Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-02
JUMPED INTO THE LAKE.
Vice President Of the Bank Of HI
nOiS Commits Suicide.
Eo is Understood 80 Have Keen to
Cause of the Failure of Tina:
Institution.

CHICAGO, Jan. 1--WE Ham IN ond,
vice president of the National Bank
effects were found this morDing on the
lake front at Dempster street pier, near
his home at Evanston.
Hamm onu retired as usual last
night. This morning members of his
family found his room empty. At
Dempster street pier were found some
private papers In Hammond's hsnd-
writing. This convinced the scar hers
that he probably had mitted
suicide by jumping into the lake.
The lie saving crew was notified
anu began to search for the body. A
tug was also sent from Chicago for the
same purpose.
Hammond 10 said to have been the
business head Of the bank since Presi-
de mt Schneider became too feeble to
10 practical work, ana the large loans
| to the Calumet Electric company and
| others, which resulted In the closing
OF the bank, are understood to have
been by Hammond.
Hammond WAS accused OF being a
"kitei" decciving the directors OF the
| bank aud the depositjrs, ana deIiber-
ately violating the national bank lave.
| His alleged Irregularities were SAID to
have begun many years ago whon 1t 10
alleged he began to use the money a nd
| the credit oil tho bank In outside speca.
ietione IN such a manner as 10 deceive
the directors and bank examlners.
Even old employees OF the bsuk are
aaid to have beun unaware OF what
was going on. 1t ia believed the first
!
amounting to Sl75,00O, we're made four
years ago. When the comptroller oil
the currency called for the statement
from the DsnS, Hammond disguised
the Irregularities by designing the
overdraits as "iorelgn exchange"
But this alleged irregularily only
came after many years OF diigent ser.
vice to the bank during which he
saved money aud worked carly and
late. THe prominent position he came
to occupy was the result OF his frugal.
ity ana merit. Some OF his savings
invested legitmately in mining
schemes brought him good profit,
whicn no Immediately put 10 stock OF
the bank. Alter he mad serveu as
cashier and became second vice pre- 8,
dent, 1t Is said he began personally 70
Interest himself In many corpora.
tions which were applicants for loant
anu In this way, in the course OF time
his Judgment became biased ands hS
driited into unwarranted speculations
Where these turned out badly it il
alleged he sent "good" after "bad'
and disguised his overloans In various
Illegal ways.
AT the National bank OF Illinois, the
opinion was voucnsafed that the men
,sl strain consequent upon the recent
financial troubles proved too much 10
tho vice. president whose health hal
been none too robust the past year.
Receiver McKeon Of the Nationa
Bank OF Illinois, said: Harmon,
WAS desply affected by the closing o
the bank and appeared to take thu
matter very much to heart. Ever,
day since the assignment he has beel
at the bank IN consultation with tn,
directors anu myself. On Ihursda,
he was in his usual frame of mind, bu
not talkative."
Hammond called on Percy Palmer
an old friend and confidential adviser
at s O'clock last evening. He talk.l
gioUmily about the iuture prospects
About l l O'Clock Hammond went nom,
anu at ll:30 retired for the night. Hi
| anu Ms WHO riePt III auJhCeu. TooLhs
Early this morning Mrs. Hnmmond
discovered that her husband hau gon,
and notified friends who found tn,
trail and scraps OF paper which lei 10
the edge OF the pier hi Dempster snee'
Rain had soaked the scraps oi papel
and made the contents almos! illegi
bic.
Mr.. Shneider, president OF the Ma.
tional bank, Illinois, WAS inclined tc
doubt the suiciue theory, from the alb
sence OF any apparent reason fol
Hammond to kill himself.
THIS body was found at the foot Of
Church street, live blocks north o.
where he 10 supposed to have Jumped
into the lake, by two boys who In
formed the police.
Diugiey for q. n. Treasurer.