San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-26
HE STOLE THOUSANDS.
BUT HAD A VERY SMOOTH A0-
OOMPLICE.
Where Did They Put The Money is
What the Bank Detectives
are investigating.


defalcation of $4,000.
The World this morning sa VS.:
Hordes of detectives are search ing
for Samuel Sely, who stole $3.50, 900
from the Shoe and Leather bank.
They have not found him. The
man who pocketed but $1,000 of
that great sum is presumably
alive but is missing. Frederick
Baker lies dead at Sands Point, l..
L. No need OF detectives to search
for him, who, the counsel OF the
bank has announced, was Sely's
confederate. Such are the contra
dictions Of crime. Sely, who has
lost honor, money, everything, bor-
rows a paltry 5000 and seeks to es-
cape. Baker, who may have had
tens of thousands Of stolen money
invested in the names OF dummies,
was found dead. But Sely him.
self was a bundle OF contradictions.
He lived seemingly like any man
who supports family on $3.50 a
week. He was apparently faith
full husband and fond father. The
truth was that, nprepossessing as
he was, he made, or sought to
make, the acquaintance of women
on the streets. He was not too
busy classifying the banks books
to exchange glances with girls
who passed the banks windows.
He helped to steal 5000 day and
was in a heaven of delight when
he won 800 at the races. His
wife helped his escape.
Now that he is free she is
Frustrated. On the other hand,
Baker was cratic. He and his wife
would start for Europe at mo-
ment's notice and return as sud-
denly. Baker lived at the rate Of
$50, 900 a year and Sely seeming y
on $50 week. Where was the mon
ey of the bankers gone? Perhaps
he had it safely invested ; perhaps
it has been lost in schemes in
which both himself andsSely were
interested. All last night the
banks employees were trying to
make the lying ledgers that Sely
had manipulated agree with the
depositor's pass books. Those who
know Sely say that it was impos-
sible that he could have spent any
considerable sum Of money him
self. He bought the modest house
at No. 422 Halsey street, Brooklyn,
several years ago, for which he
paid $500. There was a first
mortgage Of $4,000 and a second
mortgage OF $1,000 on it. He bor-
rowed money from Mrs. Bennett,
his mother-in-law, to pay off the
mortgages. He also borrowed
money to furnish the house. His
total indebtedness to her was ST.
900. Last Thursday Sely sold the
property, the equity on which
was valued at $I,400 and
the furniture, valued at
800 to Mrs. Bennett to cancel
his Indebtedness. He received the
difference of $500 in cash. He put
the money in his pocket, saying it
would be great help to him just
now. There is nothing to show
that Sely spent anything like he
stole. There is color in the story
that he made to Lawyer Angle
that he retained only $1,000 and
the remainder went to Baker.
For twenty-five years Baker has
been known as successful lawyer,
making speciality of real estate
business. For dozen years he
has been looked upon as a rich
man. He had fine big brown
stone house in west 10th street, and
a fine country place at Sands Point.
He had an enviable reputation.
When the bank learned of the de-
falcation it set out to discover the
thieves and seek for some
OF the stolen property. They
were surprised to find that
Sely had nothing. They than
turned their attention to Baker.
He was generally believed to be a
large holder of real estate. They
searched for days and found moth
ing that stood in Bakers name.
The only thing they found was a
house in this city, possibly the one
in which they lived. But within
twenty-four hours J. G. Bishop. the
attorney for the company, made
discovery.
81 will not say that none OF
Bakers property has been located"
said Mr.. Bishop, with an emphasis
which led to the conclusion that he
had received fresh information
upon this point. 81 have no posi-
tive knowledge Of what was done
with the money. do not believe
that any Of it was invested in the
Bovtop Bicycle electric railway.