The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-24
SEARCHING FOR ALVORD
Detectives Unable to Locate the
New York Bank Defaulter
Both Pinlxertons and Central OfTice
Men Engaged in the Case-PoIice
to Watch for the Absconder-aas
Not Been Seen Since Last Thursday

NEW YORK, Oct. 24.-Every effort is
being made to capture Cornelius L. Alvord,
who looted the First National Bank OF
$700, ,000, but as Yet no clue has been OBJ
tanned to his whereabouts. The task OF
finding him has been placed almost entire
ly in the hands of the Pinkertons, although
the central office is working at ii also.
The PinkeTton men have been hunting for
the embezZler ever since he disappeared
last Thursday, while Captain McCiusky, Of
the detective bureau, was not notified Of it
until last evening, when ali officer of The
mulcted institution called On him and laid
before him the facts. The captain at once
set to work en- the case
Today the police in every city on the
continent are watching for the lean who
has committed the biggest bank robbery
that has been heard of in years. Detective
agencies everywhere are searching for him
and a keen eye is being kept on every out
going steamship and train from the city.
The police departments of all foreign ports
have been notified TO watch all vessels ar
irving from America.
If Alvord has fed the city, he has at
least start OF four days on his pursuers
He was last seen at the bank on Thursday
That was the day his crime was diseov-
cred, and since that night the detectives
have been searching for him. He left
the Office about O'Clock in the afternoon.
1t is said in Mount Vernon that he was
seen there as late as Saturday. This seems
improbable. however as his crime was
then known and detectives were watching
him closely
1t has been now pretty well established
that Alvord's peculations were discovered
last Thursday by one of the bank clerks.
W. G. Shaw, an assistant cashier. is quot
ed as saying that there was no suspicion
Of Alvord until that day, when one of the
clerks pointed out an error when the
bank examiner was inspecting the books
The error was discovered by the merest
chance, It is said, for, according TO re-
port, the examiner had always declared
the books all right. The discovery was
made shortly before the bank closed and
it was believed that Algord knew nothing
of it.
After banking hours an investigation of
the clerks books was instituted with the
result that the extent of his stealings was
made known The defaulting clerk had
left the bank at his usual hour. He has
not reported for duty SINCE
The guilty clerk must have had some
intimation OF the fact that he had come
to the end OF his rope. for he went down
to the bank building between and
o'clock Thursday night and got one of the
watchmen to go inside and see If any per-
sons were working in the cage in the
basement where he had been employed
The watchman brought back word that
the vice president, two assistant cashiers,
and two or three strangers were at work
in that department. The watchman added
that the men were going over papers and
doing some figuring. Alvord then went
away and it is believed that he did not go
to his home in Mount Vernon that night
Alvord sent five tally checks up 10 the
main banking-room on the first floor OF
the building on Thursday afternoon and
apparently did not have chance of max
ing certain alterations in the books to cor
respond with the slips when the bank Off
cials sent for him TO make some explana-
tions- II was AlvOrd's usual time 10 go
home and the messenger who was sent for
him reported to the bank officials
thai the clerk had gone.
Up TO noon today the bank had made no
further explanation of the big embezzle-
ment than that obtained in it's statement
given out yesterday afternoon. 1t still re-
mains to be cleared up Just bow AIyord
got such & sum as 500, ,0G9 and how he
concealed his steaIings for so long a time
The officials said this morning that they
would explain this in a statement.
There have been rumors of coliusion in
the case. Such a suspicion arises in ev-
cry big bank robbery and in a case like
this where nearly a million dollars was
stolen and the larcenies extended over a
considerable period of time they have dou-
bic force. On this point the bank officials
were questioned last night and they all de-
clared that to the best OF their knowledge
Alvord worked alone and that he had no
aid in his crime from either any other en-
ploye OF the bank or any of the depositors
AS the investigation of his case has not
more than begun, it is possible that IL may
yet be found that there was coIIusion in
the embezZlement.
United States Bank Examiner Hanna
called last night at the home of United
States District Attorney Burnett in refer
ence to the case which is one for the Fed
eral courts General Burnett was not at
home at the time and Mr.. Hanna went
away. 1t was expected that he would go
to the Federal Building some time today
and lay the case before the authorities