Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-03

verse criticisms were based on the cur
rent allegation that il represented some
of his improper gains. When Mr.. Ham
mond was ready TO build his present nome
he paid r. d. Sheppard. the business agent
of the Northwestern University. the high-
est price for the lot ever paid in Evanston
for residence property. This was SZVV
foot. and it made the total valuation OF
his home $4,000. The interior furnishings
are in keeping with the exterior OF the
house and within the past month these
have been augmented by the purchase Oh
$1,000 worth of additional furniture.
AS a prominent resident of Evanston,
Mr.. Hammond's name appeared upon All
the town club rolls and he was especially
well known at the Evanston Club lie
was a member of ST. Marks Episcopal
church.
In addition to his official duties in the
Illinois National Bank, Mr.. Hammohu
was a director in the Oakland Nauohal
Bank. the Phoenix Insurance Company OF
Brooklyn. street cable car lines. the chi
cago Opera House Company and the Chi-
cago Railway Company.
The first open charges against the ousl-
ness integrity of Mr.. Hammond were nlaue
about ten days ago. Then he was accused
of enacting the character of Il klter' ol
deceivng the directors of the bank ana
the depostors and deliberately violating
the national bank law. His alleged irreSu-
larties were said 10 have begun many
years ago. when the vice president 1t Is
alleged. began to use the money ana
credit of the bank in outside speculatohs'
This was done i'm such manner. IL was
generally reported. that not only were
the directors deceived, but the bank eN-
aminers as well. Even old employees OF
the bank. thoroughly familiar with the
inside workings of it, were said TO nave
been unaware of what was going on under
their noses.
When it was openly charged that the
second vice president had falsifed the
bank accounts, an investigation suggested
that the Irregularities must have begun
at least iour years ago. At this time MI
Hammond Is said TO have interested him-
self In the now famous Calumet electric
railway. 1t is now believed that the hrst
overdrafts to this railway, amounting 10
$4,000, were made when the comptroller
of the currency Immediately called Tor n
statement from the bank. and Hammond
disguised the irregularity by designating
the overdrafts foreign exchange.
But this alleged irregularity only came
after many years of diligent service IN lhe
institution. the wreck Of which proved
disastrous 10 so many. IN these year
he had saved money. workeu cary l,d al.u
late and the prominent position ne cdHlS
10 occupv was the result OF his years OF
frugality and merit. With the first desire
to augment his proper salary. ms sPecu-
latiVe eyes turned far from the Ddnk.
Some of his savings invested legltlmateiS
in mining schemes brougnt ms ms ,,,,d u stIe ne
profit which he Immediately put INTO the
stock of the bank. After he had served as
cashier and came 10 be the second vice
president of the bank, II is sald ne pesah
10 personally interest himself IN hhauy
corporations. which were applicants Tor
loans and that In this way IN course OF
time his judgment became biased. from
a careful banker those VINO are now en-
gagged in clearing away the wreckage Oh
tlcallv ;he head. say he soon druted INTO
unwarranted speculators. Where these
turned out badly the vice president Is now
accused Of sending good money|atter
bad" and Disgusting his overloans IN va
rous and Illegal ways.
AT the National Bank of Illinois the
opinion was vouchsafed that the srelt
mental strain consequent upon the recent
financial troubles OF tle pdllh Hdu PIpNoN
too much for the vice president, whose
health had been none too robust Tor the
past year. Many expressions of sympathy
were heard on every side for him and his
friends. The report of his disappearance
spread quickly through the banking insti-
tutions in the downtown district, ana the
suicide theory was generally accredited
Mr.. Hammond has visited the bank every
day since the assignment was made. He
spent his time in consultation with the
hoo rd IF directors and Receiver John c.
McKeon in regard TO the business mat
ters of the institution.
The suicide Of Mr.. Hammond recalls the
suicide OF Otto Wasmansdorif. the banker,
a few days ago. WGsmansdorff's death
was the direct result of the failure Of the
National Bank of Illinois. the collapse of
that institution pulling down the firm of
Wasmansdorff & Heinleman, of which
Wasmansdorff was the senior partner
Wasmansdorff blew his brains out with 4
revolver