The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-24
DEFAULTER FOR SEQ, coo.
Continued from First rage.)

were at the bank OF Monday of last week
and that Alvord apparently had some pre-
moniton that day that his populations had
| or would come to light. He left the bank
early in the afternoon of that day and. ac
cording TO the story, came back to the
| bank between $50 and Q o'clock that even
ing and got one of the watchmen to look
| in and tell him if there was anyone work
| ing in his cage.
The Waterman brought back word that
the vice president. two assistant cashiers
| and two or three strangers were at work
in that department. A1vord ..sked what
they were doing and the walchman re-
piled that they were working over books
and papers. and doing some figuring This
story, which percolated through various
quarters, was to the effect that Alvord
went away from the bank that night but
did not go to his home at Mount Vernon,
and did not again return to the bank
The other story is that on Wednesday Of
last week the national bank examiners
went to work in the bank continuing their
investigation on Thursday. on which day
! they found that something was wrong. AL
word. according to the story. had sent fve
tally checks UP to the main banking room
on the main floor of the building and ap-
certain alterations in the books to cor
respond with the slips when the bank ex-
aminers sent for him to ask him to make
some explanations. 1t was about Aivord S
usual time for starting home. about
o'clock in the afternoon and the messen-
ger who went to the basement returned
with word that he had just gone.
Their Suspicious Aroused.
The officers from the bank became sus-
picious and set accountants OF their own
at work on the books to aid the bank cx-
aminers. Within an hour, II is said, dis
covery was made that several hundred
dollars of the banks money had disap-
peared, money that had been supposed
had been paid to out-of-town banks. The
Pinkerton agency was asked to keep track
of Alvord. Detectives went to his home
and watched all night. but learned that
he had not gone there from the bank that
day.
Another story says he had not been
home since; another that he was at his
home today. and might be arrested there
before tomorrow. The bank officers would
not say today that the local police had
been notified or had anything to do with
the case against Alvord. and 1t could not
be learned that any warrant had been
sworn out for him. or that the local
police had taken the matter up.
The examination OF Alvord's books was
continued. and his stealings we're found
TO have reached almost three-quarters OF
a million dollars George F. Baker, Presi-
dent of the bank, did not make any formal
statement today. He said in response to
questions that he vas much exercised
over the matter. and he desired to get
to his home after business hours. leaving
to Vice President F. L. Hine the task OF
superiE: nd.ng the investigation, and
leaving it TO Mr.. Hine to make the public
annouro .nent of Alvord's defalcation.
Mr.. Baker said that Mr.. Hine would tell
all that rad been discovered.
1t WIS said today that up to noon today
the First National Bank had communi
Gated with half hundred of town banks
before 1t learned the extent of Alvords
stealings. When Mr.. Eine was asked how
it was possible for Alvord to get hold Of
so much cash without being detected, he
replied:
"Ah. now you are getting at 1t, that is
the question that is interesting. When it
about the matter"
Mr.. Hine said that there was no reason
to suspect any other employee of the bank,
that there was no indication of any col
fusion either with any other employe or
with any deposition OF the bank, SO far
as known.
The Methods Of Stealing.
Alvord has naturally, in the course OF
his service at the bank, gone through
many previous examinations, both by off,
GERS of the bank and by the national bank
examiners. How he managed to cover up
his tracks in stealngs that must certain
ly have extended over a considerable per-
iod will he a very interesting story when
IL comes to be told, or If it comes to be
told.
An officer of the First National Bank
says that the bank was in the dark even
as to the manner in which Alvord spent
the money which he stole. He moved in
good society in Mount Vernon, and was
too quiet and regular there to have his
manner of life arouse suspicion.
This officer said, however, that one of
the clerks in the bank got onto the fact
that there was something wrong in con-
nection with Alvord or his work. and
brought the news of his discovery to one
of the banks officers. Alvord became
suspicious about this time, and took oc-
casion to leave his work early ore day
and not to come back to ii.
The banks officers have been unable.
according TO the statements made today
to get track of any accounts in the street
which would represent any possible spec
ulations by Alvord. Gossip had il today
however, that Alvord had been dong
some speculating; that he had very pc
culiar notions as to how successful spec
ulations could be worked. and that he
also had interested himself in horse rae
ing. 1t was said also that at Sara.o
last summer he had one of the finest
turn-outs there and lived at the rate Of
$500 week-some people said 800 Gay.
These stories said that Alvord went
back and forth en- the Saratoga limited.
A despatch from Saratoga tonight said
that Alvord had no cottage there, aud
that as all of the summer hotels and 81 ID
houses are closed for the season no info--
nation could he obtained in regard to him
or his summer visit there if he mada ore
The despatch said:
Men Of that class are numerous during
the sporting season. and scarcely any at
tention is paid to individual cases.
May Reduce the LoSs.
The concluding sentence Of the tanks |
formal announcement of the dcfalcation.
referring to prospects Of recovering a
substantial sum, which would materially |