The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-03
4 BANKRUPT. he SUlCIDED.
Vice Freshest Hammond Of Bank Of
Illisois Drowned Himself.
CHARGES AGAINST HIS INTEGRITY
1Aey Grew 0ut Of the Recent Fall
ur~ Of the Institution Of which
He was an official.

mond. late vice president OF the collapsed
National bank Of Illinois, committed sui
eide at an early hour this morning by
throwing himself into Lake Michigan. He
left his home on Greenwood boulevard.
Evanston, shortly after 2 o'clock. having
previously kissed his 2-year-old boy good
bye, and he was not seen again alive. His
body was discovered In the lake at the
foot OF Church street, Evanston. this af-
ternoon by two boys, who were playing on
the beach.
Mr.. Hammond spent the last evening OF
tls life at the home OF an old associate,
Percy Palmer. From s to II o'clock he
talked with his friend about the black
prospects for him and he gave frequent
indications that his mind was becoming
shattered under the strain OF trouble.
When he left he refused the offers OF
company, but went TO his home. spending
few brief moments with his wife before
he retired. At o'clock In the morning 1t
Ia believed he crept from the house with
the fixed intention OF taking his life.
Mrs. Hammond first missed her husband
At o'clock this morning aud a. once
aroused the household. Friends were called
IN and search was begun, resulting in
ing in the lake.
AS soon as the coroner heard Of the death
Of MIR. Hammond. which was shortly after
noon, he sent a deputy 10 Evanston. The
mans frlendA expressed n desire to have
the inquest. held at once and 1t was set
for p. IN. On koyring found Ia bis pos
session was a pastcboard check bearing
the name &c A. -Brega." and the follow
Ing words: Containing bankers bond
Tho verdict of the jury w.s that he had
comltted suicide while temporarily de-
ranged.
Mr.. Hammond retired as usual last
night. This morning the members OF his
family on going to his room found It
empty. Search was hecun for him AVID ~
finally led friends TO the Dempster street
pier. There they found a number OF pr
waite papers In Mr.. Hammard's hanlwrit-
Ing. This convinced the searchers that tie
had probably committed suicide ny jump
Ing into the lake. Tho Federal life saving
crew at Evanston was Immediately notified
and began quick search for the body \
tug was also wired for to come from Chi
cago for the same purpose.
Mir. Hammond was vice president, Of the
bank and active in the management. IN
fact. was said to be the responsible head
since President Schneider was too feeble
to do much work The large loans to tho
Calumet Electric company particularly and
the bank are understood 10 have been made
through Mr.. Hammond
The first open charges against the bust
ness integrity Of Mr.. Hammond we're made
only about ten days ago Then he was
accused OF enacting the character oi
"kitcr.' lie was accused of decciylag the
directors OF the bank, the depositors and
deliberately violating the National bank
laws, His alleged Irregularities were said
to have begun many years ago. when II Is
alleged thai lie began to use the money and
credit OF the bank IN outsiae spccuintions
This was done In such z manner that not
only were the directors deceived. bur the
back examiners as Well. Even old employees
or the bank. thoroughly familiar with tie
inside workings Of IL. were said 10 have
been unaware Of what was going on under
their eyes. When It was openly CHARGED
that the second vice president hal falsiRed
the bank accounts an Investigation show ed
that the irregularities must have begun 90
least four years ago At this time Mir
Hammond is said to have Interested him
self In tho now NOUS Calumet electric
railway. 1t is believed thai the first over.
drafts 10 this railway. amounting to Sis
0op. were m ado az this time WHOM the comp
troiler Of the currency Immediately called
for statement from the hank ami Ham
mpnd disguised the Irregularities by acgiz-
natins the ovcrdrafts as foreign "a
change"
Mr. Hammond called on Percy Palmer
his old friend and confidential advisor. q,
o'clock last evening He was very de-
pressed and talked gloomuly about his tu-
ture prospects Palmer talked encouynr-
ingly 10 him and about II o'clock Hammond
went home, and about IL 20 retired Tor the
night. lie and hts wife have been IN the
habit OF sleeping In adjoining rooms. Early
this morning Mrs. Hammond awoke and
noticed the door connecting the apartments
was open and standing at different angle
from that which II had when she went to
sleep. She looked into the room. The
clothes on the he'd Were thrown back and
her husband was rot there. His night robe
hung over the rear Of the he'd his watch
was on tho table. but his trousers cou and
underclothine We're nowhere 20 be found
lie had not taken hin shoes or socks
This frightened the woman and she at
once sent for Barney j. Moore an old friend
OF the family, who was .old % Mrs. Ham
mone's suspicious and he drove hutriedIy
to the house, On his way he stopped at the
house OF Mr.. Lord, Of Lord, owen & Co. At
the house they sent a telephone message 10
Chief Bertram OF the police department in
forming him of the startling intelligence
They then drove down Dcmpstes street In
the direction OF the lake. They soon found
a well developed trail in The form OF nu-
merous scraps Of paper. which led TO the
edge OF Foster pier at the foot Of Dempster
street. Five feet from the end OF the pier
a number Of pieces Of 'ype-written docu-
ments on one OF which was Hammond's
signature were found. with other scraps
containing writing, which the men recog-
nized as the eN banker's. He had evidently
torn a number OF documents into shreds
scattering the pieces as he walked down
the length OF the pier,
Captain Lawson OF the life savings de-
partmont was then notified. Graphing
hooks were procured, and with the aid OF
the police the life saving crew began
searching for the body.
1t was reported TO the coroner at 10, 80
o'clock this afternoon that the body of
Mr. Hammond was recovered from the
lake. II was found at the foot OF Church
street. five blocks north OF where he is
supposed to have jumped into the lake.