Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-24
SMITH AND sW,r,
Are Believed TO Have Left Country. n ro,,a
will Be Prosecuted.

! Lowell. Mass, Oct. 22.-Tba
and securities returned to tho Nj
chants Bank by Albert G.. Smith ona
Lewis II. Swift, through the latter,s
counsel. touched the million mark
| NO cleaner sweep was ever made IN,
defaulters. Stories about how ~
shortage was discovered are moro fa
ments of overworlied Imagination IT,
emptiness of an unlocked vault w,, -
sad tale without words to tho bo.rd 90
directors and to Cashier w. w Iohn
son. Friday morning. 1t is now Cur
posed that the men have left the state.
Negotiation or no negotiation, COM
promise or no compromise, if the mon
are found they will be put behind tho
oars and prosecuted. The case is in
the hands of the United States author
| tiles and private detective agency
mas men in the city acting for the
surety company. They will arrest
| Smith on sight
Bank Examiner Ever is still at work
on the books of the bank. He de-
clines to tell of his progress. saving
! examine the books of a bank and
report The result to the COMPTROLLER
after which my duties with that bank
are concluded. / do not know lust
When my work in Lowell will be com
pieted. SO far as | know there are no
DOCKS missing from this bank, as ey-
cry book for which | have asked has
been produced
To questions as to the relative CON-
d1uon with reference to accuracy of
the books OF Smith and Swift. Mr.
Ever replied that he was not at lib
erty to give out information of that
character. To a question relative to
the strength of the safe of the Mer-
chants Bank, Mr. Ever replied that it's
condition is just the same as when he
last inspected it, which was in Au-
gust 1897.
| 1t is now said that Smith had been
under suspicion for some time and
was, Thursday. confronted by one of
the officials of the bank. Smith could
not at that time explain the irregu-
| larity shown to him but is said to have
| expressed the intention of giving the
matter his careful consideration with
view of squaring himself later. Smith
and Swift doubtless discussed the sit
uation and decided the time had come
to act. on Thursday night, they en-
tered the bank and took everything of
value that vas portable. The prop
arty taken. including the securities
and actual money. is said to have
amounted to about S1G00.0o0
Today. the belief is that both men
have jumped from wherever they We're
! in hiding. Fear of prosecution by
the United States authorities have
brought about change in their plans.
Il is said that both men intended re-
turning TO Lowell for Il short time at
least 10 see their relatives and make
ARA ngenentS with them as TO their
future course.
The local police. this afternoon.
| turned over to the United States dis
| trict attorneys office in Boston all the
information ii had regarding both
Smith and Swift. The police has been
passive throughout the great excite
| nent here because the bank directors
apparently had not urged vigorous
search. Chief Moffatt had been in
! fol med that the men We're gone. but
outside Of a visit to Boston hotels and
| offices of transportation companies
nothing else had been done. Now. the
| Lowell police are relieved of all re-
sponsibility.
The homes Of Smith and Swift are
Under guard of private detectives, I'M
| Yer the belief that one or the other of
| The men would come home. one young
man was stopped on the street. tonight.
81 the Highlands, and when a fight
was imminent the stranger showed
detectives badge. 1t was known that
| Smith was under a good sized indem-
atty bond. but not until today was it
| known that Swift was under local
| bond. 1t is because of these bonds
| that the private detectives have been
| put on the case.