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


fore with an Old Friend, and then
Showed Signs that His Mind was
Wandering-Had Mentioned the
Dark Outlook-Hammond Busi-
ness Methods Ginning to Light,
place the Responsibility for the
Banks Failure Upon Him.
Chicago, January 2.-Wm. A. Ham
mond, late vice president of the col
lapsed National Bank of Illinois, COM
mitted suicide at an early hour this
morning by throwing himself into Lake
Michigan. He left his home on Green
wood Boulevard, Evanston, shortly af-
ter o'clock, having kissed his two
year-old boy good bye, and he was not
seen again alive His body was dis
civered in the lake at the foot of Church
street, Evanston, this afternoon by two
boys who were playing on the beach.
Mr. Hammond spent the last evening
of his life at the home of his old asso-
ciate, Percy Palmer. From 8 to II
o'clock he talked with his friend about
the black prospects before him, and he
gave frequent indications that his mind
was becoming shattered under the
strain of trouble.
When he left he refused the offer of
company but went to his home, spend
ing brief moment with his wife before
he retired
At o'clock in the morning, ii is be-
leved he crept from the house with
the fixed intention of taking his life.
A few scattered scraps Of paper cling
ing to the Dempster street pier told
the first story of his death. when the
news of his disappearance became
known in the morning. At the request
of his wife, friends went in search of
him. and they were satisfied as to his
fate long before his body was washed
upon thecshore.
Mrs Hammond first missed her hus-
band at o'clock this morning and at
once aroused the household. Carl Ste
venson, hired man, was sent to the
house of Birrey J. Moore, 1874 Asbury
avenue, and the latter was told of Mrs.
Hammond's suspicious. He Is good
friend of the family and calling his
carriage he drove rapidly to the house.
On his way he stopped at the house of
Mr.. Lord, of Lord, Owens &, Co. Both
men looked over the Hammond house
and satisfied themselves that the worst
was to be expected. Then they drove
down Dempster street TO the pier On
the end of the pier Mr.. Mooer discov-
cred the scraps of paper which settled
the conviction in his mind that Mr..
hoI fo1y n ic q
rain of the night had soaked the scraps
of paper and they had clung to the
boards, thus preventing the wind from
blowing them away. The men recog-
nized the handwriting of the eX-bank-
er and at the end was his signature.
He had apparently torn the paper into
shreds before throwing them away.
This was enough to satisfy the two
men of what had taken place and they
at once sat on foot arrangements
for recovering the body. Mr. Lord tel
ephoned to the Durham Towing Co.,
in the city, and the tug T. T. Morford,
which was colse at hand, was called
out at once. It was sent down the river
and it moored for few minutes at the
Central Life Saving Station. When
it left for Evanston it was accompan-
led by the life-saving crew in charge
of acting keeper Hamman.
1t reached the Dempster street pier
at 1870 o'clock. The graphing irons
and other apparatus used in dragging
the water were at once put in use.
Prior to the tugs arrival Captain Lar
son with Axel Anderson, of the Evan
ston life-saving crew, worked with
difficulty in trying to discover the
body.
At 12:15 o'clock. sixteen-year-old w.
f. Gedney. of 1923 Sherman avenue,
with a companion, was walking along
the beach in the vicinity of Church
street. when they sighted the body
floating only few feet from the shore.
The face was looking downward, but
the boys were able 10 recognize the OBJ
ject as the body of a man. Young
Gedneys companion was d. r. Arthur,
of 321 Davis street. The boys had pre-
viously been at Demster street and
watched the efforts of the life saving
crew to recover the body of Mr.. Ham
mond. They felt certain they had DIS
covered the body and turned back to-
ward Dempster street Meeting Police
Officer White they told him or what
thev had seen and with Officer Michael
RYAN. White went to the spot. The
body had by that time washed almost
upon the beach and the two men mad
but little difficulty in hauling 1t in.
White called the police ambulance and
the body was removed to an undertake
ing establishment.
Once at the undertaking roms. the
body of Mr.. Hammond was soon iden-
tilted by friends. The condition of the
body was such that it could be readily
recognized. It was in no way bloated
nv its stay in the water, and the man S
face looked like it did in life. AS soon
as the coroner heard officially OF the
death of Mr.. Hammond, which was
shortly after noon, he sent deputy
10 Evanston. The mans friends ex-
nressed q desire to have the INQUEST
held AT once and it was set for the af-
ternoon at $50 o'clock. Nothing OF
importance was found in the mans
nockets. On q key ring found in his
nossession was a paste-board check
hearing the name c. W.-Brega, and
Tho following words: Containing
bankers tel. bonds.
The verdict of the jury was that he
had committed suicide while tempor-
arily deranged.
Mr.. Hammond was the vice president
Of the bank and active in the manage
ment In fact. IS said to have been the
responsible head. since President
Schneider was too feeble to do much work.
Large loans 10 the Calumet Electric Com
pary particularly and others. which re-
suited in the close of the bank. are un-
derstood to have been made by Mr.. Ham
mond.
The home from which Hammond was