The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-15
suicide OF A DEFAULTER
An Old and Respected Citizen OF Do
yer Shoots Himself.
THE CASHIERS DOUBLE CRIME
Isaac I. Abbott, q Trusted Bank Official,
Kills Himself When About to BE
Arrested for Shortage
OF About $4,000.
BY the limited Press.

By the United Press.
Dover, N. H., Jan. 14.-Isaac F. Abb
bott, an old and respected citizen OF
this place, and cashier of the Dover
Nation bank, was found today to be
defaulter to AN amount estimated TO
be about $4,000, and when officers went
to his residence to arrest him this after
noon, he shot and killed himself.
The discovery of the defalcation was
made by Bank Examiner Dorr, who be-
gam an examination of the bank last
Friday. He asked Mr.. Abbott certain
questions which the cashier said he
would answer next morning. When the
examiner came again Saturday morn
ing it was found that the safe. could
not be opened, and Mr.. Abbott failed
to appear. He was at home and said
that he would explain all Monday.
The refusal of the cashier to say any
thing was brought to the attention OF
the bank officials. and Examiner Dorr
at once declared Abbott defaulter.
Mr.. Abbott remained at home all day,
and Chief of Police Fogerty detailed
police officers to guard the house. The
object of setting the time lock ahead
was to give him time. Abbott stated
that the vault would open this morning
at O'Clock. When the vault was un-
locked Bank Examiner Dorr posted a
notice that the bank had suspended
business until its affairs could be
Strengthened out.
The Fatal Shot.
At o'clock this afternoon a brother
of Abbott heard the report of a pistol,
-, 1t, .,,ff,
found him lying on the floor with his
face shattered and covered with blood
Life was extinct. 1t is believed the
dead cashier has left detailed state
ment for Examiner Dorr.. Intense eX-
citement prevails, as Abbott was also
cashier of the Five-Cent Savings bank,
and was city treasurer.
Abbott was born here and was cash
Ter of the bank for nearly twenty years
He was clerk in the bank before that.
The Dover National bank is quite an
old institution and has a capital stock
of 100000. and a surplus of $4,000.
State Bank Commissioners Lyford
and Hatch arrived today and took
charge of the Savings bank. They
make the statement that the bank is all
right. Mr. Abbott's bond was issued
for $4,000 by the North American
Guarantee company of Montreal, who
have been apprised of the default. The
city's money on deposit is said TO be
safe. The stockholders will have to
make good the deficiency in the bank.
Defaulter Abbott, of the Dover Ma
tional bank. who committed suicide
just before he was to be arrested this
afternoon, left in his brothers posses
sion a statement of his defalcations in
an envelope addressed to Examiner
Dorr That gentleman promised to
make the statement public, but said,
after due consideration, that he would
not give it out. He said, however, that
the statement was not detailed, but
only left clues for him to follow. He
could not state the amount of the
shortage, but it is stated by some in
siders that the amount is not far from
$4,000. 1t is limited that Abbott has
mot been a thief in the common sense
of the word, but made his first inroad
'on the money belonging to the bank
to help out friend.