Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-11-01
NOTE TELLER ALvORD
Life of OAicialWho Robbed New
Works First National Bank.
USED TO BRAG ABOUT HIS WEALTH

His Wife Created Sensation at a
Ball by Wearing Diamonds Valued
Mt S3O,OOO-Costly Furnishings OF
His Mount Vernon Home-H4s Trou-
BILE With a Church.
Cornelius L. Alvord, Jr., the $4,000
a year bank note teller, who robbed
the First National Bank of New York,
one of the Oldest and richest financial
institutions in the United States, of
$7OO,00O maintained the most luxuri-
Gus establishment in Mount Vernon,
the home of many very rich New York
business men, says the New York
World. He lived at the rate of $4,000
a year. His magnificence has been the
talk of the town ever since he went
there to live, six years ago.
He made no effort to conceal his ex-
travagancc. On the contrary, he
Haunted it before his fellow townsmen.
He did not regard the leaders of Mount
Vernon society exactly with contempt,
but they were not often invited to par
take of his lavish hospitality. He was
princely entertainer. and his guests
We're usually people from New York.
Occasionally he would invite the may
or Of the town, Edwin r. Fiske, to
a banquet, also some Of the members
Of the City club, the fashionable organ
i1o ton of No,,nt /.
Alvord, was In the habit of talking
somewhat contemptuous1y about his
salary. He said to one Mount Vernon
friend: "It it only a flea bite to my liy-
ing expenses, but the position Of note
teller is valuable one to me. 1t
throws me into contact with people
who give me valuable information
about Wall street and enables me to
make about $4,000 year."
To others he often spoke Of the finan-
cial interests he had outside the bank
and frankly said they brought him
large sums yearly All Of his friends
regarded him as d successful Wall
street operator, a man accustomed to
dealing in hundreds Of thousands. His
trade was sought by the shopkeepers
with avidity, and he was regarded
throughout the business section Of
Mount Vernon as the most desirable
customer in the town. His credit was
never questioned. He ran big bills, but
always paid promptly whenever pay
ment was requested.
There are many outstanding accounts
with the tradespeople there now, and
when the news Of the defalcation reach
ed them they became badly worried.
Mrs. Alvord usually paid all Of the
bills contracted with the local people.
She had an account of her own in the
Second National Bank of New York
and paid the bills by check. Mrs. Al
vord is a big, snowy looking woman OF
38 or 40, with yellow hair and fine
complexion. She has grown stout In
the last few years, but is fine looking
woman. Alvord weighs nearly 300
pounds and is so fat that he walks with
some difficulty. He is tremendous
eater, fond of the richest Of table deli,
cacies and has always drunk cham
payne at dinner. The Alvords have
three children-Hel aged 8; Harry
aged 5, and Gladys. aged 2.
The home in Mount Vernon is not
any finer on the outside than the neigh.
boring houses. 1t is at 227 Summit
avenue, in Chester Hill, the fine resi-
| dental section of the town. All of the
property in that neighborhood is re
stricted. The Alvords went to Noun,
i Vernon six years ago. He bought the
land on which the house stands for Sc,
600. The plot has frontage of 10(
feet and depth of 100 feet. The house
cost originally $4,000 to build. but its
rated from time to time. Much money
was spent on the dining room, which i!
paneled with expensive woods.
i The villa is three story affair paint
ed white and yellow and combination
of the Queen Anne and the colonial il
4 architecture. 1t has broad piazza ii
which are eight big. comfortable louns
ing chairs. The stairway leading from
the entrance hall to the second floor Il
broken by big square platform in tn,
middle. On the wall above this plat
form is long distance telephone. Til,
telephone service of the local compap,
I was too restricted for the sumptuou
note teller.
There are several good paintings OF
the walls of the front drawing room
and some costly bits Of statuary abou
the apartment. The sideboard in tn,
dining room glitters with cut glass ant
silver. The barn attached to the hous
is one Of the finest in Mount Vernon
and about the biggest. Alvord glorie,
in having the finest equipages in tn
town. His wife had a victoria and
brougham, both Of the showiest ant
newest models and different team
for each vehicle. Alvord was Away
driven to and from the station in
runabout drawn by third team Hi
children have horse and blackboard
In ALL the $4,000 a year bank telle
kept seven horses and employed
coachman and a groom, in addition t
three house servants. One. of the car
riage teams cost him $4,000. and b