The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-11-27
OPENED AS USUAL.
The National Shoe and Leather
Bank.

New York, Nov. 26.-The doors of the
National Shoe and Leather bank opened
this morning as unconcernedly as
though the institution had not been re-
Gently plundered of $354,0OO by one of
its trusted bookkeepers. .e...s..
I'VE stand prepared to pay out every
dollar of our Indebtedness as soon as 1t
is called for, but the indications are
that we will not be very hard pressed"
said one Of the directors. The bank
officials fiaunt the idea that Seeley and
his accomplice, Baker, is credited with
a 5000 balance, but it is understood this
credit is bogus. The sons of the late
Fred Baker insist that their fathers
business record was immaculate; that
il is absurd to charge him with COM
plicity in Seeley's WrOng-doing, as he
had no deposit in the bank and left no
papers as evidence that he ever had
any transactions there. On the other
hand the bank officials assert that
Baker had been depositor for thirty
years. 1t is intimated that the direc-
tors are in communication with counsel
regarding proceedings to secure the
property left by Baker as indemnity for
the banks losses through his operation
with Seeley.
Paying Teller Gilbert Savers said
today:
There is not shadow of doubt that
the man found drowned at Flushing,
Saturday, was Frederick r. Baker, who
assisted Seeley TO rob the bank, and to
whom 1 personally paid money. l have
known him at least eight years, and
during that period have paid him
money at least three times week.
Baker always presented his checks
personally | never remember him
sending any by messenger or clerk to
be. casned He generally came about
three times week and checks would
be drawn for odd amounts, never over
$500 at time. In order to ascertain
positively whether the man found
drowned at Flushing was the same
Baker, ] made a journey there last
night and 1 no sooner saw the body
than l identified it. The sons told me
they could not believe it, as they never
knew he had an account at the Shoe
and Leather bank and could not find
the slightest trace of anything TO verify
the statement among the dead man
papers.
If Seeley is alive, the bank officials
will do all they can to bring him back
as his evidence is absolutely necessary
to recover the losses from Baker 5
estate. If Seeley can be communicated
with it is thought the bank officials
will offer him inducements 10 return.
which will be a practical guarantee of
immunity from prosecution. There has
been no run so far on the bank this
morning. Only $4,000 was paid out
which is the average amount
After a session of an hour, the direc-
| tors meeting adjourned until O'Clock.
No authoritative statement was made
! as to the amount OF the assessment
| that il had been decided to levy upon
the stockholders to meet the impair
ment of capital.
Director Beach would neither affirm
nor deny the truth of the statement
that it had been decided 10 make the
assessment 6 per cent. Offers OF as
sistance from other banks were de-
| cIined with the assurance that aid was
not needed, as the bank had received
| in deposits today more by 30 per cent.
/ than the Withdrawals. The directors
decided upon the adoption of 4 system
of bookkeeping which they declare will
preclude any possibility Of the recur-
| renee of wrongdoings, such as Seeley'S
/ The family of Frederick Baker, the
alleged accomplice of Boollkeeper See
| lev. had arranged that the funeral of
| the dead man should take place on
| Wednesday, but a postponenent is
I likely to be necessary. The coroner
| insists that an autopsy shall be held
! in order to settle, if possible, the ques-
| ton as to whether death was accident
al or of suicidal design. There is a
| theory that an autopsy will reveal the
presence of poison in the internal or
! gans. which would in part explain the
! fact that the body was afloat so soon
after death 1t has now become 3
question as TO whether the estates OF
| which Baker was the trustee or execu-
| tor have not suffered by his pecula-
| lions. Augustus kagel, one of thf
heirs of the estate of Gottlieb Kagel
| reported at Bakers Office, upon the
authority Of the bank named, that ne
had ascertained that siXty-five shares
of the Chatham National bank belong
ing to the estate had been transferred
by Baker, May 8, 1879. The bank au.
thorities refused TO say to whom the
| shares had been transferred. but stat
ed that. as executor, Mr.. Baker haC
| the right to transfer them. Mr.. Rage
| was excited.
| II would have trusted AIR. Baker as
a father" he said Here he has beer
| paving me the dividend of the shares
regularly, and be transferred them. fif-
teen years ago without me knowing
ANYTHING about it. The shares are nj
Longer in the name OF the estate"
Director Beach said this Afternoon
| that the announcement that 20 pei
] cent. assessment had peen levied or
the common stock was premature.
| 81 .ess than that will cover the loss
caused by the defalcations," he said
| 'tbut we do not want to stop there, We