Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-03

to be expected and they at once drove down
toward the lake. They soon found a we'll
developed trail In the form OF numerous
scraps OF paper which led to the edge OF the
Foster pier at the foot OF Dempster street.
Tho rain OF the might had soaked the scraps
Of paper and they had chung to the boards.
but 1t had also made the contents almost
illegible. About FIVE feet from the end of
the pier, Mr. Moore discovered scraps of
paper which settled the conviction In his
mind that MIR Hammond had taken his life.
Mr., Schneider the president OF the Ma
tional Bank OF Illinois, OF which Hammond
was vice president, expressed great surprise
on being made acquainted with the news OF
Mr.. Hammond's disappearance. He was in
clined, however, to doubt the suicide theory.
On being told Of the disappearance of Mr..
Hammond, Mr.. Schneider looked up in a
surprised manner, saying:r TOO bad; too
bad;" but after being made acquainted with
the details, II was evident that he was greatly
relieved and that it would need much more
positive evidence before MIR. Schneider could
be brought to believe that Mr. Hammond
had made way with himself. From his per-
sonal knowledge of MIR. Hammond. having
been closely acquainted with him in bust
ness way for a number of years, MIR.
Schneider intimated that the finding Of
papers belonging to Mr.. Hammond was not
at all conclusive evidence of his death
M'KEoN Is CENSURED.
Considerable surprise was expressed by
men prominent in financial aud business
circles that criminal proceedings had not
been inaugurated. II has been no secret for
several days chat Comptroller Eckes had
instructed Receiver MCKeon to bring Grim
inal proceedings against any Of the officers of
the National Bank of illinois, and that a
special Investigation of Vice President Ham
mond's affairs was under way. Mr.. McKeon
never took any action against Mr. Ham
mond and this action is sharply criticised
Mr.. Mckeon refused to state his intentions in
in regard TO the matter.
"Mr Hammond was at the bank Thurs
day." said Receiver McKeon. 81 had talk
with him about the affairs of the bank. He
was accustomed to come here every morn
ing between and $3.50 to cCnfer with me
| never told him that | should recommend
the commencement Cf criminal proceedings
| would not care TO say whether not
/ had intended to take such a step"
General John c. Black, United States dis
trict attorney, was very noncommittal Il
have no information about the connection of
MIR. Hammond with the affairs of the Ma
ticnal Bank of Illinois, beyond what / have
read in the newspapers. | noticed that
Comptroller EclJol2 had written to Examiner
McKeon to proceed with criminal prosecu-
tions Z he discovered that any criminal con-
duct attached to The officials of the bank.
Mr.. McKeOn has not advised with me- He
Is the representative Of the treasury depart
ment and in possession OF the bank. From
what | know Of Mr.. McKeOn he will not
be slow in following the instructions of
the comptroller the moment he has any
prCCf Of criminality. | have been and am in
readiness to proceed in any prosecutions
that may fall within my duties"
ECKELS ASKS INFORMATION.
CHICAGO, Jan. "A Washington special
to the News says: Comptroller Eckels sent
the following dispatch to Receiver McKeon
of the National Bank Of Illinois:
Rumored here that Hammond has COM
mittCd suicide or disappeared. Please in
vestigate and wire the facts at once
JAMES II. ECKEI.S.
This telegram was sent by the comptroller
as soon as he was informed by the Daily
News correspondent of the reported disap-
pCarance of Vice President Hammond of the |
failed bank. 81 know of no immediate rea-
son for this disappearance" said the comp
troller. There have been no developments !
In the last few days of anything more serious |
than at first disclosed. OF course, the ex- |
aminer was instructed to investigate. with |
a view of detecting anybody who had been |
guilty of violating the laws. l have asked |
tho district attorney at Chicago to look into |
the matter of the National Bank of Illinois, |
but have had no answer" The comptroller |
lf the currency was evidently much exercised |
over the matter. He had been unsparing in |
his criticism of Mr.. Hammond, and the latter
was subjected to much criticism on the |
occasion of the recent visit of the banks
to the comptroller's office.
Mr.. Eckes declined to say whether any
criminal proceedings were to have been be-
gun against Mr.. Hammond.