The herald., 1897-01-03
SUICIDE FOLLOWS. FAILURE
Hammond of the Illinois National
Bank
SEEKS ESCAPE BY DEATH
Criminal Prosecution Seemed Likely 10
Be Begun
A Solvent Indiana Banker Follows Suit
by Hanging Himself-Runs on
Banks Causes Failures
Associated Press Special wire


Associated Press Special Wire
CHICAGO, Jan. 2-W. A. Hammond,
vice president of the National Bank Of
Illinois. Is dead. Some of his effects
We're found this morning on the lake
front at Dempstef-street pier. near his
homo in Evanston. This convinced the
searchers that he probably committed
suicide by jumping into the lake. The
life-saving crew was notified and began
searching for his body. A tug was also
sent from Chicago for the same purpose.
Sixteen-year-old w. F. Forney, with
companion, was walking along the
beach In the vicinity Of Church street,
when they sighted the body floating only
a few feet from the shore. An ambulance
was called and the body was removed
to an undertaking establishment. where
it was soon Identified by friends.
Mrs. Hammond is completely pros
trated and under the constant care of
physician. The ex-banker was the faith
er of four children.
Conrad Hammond is said to have been
the business head Of the bank since
President Schneider was too feeble to do
practical work, and the large loans to the
Calumet Electric company and others,
which resulted in the closing of the bank,
arc understood to have been made by
Hammond.
Hammond was accused Of being a
"kiter." deceiving the directors Of the
bank and depositors. and deliberately
violating the national bank laws. His
alleged Irregularities were said to have
begun many years ago. when, 1t is Al
legged, he began to use the money and
credit of the bank in outside specula-
| tions In such q manner as to deceive the
directors and the bank examiners. Even
old employees Of the bank are said to
| have been unaware Of what was going
| on. 1t il believed the first overdrafts to
the Calumet railway, amounting to
SITE, 900, were made four years ago. When
the comptroller OF the currency called
for a statement from the bank, Ham
mond disguised the Irregularities by
designating the oyerdrafts az foreign
exchange" t
| Considerable surprise was expressed
| by men prominent in financial and bust
| ness circles that criminal proceedings
had not been instituted against Mr..
| Hammond. 1t has been said for several
days past that Comptroller Eckels had
| instructed Receiver McKeon to bring
| criminal proceedings against any of the
| officials Of the defunct Bank of Illinois,
and that q special Investigation Of Pres
| ident Hammond's affairs was under way.
! Whatever may have been Receiver Nc
Keon's intention, he never took any ac-
ton against Mr.. Hammond, and this
fact has been sharply criticised. Mr. Nc.
Keon refused today to state his inten-
tions in regard to the matter. He said
"Mr. Hammond was at the bank Thurs
day. I had a talk with him about the
affairs of the bank. He was accustomed
to come here every morning between
9 and $3.50 o'clock to confer with me. I
| never told him that should recommend
the commencement of criminal proceed
ings. l would not care to say whether
or not / had Intended to take such a
step"
Gen. John c. Black, United States dis
trict attorney, was very non-committal.
Il have no information about the con-
nection of Mr.. Hammond with the af-
fairs of the National bank of Illinois,
beyond what have read in the newspa-
pers. I noticed that Comptroller Eckels
had written to Examiner McKeon to
proceed with criminal prosecutions II
he discovered any criminal conduct at
tachedI to the officials of the bank. Mr.
McKeon has not advised with me. He is
the representative of the treasury de-
partment and in possession of the bank
From what know of Mr. McKeon, he
will not be slow in following the instruc-
tions of the comptroller the moment he
has any proof of criminality. 1 have
been and am in readiness to proceed in
any prosecutions that may fall within
my duties"
A Washington special to the News
says: At 2 o'clock Comptroller Eckels
sent the following dispatch to to the re-
ceiver of the National Bank of Illinois
1T is rumored that Hammond has
committed suicide or disappeared
Please investigate and let me know tn.
facts at once"
This telegram was sent by the comp.
troller as soon as he was Informed by the
Daily News correspondent of the report.
ed disappearance of Vive-Presiden'
/ II
II know of no immediate reason fol
his disappearance" said the comptrol
Ter. There have been no development,
in the last few day, of anything NOR,
serious than at first disclosed. OF course
the examiner was instructed to investi
gate with view of detecting anybody
who had been guilty of violating tn,
laws. have not asked the district at
torney at Chicago to proceed in the mat
ter of the National Bank of Illinois, bu
the examiner may have done So"
) The comptroller of the currency wa
) evidently much exercised over the mat
ter. He had been unsparing in his crit
icism of Mr.. Hammond, and the latte
was subjected to much criticism ON thl
occasion of the recent visit of the bank
representatives to the comptroller's of
flee. Mr.. Eckels declined to say whethe
, any criminal proceedings We're to hav
been begun against Mr. Hammond. bu
he intimatedl very strongly that the lat
/ vlce-pvesident's actions were . matte
! e special investigation- H added tha