The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-03


formed the police. and was taken to the
Evanston police station.
The following memorandum found In Mr.
Hammond's pocket is supposed to indicate
how the excessive loan to the Calumet
electric road was covered up on the book
of the bank by being charged to yarioui
accounts
National bank OF Illinois 1891 900; for
| eign exchange $500. 900; Bank OF Illinois
ss5, 500 Outside loans: Joliet National bank
$50. 600: r. @. Crawford $4,000; ShawmIt
National 100000; Independent National
| $50. 900: Mercantile National 100000; II.
Wolf ST 900; interest $4,000; total s2,475,-
500.
Note-Natonal bank Of Illinois note on
l Calumet 500, 900.
Considerable surprise was expressed by
men in financial and business circles that
| criminal proceedings had not been insti-
tuted against MIR. Hammond II has been
no secret for several days past that Comp
| troller Eckels had instructed Receiver Me-
Keen to bring criminal proceedings against
officials OF the defunct Bank OF Illinois and
that a special investigation OF Vice Presi.
dent Hammond's affairs was under way.
Whatever may have been Receiver Nc
Keons intentions he never took any action
against Mr.. Hammond and this fact has
been sharply criticised. Mr.. Mckeon re-
l =
| to the matter.
Mr.. Hammond was at the bank Thurs
day." said Receiver McKeon. II had a
talk with him about the affairs of the
bank He was accustomed to come here
every morning between Q and $3.50 to con-
fer with me. ! never told him that should
recommend the commencement OF criminal
proceedings. I would not care TO say wheth :
or or not had intended to take such a
step"
General Black. the United States district
attorney. said
II have information about the affairs
Of Mr.. Hammond with the affairs OF the
| National bank OF Illinois besides that
which the people read in the nows-
papers | noticed that Comptroller Eckeis
had written to Examiner McKeon to pro-
coed with criminal prosecutions II he dis
covered that any criminal conduct attached
10 the officials Of the bank Mr.. Mckeon
has not advised with me. lie is the repre-
sentative Of tho treasury department and
In possession of the bank. From what |
know OF MIR. McKeon he will not be slow
| TO follow the instructions of the comp
troller the moment he has any proof Of
crimlnality. have been and am now ready
to proceed in any prosecutions that may
fall within my duties"
Palmer's Statement.
Mr.. Percy Palmer. who was one OF MI
| Hammond's most intimate friends and bus
| iness associates, was about the last mar
/ who saw him alive. Mr.. Palmer said to-
| day that Hammond called at the Palmer
/ home in Evanston. which is only a few
minutes walk from that occupied by tn,
1 Hammonds about o'clock last night. Ht
remained there until II o'clock in CONVEX
I cation with Mi. Palmer. They talked q
4 the future and what might be done TO place
/ Hammond again on his feet. MIR. Palmer
I not ced that hammond frequently wandered
/ away from the general theme and seemed
/ at times to be entirely Obvious OF tbs
/ presence OF any one He seemed 10 be max
/ lag an effort to understand what was being
said to him, bur Mr.. Palmer says he saw
I plainly that Hammonds mind was weak
eued ana that his troubles were weighing
more heavily upon him thar had been no
tIced before When Hammond arose TO so
! to his home Mir Palmer asked the privilege
OF accompanying him. This was denied
him. and hammond left the house alone
/ Mr. Palmer did not soc him after this time
nor did he know Of his disappearance until
| this morning when Mrs. Hammond IN
formed him OF IT,
When Mr. Palmer was asked as to q
statement that appeared 10 a local paper to
the eject that Hammond had feathered his
| own neat TO the detr.ment OF stockholders
OF he National Bank Of Illinois he said
Hammond had no ready money 10 speak
Of. All his savngs were put directly into
National Bank Of Illinois stO-s.. II which
he was the largest Individual holier. Ills
home in Evanston vas placed on the mar
Ect Tor sale as soon after collapse Of the
National Bank Of Illinois as IL could be"
Mr. Palmer said that IL WAS mis- opinion