice president of the Park
National bank and their attorney, Director
Beach and the Shoe and Leather banks
attorney and Frederick II. Baker, son of the
late Mr.. Baker, and his attorney. Sundry
papers Of no value, memoranda of possible
value and an amount of currency less than
$500, were found in the box. There were
also several life insurance policies drawn
by the Equitable Life Insurance company.
In the box there was also will executed
by the deceased Mr.. Bas.er In 1871.
The bank officials are going to pay con-
siderable atten ton to the late Mr.. Bakers
life insurance policies. They say they are
convinced that the Baker family will be
made to see the justice of the bank claim
against his property, and they look for
restitution as ample as the Bakers can
make.
From certain facts adduced today there
can be little doubt that Baker had planned
to commit suicide some time ago. No
later than Oct. last Mr. Baker had taken
out two insur ance policies of $4,000 each
with the Equitable Life Insurance COM
pany. 1t was found that these policies
were incontestablc, an additional premium
of 800 each being paid to make them so.
The two policies were made payable to
Bakers wife, and the officials Of the in
l..
mission that they are not rendered invalid
because of Bakers suicide. 1t is also
known that Baker tried to take out
policy for $4,000 with a Connecticut life
insurance company but declined to do so
because the company would not strike out
the suicide clause in his policy. 1t is
thought Baker had at least $4,000 worth
of incontestablo insurance on his life, all
Of which was made in favor of his wife.
Attempts to trace the disposition that
Baker made of tho money of which he
robbed the bank, and the public announce
ment Of his transactions herewith, have
brought to light facts that indicate that
as far back as fifteen years ago he began
his populations, and that his stealings will
amount in tho aggregate to an enormous
sum, far above the amount taken from
the bank.
Baker, who had good reputation for
honesty and business shrewdness, sue
ceeded In getting control, during the lat
ter years of his life, of a number of good
estates. He was either executor or the
trustee of funds for the heirs. Those per-
sons who trusted him are now alleging
that he appropriated large sums Of money
belonging to them to his own use. Just how
far as he did SO only his own books that
are now locked up in his safe in charge of
his son Frederick will show.
If these charges prove true they show
Baker to have been not only one of the
most remarkable. defaulters of the age,
but also explain to large extent why it
became necessary for him to enter into q
scheme with Seely to rob the bank. Be
ing unfortunate in his speculations, in
most part, Baker, his accusers say, re-
sorted to the bank thefts to get money to
pay these accruing amounts. In this way
he kept those for whom he was trustee abb
solutely in the dark as to the state of their
property. .-...a