Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-20
A FOOLISH ACT.
Messenger Albert N. King Of
Boylston eank, Boston,
Skips Out With About $4,000 in
Cash and $4,000 Certificate.
Has But Few Hours Start and fooIishly Hopes
to Elude Officers.

Boston. May 19.-Albert NJ. King. the
l9-years-old messenger of the Boylston
National Bank, at the corner of Wash
ington and Essex streets, is missing,
together with about 5000 in cash and
a $4,000 United States certificate, not
negotiable except between banks King
started for the clearing house, at 10.15
o'clock this morning, to settle the bal
ance existing there against the bank,
and on the way, according to instruc-
tions, transacted ether business involv-
ing something like $4,000. AS he did
rot return to the bank by o'clock, the
officials grew anxious and made 4
search for the messenger, besides in
voking the aid Of the police, but up to
the present hour they have been I'M
able to ascertain his Whereabouts.
Deputy Suerintendent Burrill ard
Chief Inspector Watts at once sent tell
egrams to New York, Montreal and all
the large cities in New England, Civ
ing a description of King and asking
the police 10 look out fer him.
King has been employed in the Boyls-
ton bank about two years. coming
highly recommended, and his honesty
was never Questioned. He has carried
as much as 100000 of the banks money
at a time on previous occasions, and
has never lost a dollar. He lived with
his father. who is employed by the
South End National Bank at No. 61
Beale street. Wallaston.
When he left the bank. this mornig,
for the Clearing House, the balance
against the bank was $l5,590.71. To
pay this he was given an order on the
Union National Bank on State street.
for $4,000. the balance to be returned
to the Boylston Bank. Besides this,
King was instructed to go to the Free
mans National Bank at GA Summer
street and collect 500 1000, which he was
to carry TO the National Bank of Com
merce in the Sears building at the cor
ner of Court and Washington streets
and pay in there. A part of his direc-
tons King carried out faithfully. All
business at the Clearing House is or
dinarily finished by noon and the
messenger who does not arrive there
by 1870 is apt to arouse suspicion.
At the Boylston Bank. Cashier ID. S.
Waterman waited until o'clock before
he decided that King should be looked
up. Then he called up the National
Bank of Commerce and in reply to his
query, was informed that the messen-
ger had not been there today. This
was sufficient to alarm Mr.. Waterman,
and he Immediately notified Chief In
spector Watts of Kings disappearance.
Officers of the bank squad were i'm
mediately started in search of the mis-
sing man.
hoy learned that inc hn n die
appeared at the Freemans Bank and
had drawn the $4,000 which he was to
pay at the National Bank of Com
merce. Then about half an hour later
he called at the Union Bank, where he
was given $4,000. OF this he was paid
S15. 900 in cash. while a United States
certificate for $4,000 made up the bal
ance. 1t was somewhere about 11.30.
as near as the officers can ascertain.
that King reached the Clearing House.
He paid over the $1,000 in cash which
he had received from the Union Bank.
and in order to balance the account he
had to take $5901 from the $4,000 which
he should have paid to the National Bank
of Commerce
This looked suspicious 10 the officers of
the bank. Here all trace of the messen-
ger was lost AS near as can be figured.
King had in his pocket when he left the
Clearing House. the SZu.Wu minus the
$590.1l which he paid to the Clearing
House. and the $4,000 certificate
King. had he so chosen. might have
gone TO any bank where he was known.
and as Il matter of accommodation to the
Boylston Bank. could have obtained the
cash for the certificate. Whether or not
this was done cannot be learned. tonight.
and it will be impossible to know before
tomorrow So far as known. this Is all
the money that King had with him when
he disappeared.
Although the police have been actively
working on the case, nothing has been
learned. up to late hour tonight, of the
missing messengers whereabouts.
In the kilograms sent out broadcast by
the police King is described as 10 years
old, > feet. inches tall weight li5
pounds. thin-faced light-comple xioned
with light hair. He was dressed in a
brown suit of clothes and wore a brown
derby hat.
President Charles Torrey of the Boyls-
ton Bank. at once telephoned Kings
father who went to the bank and freely
gave all the aid he could in locating his
son.
Cashier Waterman declined. tonight to
say anything whatever about the case.
He said that President Torrey had issued
strict instructions that no information
should he given. He declined either to
affirm or deny that King was missing or
that any of the funds of the bank had