The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-01-07
SHORT AND A SUICIDE.
Cashier Cornelius, EnOch Pratt's Right
Hand Man, browns Himself at
Baltimore.

Richard Cornelius, cashier OF Re
National Farmers and Planters
bank, corner of South and Germ |n
streets, Baltimore, committed suic He
by drowning yesterday morning IN
the duck pond in Druid Hill park.
A shortage in his accounts amount
ing, possibly, to 100000 has been Dis
covered by the bank officials, and
this undoubtedly caused him to t1ke
his own life. 4
The body OF the dead cashier Vas
found by Bicycle Patrolman Johl J.
Dunn at 1:15 p. m. The drowning
probably occurred about II O'Clock.
Astonishment was unboundeq in
financial circles when it became
known thar Mr.. Cornelius had ended
his life.
in reply to inquiries Preside4t Of
the Bank David L, Bartlett and Vice
President John \. Whitridge eaid;
After a recent examination blythe
bank examiner, who, when verifying
an account with corresponding
bank, discovered Irregularities (which
he reported to the president and vice
president; they, with the --'9x8hinhss;<
undertook an examination of the bank
to-day. They found the cashiers ac-
counts short about 100000"
Vice President Whitridge talked
freely about the discovery Of the
shortage. I'VE have nothing to con
ceal, " said he. The OLD gentleman
was very careless in his accounts, and
as long ago as October I asked the
national bank examiner TO make a
very thorough examination the next
time he came to the bank. On Satu1-
day he reported to the me that there
were discrepancies in our accounts
with the National Mechanics Bank
of New York and the Atlantic Ma
tional Bank of Boston, who are our
correspondents in those cities.
Il came down to the bank early and
went over the accounts with Mr..
| Cornelius We found carlessness in
the way things were kept, and dis
covered one piece of collateral made
out in Mr.. Cornelius own name. In
explanation of this he said that the
late Enoch Pratt, who was president
of the bank, had told him to make it
out so.
Not wishing to be severe upon
him." continued Mr.. Whitridge, Il
handed the paper over the desk to
him, and said: What kind of cash
Ter are YOU? You haven't even en-
dorsed it. Put your name on the
back And he took a pen and wrote
his name upon it.
AT 1915 o'clock had to go across
the street to my office. | was back
again at 1925 o'clock, and learned
that Mr.. Cornelius had left the, '5anll
about five minutes before. Search
was then made for him"
Mr.. Bartlett has been president and
Mr.. Whitridge vice-president only
since the death of Mr.. Pratt, which
occurred early in the autumn.
Mr.. Cornelius had been for some
time treasurer of the Methodist
Preachers Aid Society, the condition
of which was last examined on Janu
AIRY 3, 1896, by Joshua S. Rawling
and David Abercrombie, the commit
tee of the conference, who reported
that they found everything correct.
Concerning the funds of the MethO
dist Preachers Aid Society, of which
Mr. Cornelius was treasurer, Summer
field Baldwin, president of the socity
stated last night that there was n
question in his mind but that tn
fund was intact.
Governor LOwndes was seen at hi
Office in the Second National BAN
this morning by Times representa-
tive, to whom he stated that he ha
known Cashier Cornelius very wei
and that he was always considere
capable and efficient and stood hig
ia banking circles throughout til
State. Il am very much surprised,
said the Governor. 'Mr. Corneliu
had been cashier of the bank &c
thirty years, and was member Of tn
Methodist church Yes, l am nc
only surprised, but shocked to lear
that he has ended his life
Mr. Robert Shriver, president of th
First National Bank, said he kne
. Mr.. Cornelius very well, and that hi
bank had done business with NJ
Cornelius for years, and that they a
ways found him upright and homes
Z "We,' said Mr.. Shriver, "esteeme
him very highly
Mr.. Harry Weber, cashier Of tn
Second National Bank, said tha
: while he did not know Mr.. Cornelir
personally he knew of him very we
~ through the American and Stat
# Bankers {. Association. Mr.. WEBB
: thought it little remarkable that
Il strong institution like the above ban
: would be so slow in finding out IL