The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-02
FELO-DE-SE
FOR HIM.
Vice-PreS. Hammond of the
Burst Bank of Illinois
Believed to Have. Thrown Him.
self Into the Lake.
SOME OF HIS EFFECTS
Found on the Beach at Demp-
ster Street Pier.
A Search Being Made For His
Body.
SOME OF HIS EFFECTS

Illinois, is missing. Some of his effects
were found this morning on the lake
front at the Dempster street pier near
his home in Evanston
The recent sensational failure of the
bank of which Mr.. Hammond was vice
president is supposed to have led to his
disappearance. Mr.. Hammond retired
as usual last night. This morning the
members of his family on going to his
room found it empty Search was be-
gun for him and it finally led his friends
to the Dempster street pier. There
they found a number of private papers
in Mr.. Hammonds handwriting This
convinced the searchers that he had
probably committed suicide by jumping
into the lake
The federal life saving crew at Evans
ton was Immediately notified and began
a quick search for his body. A tug
was also wired for to come from Chi
cago for the same purpose. The dis
appearance of Hammond recalls the
suicide OF Otto Wasmansdorff, the
banker,a few days ago. Wasmansdorff'
death was the direct result of the fail
ure of the National Bank of Illinois, the
collapse of that institution pulling down
the firm of Wasmansdorff & Heinne-
man, of which Wasmansdorff was the
senior partner Wasmansdorff blew his
brains out with revolver.
Mr.. Hammond was the vice president
of the National Bank of Illinois and
active in the management; in fact he is
said to have been the responsible head
since President Schneider was too fee
BILE to do much work, and the large loans
to the Calumet Electric company par
ticularly and to others which resulted
in the closing of the bank are under
stood to have been made by Mr.. Ham
mond.
The home from which Hammond was
missed last evening is situated on
Greenwood boulevard in Evanston and
rod
not less than $500 600 and some of the
recent adverse criticisms We're based
on the current allegation that it repre-
sented some of his improper gains.
When Mr. Hammond was ready to build
his present home he paid Il. D. Shep-
pard, the business agent of the North
western university the highest price for
the lot ever paid in Evanston for resi-
dence property. This was $500 a foot
and it made the total value of the home
$500,O00 The interior furnishings are
in keping with the exterior of the house
and within the past month these have
been augmented by the purchase of $3,-
900 worth of additional furniture.
AS a prominent resident of Evanston
Mr.. Hammonds name appeared upon
all the town club rolls and ne was es-
pecially we'll known at the Evanston
club. He was member of St. Marks
Episcopal church. In addition to his
official duties in the Illinois National
| bank, Mr.. Hammond was a director in
the Oakland National bank. the Phoe-
nix Insurance company of Brooklyn,
| the Brooklyn street and cable car line,
| the Chicago Opera House company and
| the Chicago Railway company.
The first open charges against the busi-
ness integrity of Mr.. Hammond We're
| made only about ten days ago Then he
| was accused of enacting the character of
a 'kiter-' He was accused of deceiving
| the directors of the bank. the depositoTS
and deliberately violating the national
bank law. His alleged irregularities were
| said to have begun many years ago, when
| the vice president, 1t is alleged. began to
use the money and credit of the bank in
| outside SpeculationS. This was done in
| such manner. it was generally report
i ed that not only were the directors de-
| ceived but the bank examiners as Well
| Even old employees of the bank thor
| oughly familiar with the inside workings
| of it. were said to have been unaware of
| what was going on under their eyes.
| When it was openly charged that the sec
| ond vice president had faIsified the bank
| accounts a investigation suggested that
| the Irregularities must have begun al
| least four years ago. At this time MIR.
| Hammond is said to have interested him
| self in the now famous Calumet Elec-
trio railway. 1t is now believed that the
| first overdrafts to this railway, amount,
! ing to s175.G00 we're made at this time
| called for a Statement from the bank and
| Hammond disguised the irregularities by
| designating the overdrafts foreign ex-
But this alleged irregularity only came
after many years qf 1sePt f Sr4iGe Is,oll IN
| ed disastrous to many.
| worked early and late and the prominent
| position he came to occupy was the re-
! suit of his years of frugality and merit
| With the first desire to augument his
proper salary. his speculative eyes turned
! from the bank. Some of his savings in
| vested legitimately in mining schemes
| brought him a good profit which he i'm
mediately put into the stock of the bank.
| After he had served as cashier and
came to be the second vice president of
| the bank it is said he began to personally
! interest himself in many corporations
| which were applicants for loans and in
| this way. in course of time. his judgment
| became biased. From careful banker.
| those who are now engaged in clearing
| away the wreckage of the financial house
| of which he was practically the head, say
he soon drifted into unwarranted specu-
| lations. Where these turned out badly
| the vice president is now accused of send
ing good money after bad and dis
guSing his oVerloanS in various and il
legal ways.
The report of Banker Hammond's dis
| appearance quickly spread through the
banking Institutions in the downtown
district and the suicide theory was gen
| orally credited. Mr.. Hammond has
visited the bank every day since the
asst gnment was made. He spent his
time in consultation with the board OF
directors and Receiver McKeon in re-
gard to the busineS smatterS of the in
stitution. Mr< Hammond was at the
bank for the last time Thursday after
noon. He left apparently in his usual
| health and declared he was going to his
| home in Evanston to get a good resi-
| New Years day. That was the last
time the officials at the bank saw him
| ''Of course, Mr.. Hammond has not beer