The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-10
STOLE BIC FORTUNE
THE CASHIER OF A Los ANGELES
BANK DISAPPEARS WITH
100000
\ WOMAN IN THE CASE
Was Owner of Valuable Property,
stood Well With Everybody,
and Had Worked Up
From the Bottom.

LOS ANGELES, Cal, Dec. 9.-H. J.
Fleishman, cashier of the Farmers and
Merchants bank, of this city, has disap-
peared with a sum of the banks money,
which Vice President H. w. Hellman es-
timat ties at $1O0, 900. The shortage was dis
covered today. Fleishman has not been
seen since o'clock Saturday morning.
At that hour he was at his club He
notified the bank people that he was i'll
Saturday morning and would not be at
his desk. Nothing was thought of the
matter at the time. When F'leishman
failed to report today his accounts were
gone over and the shortage discovered.
The exact amount has not yet been as
certained.
Fleishman had been cashier and assist
ant cashier Of the Farmers and Mer-
chants bank for many years, He began
work for the bank when boy, in 1875.
He was under bond with surety COM
pany for $4,000. In addition to this he
had real estate and personal property in
this city sufficient, in the opinion of Mr..
Hellman, to protect the bank from the
loss of a dollar.
Fleishman married the daughter of A.
J. Harrell, a wealthy cattleman of vi
salia, but was divorced some time ago.
He is man of forty-two years of age,
medium built and smooth face.
The Farmers and Merchants bank, of
which /. w. Hellman is president, and III.
w. Hellnlan is vice president is the old
est and strongest bank in Southern Cali
fornia. Its capital is $5O0,O00, with a sur
plus of $1,O0O000, and deposits Of $4,000, 00O
H. w. Hellman said Of Fleishman:
No Excuse for Stealing.
"Fleishman had no valid excuse for
taking the money. He has property
enough to realize the amount he has TAX
en- from the bank. He was always con-
sidered a man of fine habits and unim-
peachable integrity We are at COM
plete loss to account for his action The
bank is amply protected and will not lose
a cent.
I'VE have not the slightest idea of his
whereabouts. 1t is probable that he left
Saturday after telephoning the bank that
he would not be down Of course, with
such start, it may be some time before
he is located. However, We are not wor-
rylng about the money, since we have
bonds and collateral sufficient to protect
US fully.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 81. w He'll
man, president of the Nevada bank. of
this city, and holding a similar office in
connection with the Farmers and Mer-
chants bank, of Los Angeles, made the
following statement to representative
VI Tie Associated Press regarding the de-
falcatiCn of H. J. Freshman, cashier of
the Los Angeles bank:
Amount Won't BE Missed.
The factSthat we have been robbed of
100000 cuts no figure The bank will go
on as usual and will not be in the least
handicapped by the loss of such a sum,
which, while large does not affect the
capital of the concern at all. I am great
ly grieved and disappointed in the man.
He has been in our employ for over
twenty years and, of course, was looked
upon as one of the best men in our sery-
ice or he would not have had the posi-
ton so long
II have made up my mind to prosecute
him to the end should he be captured.
We have wired every section of this coun-
try and Mexico, and I have every hope
that he will be captured eventually.
There will be no compromise The bank
Is looked upon as one of the model banks
OF this country. I went over the books
two weeks ago and everything was
straight, so We are reasonably certain
that the money was taken within the last
Few days. cannot but believe that there
is woman in the case somewhere. I
feel certain that the defalcation was not
made to cover up private speculative
losses.''