The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-01-03
IT'S HISLA TPLUNGE
Hammond, The Bank Wrecker, Throws
Himself lntO the Lake.
REMORSE OVERTAKES HIM
His Body Found In the Water at the
Foot of Church Street by
Some Boys-A Wife
and Children.
REMORSE OVERTAKES HIM

| vice president of the National Bank of
Illinois, is dead. Some of his effects
were found this morning on the lake
front at Dempster street pier near his
home In Evanston. Hammond retired
as usual last night. This morning the
members of his family found his room
empty. AT the Dempster street pier
were found private papers In Ham
mond's writing. This convinced the
searchers that he probably committed
suicide by jumping into the lake. The
life saving crew were notified and be-
gan the search for the body.
1t was reported to the coroner at
1850 this afternoon that the body of
Hammond had been recovered from
the lake. The body was round at the
foot Of Church street, five blocks north
of where he is supposed to have jump
, ed into the lake, by two boys who in
formed the police.
An ambulance was called and the
body was removed to an undertaking
establishment, where II was soon iden-
titled by friends. Mrs. Hammond is
completely prostrated and under the
constant care of Il physician. The eN-
banker was the father of four children.
Percy Palmer. who Was one of Mr..
| Hammond's most intimate friends and
business associates. was the last man
who saw Mr. Hammond Mr.. Palmer
said to-day that Mr.. Hammond called
at the Palmer house in Evanston, which
is only few minutes walk from the
house occupied by the Hammonds,
about s O'clock last night He re-
| mained there until IL O'Clock in CONVEX
sation with Mr. Palmer They talked
of the future and what might be done
to place Mr. Hammond again on his
feet Mr.. Palmer noticed that Mr.
| Hammond frequently wandered away
| from the general theme. and seemed at
times tn be entirely obiivious OF the
presence of any one.
on Hammond's arrival home he went
directly to his room and Mrs. Ham
mond retired almost Immediately after.
She remembers Mr.. Hammond's com
ing into the room about 2 o'clock and
kissing their baby. The supposltion is
that Hammond left the house imme-
diately after this with only his un-
| derclothing and a dressing gown
thrown over him, for his apparel was
found in his room, apparently as he
had left It. 1t is thought by Mir. Palm
er that Mr.. Hammond went directly TO
the Dempster pier and flung himself
into the lake.
|
dent Schneider was too feeble to do the
practical work, and the large loans to
the Calumet Electric company and
others, which resulted In the closing of
the bank, are understood To have been
made by Hammond.
| Hammond was accused OF being a
"kiter," deceving the directors of the
bank and depositors ard deliberately
violating the national bank laws. His
alleged Irregularities We're said 10 have
begun many years ago, when II is al
eyed he began To use money and credit
i'm outside speculations in such a man
ner as to deceive The directors and bank
examiners. even the old employees are
said to have been unaware of what was
going on.
1t is believed the first overdrafts to
the Calumet railway, amounting to
$li5000 were made four years ago
When the comptroller OF currency call
ed for "A statement from the bank,
Hammond disguised the irregularities
by designating the overdrafts as for
eign exchange" But this alleged ir-
regularity only came after many years
diligent service in the bank, during
which he saved money and worked
early and late. The prominent position
he came To occupy was the result Of
his years of frugality and merit Some
of his savings invested legitimately in
mining schemes brought him good
profit which ne Immediately put in
stock of the bank.
After he had served as cashier and
became second vice president it is said
he began to personally interest himself
in many corporations which were appli-
cants for loans. and in this way. in the
course of time. his judgment became
biased and he drifted into unwarranted
speculations. Where these turned out
badly, IL is alleged. he sent good
money after bad" ard disguised his
various overloans in Illegal ways.
At the National Bank of Illinois the
opinion was vouched that the great
mental strain consequent upon the re-
cent financial troubles proved too much
for the vice president, whose health
had beeen none too robust for the past
year. Receiver MckeOn OF the Nation
al Bank of Illinois said Hammond
was deeply affected by tho closing Of
the bank and appeared 10 take the mat
ter much to heart. Every day since the
assignment he has been AZ the bank I'm
consultation with the directors and my
self. Thursday he was in his usual
frame of mind. but not taIkative."
Hammond called in Percy Palmer,
an old friend and confidential adviser
at O'Clock last evening. He talked
gloomily about future prospects. About
IL o'clock Hammond went home and at
1880 retired for the night. He and his
wife slept in adjacent rooms. Early
this morning Mrs. Hammond discov-
cred that her husband was gone and
notified friends. who found a trail OF
scraps of paper which led to the edge
of the pier at Dempster street. Rain
had soaked the scraps of paper and
made the contents almost illegible MIR
Schneider. president of the National
Bank of Illinois, was inclined 10 doubt
the suicide theory from the absence ~
apparen reason for Hammond killing
| himself.
| Chicago. Jan. a Washington sue-
cial TO the News says; At O'Clock
Comptroller Eckels sent the following
dispatch to Receiver MCKeon Of the
National Bank NJ Illinois: 1T is ru-
mOred that Hammond has committed
suicide or disappeared. Please inycsti-
gate and let me know the facts az
once. JAMES II. ECkFsI.S.'
This telegram was sent by the comp
trollsr as soon as he was informed ~
the Daily News correspondent ~ the
reported disappearance of Vice Prcsi-
dent Hammtnd ~ ths failed bank. 4
know - no immediate reason Tor his
disappearance. said the comptroller.
There have been no developments in