The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-05
A BANKERS Suicide.
Cashier Of a Baltimore Institution
browns Himself.
BIG SHORTAGE In HIS ACCOUNTS

When Called Upon to Explain the Disap-
pearance of $50, 900 the Banker Fled to
Druid Hill Park and Jumped Into a
Fonda Leading Churchmnn.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 5.-Richard Cornelius,
cashier, and for forty-two years connected
with the National Farmers and Planters
bank, of which Enoch Pratt was president
up to the time Of his death, was discovered
to be short in his accounts to the amount
of about $50, 600 yesterday. About 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning Mr.. Cornelius was no.
titled of this discovery and left the bank.
At 10 in the afternoon his dead body was
found in the duck pond at Druid Hill
park. He had committed suicide by drown
ing.
When Mr.. Cornelius arrived at the bank
yesterday he was summoned before the
board Of directors to explain the irregu-
larities that had been discovered in his ac-
counts, and which were then under con-
sideration by the board. Mr.. Cornelius,
it is understood, claimed that he could
make satisfactory statement and he was
allowed to go into another part of the
bank to get certain paper. He did not
return, and after the lapse of some time
the directors ascertained that he had left
the building. A search resulted in the
finding of his dead body.
Mr.. Cornelius was one of the oldest and
best known bank cashiers in Baltimore,
and his acquaintance among bankers ex-
tended throughout the country. During
the life of the late Enooh Pratt he was one
of that gentleman's most intimate friends
and probably knew more about Mr..
Pratt's private interests than any other
man in Baltimore. For many years Mr..
Cornelius had been one Of the most prom
inent Methodlsts in the city. At his death
he was local preacher of the Baltimore
conference, president Of the City Mis-
sionary and Church Extension society,
president of the Emory Grove association,
one Of the trustees Of the Baltimore an
nual conference and a member of the Of
fetal board Of Madison Avenue church.
He began his career with the National
Farmers and Planters bank forty-two
years ago as messenger boy and worked
his way up to the position of cashier I'm
til Saturday there had never been even
suspicion against his integrity. He was
never known to speculate and lived very
frugally.
The vice president of the bank, Mr..
John A. Whitridge, talked freely today
about the discovery of the shortage. "We
have nothing to conceal" said he. 1.-The
old gentleman was very careless in his ac-
counts, and as long ago as October asked
the national bank examiner to make
very thorough examination the next time
no came to the bank. On Saturday he re-
ported to me that there were discrepancies
in our accounts. Upon this Mr.. David L.
Bartlett, the president, and myself agreed
to meet Mr.. Winchester, the examiner, at
the bank at 1880 yesterday morning
AFTER a short conference we requested
Mr.. Cornelius to give us access to his
books and papers, which he did without
the least hesitancy, saying calmly, There
may be some error here due to careless
ness, but there is nothing wrong few
moments later he left the building.
"Mr. Cornelius was bonded for $4,000
by the Employers Liability Assurance
corporation, of London, and it is my i'm
preston that this amount will almost
cover the shortage 1t has been rumored
that Mr.. Cornelius occasionally speculated
in grain, but we could not verify any such
report"
In addition to other positions Of trust in
church matters Mr. Cornelius was treas
urer of the Methodist Preachers Aid so.
ciety, the assets of which were about $780,
600. When last examined by the society's
committee, Jan. 3, 1896, all was found
correct
No event in years has caused such ex-
citement in financial circles where, for
more than forty years, Richard Cornelius
was looked upon as the exponent of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and business integ-
pitv