The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-12
Identity of the Suspect, Arrested
Late Monday Night Established by
the Bank Looter Himself.
CONFESSED TO THE OFFICERS
THAT HE WAS THE FUGITIVE NEW
YORK Ex-BOoKKEEPER.
willing to Return Without Rcquisi-
tion Papers-Story OF the Shoe and
Leather Bank Defatcatfon.

absconding bookkeeper OF the National
Shoe and Leather Bank of New York, is
safe behind the bars Of a cell in Harrison
street police station. The police have never,
since he was first arrested. entertained a
doubt of the identity of the man. but his
calm demeanor and his cool and positive
denials that he was Seeley had begun to
make them anxious to secure somebody
who could say definitely whether he was
or was not the man wanted. Messengers
were sent to all of the banks in the city,
this morning, in the effort to secure some
body who had known Seeley and could
identify him. No such man could be found
however. and the police had made up their
minds that the only thing for them to do
was to wait for the arrival from New
York of those who could tell them with
out fail whether it was Seeley or not
Nothing could be got from the man in any
way to give the officers a positive clew.
beyond the remarkable resemblance of the
prisoner to the photograph sent out from
New York When the officers offered to
send for anybody in this city or elsewhere
who could identify him as Frank ]. Dale,
the man he claimed to be, he replied that
he knew nobody in Chicago who could do
him such a service, an6 said that he knew
of any person in any other part Of the
country who would identify him as Dale.
When he made this declaration, he was
informed by Inspector Shea that the police
knew him to be Seeley. and there was no
further necessity Of talking over the mat
ter. He would be held until the arrival of
the officers from New York, and under no
circumstances, would he be released until
they had seen him.
After being told this Seeley was taken
below and locked up. He stood the con-
finement for about an hour, and at IL
o'clock he sent word to Inspector Shea
and Lieutenant Haas that he would like TO
see them for an interview. Ten minutes
later he confessed he was the man they
had said he was and stated he was anxious
for them TO hurry the arrangements to
take him back to New York. He was
trembling and filled with nervous excite
ment when brought to the inspectors pri-
vate Office. Inspector Shea, Lieutenant
Haas, detective Almendnger and num-
Der of newspaper men were present when
he was brought in. The sinspeetor asked
him what he wanted.
'An L want to say is, gentlemen, that
you have the right man. There is no use
of my denying it any longer. 1 am Samuel
c. Seeley, and ] am the man wanted in
New York"
WILLING TO GO BACK.
Nothing more was said until the prisoner
spoke again and said he was ready to go
back to New York as soon as the officers
could arrange 1t. He said further that he
would make no effort to gain his release
from the Chicago officers. and did not want
an attorney, but preferred to wait until
he reached New York, where he could con-
suit his own attorney. The officers at
tempted to secure some sort of statement
from Seeley regarding his connection with
the great steal but he carefully avoided
making either admission or denials. Find
ing his efforts in that line unavailing. In
spector Shea ordered the man taken to the
Harrison-street station house. where he was
locked up in a cell to await the arrival of
the New York officers.
Seeley's quarters at the Harrison-street
station were much less comfortable than
those he had occupied at headquarters
when he allowed to remain in the
| private Office of Inspector Shea. But the
| ill-smelling cell had, apparently no ter
rors for the ex-bookkeeper. and removing
| his ulster he made himself comfortable on
| the iron bunk. His vocabulary became
| very limited as soon as the cell door closed
| before him. and to all questions he simply
replied II have nothing to say"
H. E. Mcfarland. the young man whose
| information led to Seeley's arrest, put in an
| appearance at detective headquarters this
| afternoon. He was apparently laboring un-
| der a rather heavy burden of intoxicants
and his conversation was not particularly
lucid. He was able. however, to make his
hearers e. 1 understand that l. he was hot after
have ii all. He would, he declared. divide
| with no one. After making something of a
scene at headauartesrs ts Mcfarland Ss;n left, but
noon and made numerous demands for the
/ reward. Detectives who were sent out to
| look UP the informer's record reported that
| he had for a week been boasting to his
| friends that he knew where to find Seeley.
! Mcfarland. according to the officers. is an
| ardent admrer of the flowing bowl, and
| many of his acquaintances say that he
| frequently, during the last week, while in
toxicated, had declared that he would soon
| clear 5000 by a clever bit of detective
| work. Mcfarland Is a rather good looking
man, perhaps twenty-five years DID, dresses
well though fiashily. and na,,s Is said to fire.
| dtion to-day the officers were unable TO
| learn anything regarding his acquaintance
| with Seeley.
| Seeley's action in voluntarily confessine
| his identity to a passing acquaintance after
having displayed such remarkable keenness
| in eluding arrest was the cause OF much
l speculation. Mcfarland had said that
| Seeley met him on the street, invited him
| TO the races and. after several days COM
| panionship. had calmly informed him that
| he was Samuel G. Seeley, wanted in New
/ York for aiding In the theft OF SS540O0. The
| police were inclined to the belief that Nc
| Farlands story might be subject 10 varia-
| tions. 1t Is believed by many OF the detec-
| tives that the informant was old ac-
| Quaintance Of the fugitive and that the
| allurements of the 5000 reward had got the
better of his friendship. On this subject
| however, Seeley was as silent as clam
end the officers were forced to be content
| with speculation. Whatever evidence, ii
| any, had been found at 49S Lasalle avenue
| the fashionable boarding house at which
| Seeley arrested, the police refused tc
say. 1t was known that no papers of i'm
portance and a solitary 500 bill were found
on his person. and IL was not thought that
| any discriminating evidence had been dis
covered in his room.
United States Marshal Arnold made al
| effort early in the day TO get possession o.
the prisoner on a telegram from Marsha
Mccarthy of New York. asking him to ar
rest and detain Seeley until an officer from
that city could reach here. Marshal Arnold
expected TO get from Judge Grosscup th
order TO take the prisoner from the polic
| authorities. but Inspector Shea declined {,
yield him up. Pending the arrival OF s. fed
eral officer. well as the other meii ex
/ pected from New York. the effort to hav
the man turned over TO him was aban
doned by Marshal Arnold Inspector She,
| said he bit fond or money himself
and expected to get share OF the reward
Of 5000 offered for the arrest of Seeiey