The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-31
QUEER BANK methods
May Be Probed Through the Arrest
Of Cashier Steele.
OTHER ARRESTS MAY FOLLOW.
District Attorney Beck Declares That
Any Revealed CrIminaiity in Connec-
ton with the Philadelphia Chestnut
Street Bank WIN Be Prosecuted.


Any Revealed Criminaiity in Connec-
ton with the Philadelphia Chestnut
Street Bank WIN Be Prosecuted.
Philadelphia, March 31.-Before Unit
ed States Commissioner Henry r. Ed
munds yesterday William Steele CASH
Ter Of the Chestnut Street National
bank who was arrested Tuesday night
charged with having knowingly made
false entries in the reports of the
banks condition to the comptroller of
the currency, was given hearing. At
the conclusion of the hearing Steele
was held in $4,000 bail for another
hearing today
Mr.. Steele was arrested just as he
had alighted from his carriage at the
door of his own home. He was de-
sirous of seeing his family, and enter
ed the deputies accompanying him.
Their errand could not be concealed
from Mrs. Steele and the children, and
there was most affecting scene. The
children, very young, seemed under the
apprehension that they would never
again see their father, and Mrs. Steele
was deeply distressed. Deputy Foster
at length took her aside and told her
that If Mr.. Steele had a friend who
could furnish bail he would be back at
midnight to comfort them. The pris-
oner was finally taken away, amid
tears, to Commissioner Edmunds
home. There the $1,000 bail was fur
nished for Mr.. Steele's appearance yes
terday. Through it all Mr.. Steele, while
oh rrin Of III
preserved quiet demeanor. At mid
night he was back home to comfort his
wife and children.
Today's hearing will be of the ut
most Importance, and may be attended
with the greatest consequences to
others connected with the defunct in
situations. When questioned yester-
day United States District Attorney
Beck said:
Until this arrest / have had no
power to compel the attendance of wit
nesses, or make compulsory investi--
cation. Now I have, and propose to
make thorough investigation Of this
matter. so that, so far as is possible,
no guilty man, if there be others guilty
besides Steele, shall escape punish
lively require this course, and while
1t is distasteful to pursue an inquiry
which may iniuriousy affect the good
name of the dead, yet, injustice to the
living, no other course seems possible
| propose to subpoena every one who
may have knowledge as to the suspen-
sion of the bank.
"If any citizen has any information
tending to implicate any official or EN-
ploye of the bank he should submit it
to me at once. l cannot act without
facts. The public interests imperatively
require that no guilty man should es-
cape in this matter, and | invoke the
aid of all who have any knowledge to
help me reach the truth as to this fail
ure. and l in turn will spare no effort
to bring the guilty to punishment"
When questioned as to whether his
inquiry would extend to the Chestnut
Street Trust Mr. Beck replied: Il have
nothing to do with that institution. 1t
Is not national bank, but Is organized
under state laws, and 1 am powerless
to take any action, or make any inves-
tigation with respect to it,"
Assistant District Attorney McCullen
was asked whether any arrests are at
present contemplated.
Not at the present moment" was
the non-committal answer.
when will any arrests be made?"
1T depends upon what the evidence
at the hearing of Mr.. Steele discloses.
Until that hearing takes place, how
ever, l can say no action looking to
additional arrests will be taken"