The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-25
$690,0O0 IN FIVE YEARS
Enormous Scale on Which AlvOrd
Conducted Peculations.
Only About 100000 EmbczAlcd
Prior to ISSS-yi,e Hank officials
Determined TO Prosecute the De-
faulter-NO 'smpoundinE of Eel
Ony-scnrch for the Missing Man.

NEW YORK. Oct. 24.-CoTnelius L. AL
word. jr., stole se90,G00 of the First Ma
tional Banks money as easily as man
living at the rate of 100000 a year puts
his hand in his pocket and withdraws the
cash needed to pay his bills or signs
check.
Alvord for the last two years lived at
an expensive rate. In statement made
public by the Comptroller's office in Wash
ington today it was declared that examina-
tion of the banks books, showed that
Alvord's shortage two years ago had been
only about s1o0,000.
Altogether his stealings have extended
over a period of about five years, during
which time he has been in sole control Of
his department. no one having been ap-
pointed to check his balances. A banker
who had looked into the matter said that
it was practically as easy for Alvord to
carry along and conceal an enormous
shortage as little one. 1t was stated on
what seemed to be satisfactory authority
today that he did pocket a very pretty
sum just before he decamped, namely,
SEQ, GOO in cash which he got in one remit
lance from an out of town bank on the
morning of the day he disappeared.
As to negotiations. the bank stated to-
day that while it would recover everything
It could to which it was legally entitled.
t would not enter into any arrangements
looking TO the compromising Of a felony.
II Alvord took at the finish mere hand
full like $4,000 he probably did it with a
view to having some ready money handy.
The reporters who talked today with
Alvord's counsel, Jacob F. Miller, got the
impression that a schedule of Alvords
present possessions is being prepared with
a view to the offer OF such restitution as
they will amount to and possibly to the
surrender of AlvOrd to justice. The bank
today contributed come further expiana-
tion Of Alrord's thefts in the following
statement supplementary to the announce
ment made on Tuesday:
Alvord's false entries appear to have
commenced about five years ago. One of
his duties was 20 collect drafts and notes
not payable through the clearing house,
q considerable part Of these usually being
paid in cash. He appropriated portion
OF this cash from time to time, as oppor-
tunity offered. before any of it was turned
over to the money clerk The discrepancy
was concealed by adding to the item of
exchanges for the clearing house" on the
note teller's balance book, an amount
equal to the sum distracted. Until his
recent disappearance Alvord had net been
absent from the bank during one business
day this year He did not take his usual
vacation last summer. requesting that he
might take a month next winter for Q
trip to California.
Alvcrd seemed to have been in a trusted
position in the bank. He both opened the
mail and made tie collections and handled
the cash collected. He handled the cash
remittances from out CT town banks and
received the letters from those banks
telling about them OF containing COM
munications to his bank, there being no
letter teller. Ee handled the clearing
house zheet daily. His footings on his
own balance book were accredited without
question for the amounts Of cash for
which nc was responsible.
Jacob F. Miller, Aivord's attorney, was
seen tonight. Mr.. Miller was asked if he
knew where Alyord is.
Il don't know exactly" he sad, but
I might guess
Has there been any offer made by
anybody representing Mr.. Alyord to
make restitution to the bank Of any of
the amount alleged to have been stolen?"
Il guess you'd better not ask me any
questions about that" was the lawyers
answer.
The inference drawn from this CONVEX
sation was that on certain conditions Al
word will be surrendered. 1t was id.
fact. today that it had been suggested
to one of the banks officers today that
under certain circumstances II might nat
be difficult IL discover Alvord's where
abouts.
DR.. A. NJ. Campbell, Alvord's physician,
was called to the house in Mount Vernon
tonight and remained fer an hour. When
he came out he said he had been sum-
moned to attend Mrs. Alvord, who was
suffering from nervous prostra.ion. When
asked IL her condition was serious he said
professional courtesy prevented him from
answering the question. At II O'Clock Mr.
Murphy and his aunt came out of the
Alvord residence. Ee said Mrs. Alvord
was very i'll.
Murphy said he thought Alrord would
never face the disgrace If caught and would
kill himself. He said he would not be sur
prised If Alvord mad already killed himself
-Four men who were said to be detectives
patrolled the streets opposite the house
now and then going across the lawn to
The rear yard. Policeman Walters is au-
thority for the statement that Pinkerton
detectives are on duty al the house con-
and that the men there are reg
ularly relieved at midnight each night.