Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-10-27


on Horse Races and Frequented
Saratoga Gambling HOuse-A Model
Citizen Mt His Homo.
New York, Oct. 24.-C. L. Alvord,
note teller of the First National bank,
has decamped, and the bank is a loser
by 100000. The missing man had
been in the employ Of the bank over
20 years.
Alvord was capable and experienced,
and the discovery Of his defalcations
made after he was gone, was a COM
plete surprise to everybody. The loss
, of money is hardly disturbing the bank,
which is one OF the strongest in the
city. The bank issues a statement in
which it says there is fair prospect Of
recovering a substantial sum.
Alvord is about so years of age, and
has a wife and three children. His
home was at Mount Vernon, and he
was respected there as we'll as in the
street. His habits were good. 1t is be-
lieved that he lost money In stock
speculations, and that some OF the
money can be recovered. He disap-
peared a week or ten days ago.
The crime has been known long
enough to the officers now to enable
them to say with some assurance that
Alvord did his work alone. No one
else is under suspicion.
1t has not been developed how the
note teller was able to put his hands
on so much money. But one of the d.
rectors is reported to have said that
Alvord was enabled TO take such a
large sum, because as note teller he
was in charge of the mail. This he
opened every morning, and he had
ample opportunity to abstract notes,
drafts and checks as well as money. OF
course, he had TO be especially skillful
TO make his accounts balance. This d.
rector admitted that he was at a loss
to account for the failure of the bank
examiners TO discover Alvord's irregu-
larities at their last examination.
What Alvord did with all the cash
is also a mystery as yet, except that
as usual in such cases IL is said that
a large amount of 1t went in stock spec
ulation. One story is that he had lost
$4,000 In one deal, but what deal II
was is not stated. 1t has been discov-
cred that during the summer Alvord
visited Saratoga, where he cut a great
figure, spending money like n prince.
He rented a cottage, kept a fine stable
OF horses, and besides his playing the
races was a frequenter of gambling
houses. Said one bookkeeper: HE
was the best loser / ever saw. and
would come around clipper the next
day and bet again. He could have all
the credit he wanted. He had no hesi-
tation in betting from $500 to 81 500
on a race, and his nod was as good
as another mans money. He was the
most regular loser that I ever knew.
He always lost. In fact, ! never knew
him to cash bet. He had n stable OF
horses, or at least he was credited with
having them, but they were run in the
name of a trainer. They never won
during the Saratoga meeting"
II these stories are true Alvord dis
played entire different characteristics
than those he showed at home. In this
city he was known as a man OF very
regular habits. Among his associates
he was looked up to, and on Wall
street was known as Happy Alvord."
because of his CHEEKY ways. His
Mount Vernon home is a magnificent
place, located on Chester Hill, one of
the most aristocratic sections of the
suburb. 1t is surrounded by luxuri-
GUS grounds and there are extensive
stables.
Alvord has long been considered one
of the big men of the town. His fam
lily entertained lavishly and gave large
sums to charity. He was prominent
In church circles, and his wife is con-
sidered one of the most beautiful wo-
men in Mount Vernon.
Invitations had been sent out for
grand dinner at the Alvord home last
Wednesday night. The day set for the
dinner messengers scurried throughout
Mount Vernon recalling the invita-
lions. That night the house was in
darkness. Friends of the family were
told that Mr.. Alvord was i'll. The
darkened windows since then, and the
fact that no callers were admitted. led
the neighbors to believe that his ILL
ness was serious.
1t was not until yesterday after
noon that the residents OF Chester Hill
heard of his big defalcation. There
was rumor that he left the town on
the day that the dinner invitations
were cancelled, and that he took a
steamer for South America. This
could not be corroborated.
Late yesterday afternoon Mrs. AL
word, wife of the missing note teller,
was seen at her Mount Vernon home.
She was weeping bitterly, and would
not talk about the case. The family
SOASASISU VI WI. anu AlVOTQ and
two girls and boy. They kept four
or five servants.
Mrs. Alvord is said to have told
friends that owing to his position in
the bank Mr.. Alvord was able to OBJ
tain tips which enabled him to make
$4,000 to $4,000 year over his SAL
airy by operating in Wall street. She
Is said to have boosted that her hus-
bands tips were so straight that he
never lost cent in the street, and al
ways made a gain.