The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-12
ABSCONDER CAUGHT.
tole From National Bank and a
Borough In Connecticut

WaliingIoti., Conn, oct. l2.-Word was
received here last night Of the arrest at
Halifax of Willis A. Trask. treasurer of
the borough OF Wallingford and teller
Of the First National bank of that place.
As stated In dispa atches Of the Associated
Press two weeks ago Trask left town a
defauitGr 10 the borough of Walling-
ford u the extent of $1,000, A few days
later IL was learned that he had de-
frauded a prominent business man in
town. Last night 1t was officially an
nounced that the man was a defaulter
To the bank in the sum of $6,404.S7. The
amount taken from the borough treas
ury was Immediately made good by his
bondsmen, and II is also now announced
that Trasks bondsmen have made good
the amount stolen from the bank.
President Walter j. Leavenworth and
Cashier William II. Newton gave the
following official statement last night
'An exhaustive Investigation into all
departments OF the bank has been made,
from which IL appears that Trask has
been a defaulter 60 the bank in the sum
of s6.40i.S7. Every sS.lar Of this has
been made good by his bondsmen.
Even If the whole amount were a loss In
stead OF having been made entirely good,
as stated, 1t would not in the least have
affected the financial soundness of the
bank, as will appear from the official
report Of the condition Of the institution
made oct. 8, which shows the capital
stock to be $3.50, 900, the surplus and un-
divided profits S45,67414. In other words
the surplus OF the bank amounts to more
than 30 per cent of the capital
The methods employed by Trask were
possible from his position as teller. In
the line of his duties he received the
banks deposits. appropriated portion
of them 10 his own use. and instead OF
tproperly entering them, he failed 10
place numerous items on the books Of
the bank. His entries on the depositors'
pass books were in all cases correct. In
receiving deposits he destroyed the de-
posit slips and appropriated the money.
Trask was located at the instance Of
the officials of the bank The man left
town about three weeks ago. a few
DAYS previously he had been granted
vacation by Cashier Newton Two
weeks before this his wife had given
birth to a child and was for many days
critically III. At time when her con-
dition was most serious Trask suddenly
left town. This caused comment. and
the widest OF stories were circulated.
A notice 90 the borough officials 10 the
effect that the borough's account at the
bank had been ovrrdrawn led 20 an in
vestigatlon. which resulted in the dis
covery that he had abscOnGed with near
~ $4,000 or she borough's money The
banks prudence called for an examina-
tion into It's affairs. which resulted u
stated above. AS soon as the dcfalca-
ton was discovered steps were taken 20
locate the missing man.
A Halifax dispatch says: In an inter
view Trask stated that he had been
falslfying the books for 10 years or
more. The accounts were regularly
audited by experts. hut he had always
succeeded IN dccelving them until those
IN authority over him began 90 realize
that he was living beyond his income.
or received an intimation from some
gource that he must be robbing the bank.
lie declares that he Fnew Detective
Leith was In Halifax before the latter
knew where the man he wanted was 60
be found. and that escape from Halifax
and from the officers would have been an
easy matter. hut he was tired OF idicness
and wandering. ard did not care to make
an effort TO get away lie believes tho
disclosure OF his whereabouts came
through the fact that his presence in
Halifax was known 20 two friends. who
accompanied him from Connecticut 20
ST John. y. D.. and then 20 Halifax.
These friends. who were on a vacation.
have returned home. when arrested
Trask I'D about $40 in his possession.