The Indianapolis journal., 1897-01-05
For FOrty-TwO Years a Trusted OFF,
Ger of the National Farmers and
Planters Bank of Baltimore.
ENOCH PRATT'S BEST FRIEND
LOCAL PREACHER, AND HONORED
WITH MANY POSITIONS OF TRUST.
Belle Morgan, Who Committed Suicide
i'm Cincinnati. a Noted Thief,
known as Diamond Mary"

BALTIMORE. Jan. 4.-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 $60.0 600 to-day. About 10 o'clock
this morning Mr.. Cornelius was notified of
this discovery and left the hank. At 1:15
o'clock this afternoon his dead body was
found in the duck pond at Druid Hill Park.
He had committed suiciue by drowning.
On Saturday last the attention of the
banks officers was called by the bank ex-
aminer to an irregularity in the accounts
OF a country bank for which the National
Farmers and Planters Bank was corre-
spondent, and the officers Immediately be-
gan a quiet investigation OF the cashiers
accounts When Mr.. Cornelius arrived at
the bank this morning he was summoned
before the board of directors Mr.. Cornelius.
it is understood. claimed that he could
make satisfactory statement, and he was
allowed 10 go into another part of the bank
to get certain paper. He did not return
and after the lapse of some time the direc-
tors ascertained he had left the building
Detectives were at once summoned and
they traced Mr.. Cornelius to Druid Hill
Park. where in a short time the body was
found in the pond. His hat was first found
above the surface of the water in which
Mr.. Cornelius had sat and deliberately
drowned himself. He left widow and a
daughter. the widow of the late Charles l..
Carson. a well-known architect.
Mr.. Cornelius was one of the oldest and
best-known bank cashiers in Baltimore and
his acquaintance among bankers extended
throughout the country He was of a
cheerful disposition. and was prominent in
religious circles and was largely interested
in building associations in this city. During
the life of the late Enoch Pratt, the phi
lanthropist, 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 prominent Methodists in the city
He was local preacher of the Baltimore
Conference. president of the City Mission
airy and Church Extension Society. presi-
dent OF the Emory Grove Association. one
Of the trustees of the Baltimore Annual
conference. and a member of the official
board of Madison-avenue Church Mr.
cornelius began his career with the Ma
tional Farmers and Planters Bank forty
TWO years ago as messenger boy and
worked his way up TO the position of CASH
Ter. Until Saturday there had never been
even suspicion against his integrity. He
WIS never known 10 speculate, and he lived
very frugally
The vice president of the bank. Mr.. John
"A. Whltrldge, talked freely tonight about
the discovery of the shortage Eve have
nothing TO conceal" he said The old
gentleman was very careless in his ac-
counts and as long ago as October | asked
tne national bank examiner 10 make a very
thorough examination the next time he
same came to the bank. On Saturday ne re-
ported To me that there were discrepancies
In our accounts with the National Mechan-
les Bank OF New York. and the Atlantic
national Bank of Boston, who are our cor
respondents in those cities. Upon this Mr.
David l.. Bartlett, the president and nv
self. agreed TO meet Mr.. Winchester. the
examiner, at the bank at 7:30 O'Clock this
morning. After short conference we re-
quested Mr. Cornelius to give us access
TO his books and papers. which he did with
out the least hesitation. saying. calmly:
Inere may be some eErOr here due to care
lessness, but there is nothing wrong A
few moments later he left the building Mr.
Cornelius was bonded for $50 coo by the EN-
ployers Liability Assurance Corporation of
London, and IL is my impression that this
amount Will almost cover the shortage 1t
has been rumored to-day that Mr. Cornelius
occasionally specuated in grain. but we
could not verify any such report
1t will be some time before Bank Exam
iner Winchester. assisted by Philadelphia
experts Will be able to give the exact
amount of the defalcaton. Mr.. Winchester
thinks $60,DO a liberal estimate. In addition
to other positions of trust in church mat
ters. Mr.. Cornelius was treasurer of the
Methodist Preachers Aid Society the as
sets of which were about sl25.0oO when last
examined by the Socety's committed Jan
3. 1896 when all was found correct No
event in years has caused such excitement
i'm financial circles. where for more than
forty years Richard Cornelius was looked
on as the exponent of straightforwardness
and business integrity.