Evening star., 1901-12-10
BANK OFFICER STEALS s1oo, 900.

III. j. Fleishman of Los Angeles a
Fugitive From Justice.
A dispatch from Los Angeles. CAL. last
night says:
H. ]. Fleishman, cashier Of the Farmers
and Merchants Bank Of this city. has dis
appeared with a sum Of the banks money
which Vice President H. w. Hellman esti-
mates at 100000. The shortage was dis
covered today. Fleishman has not been
seen since 8 o'clock Saturday morning. At
that hour he was at his club. He notified
the bank people that he was III Saturday
morning and would not be at his desk.
Nothing was thought Of the matter at the
time. When he failed to report today his
accounts were examined and the shortage
discovered. The exact amount has not yet
been ascertained.
Fleishman has been cashier and assistant
cashier of the Farmers and Merchants
Bank for many years. He began work for
the bank when a boy in 1875. He was un-
der bond with a surety company for $4,000.
In addition to this he has 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 Visafia,
but was divorced some time ago. He is
forty-two years old, Of medium build and
has smooth face.
The Farmers and Merchants Bank, of
which I. w. Hellman Is president and H.
w. Hellman Is vice president, is the oldest
and strongest bank In southern California.
Its capital is $5O0.0O0 with surplus of
81, 600, ,OOO and deposits of s., 500, 900.
H. w. Hellman said Of the missing
cashier: "FIeishman had no valid excuse
for taking the money. He has property
enough to realize the amount he has taken
from the bank. He was always considered
man Of simple habits and unimpeachable
integrity. We are at complete loss to ac-
count 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
Is located. However. we are not worrying
about the money, since We have bonds and
collateral sufficient to protect us fully"
I. W. Hellman, president of the Nevada
Bank Of San Francisco, and holding a SIM
liar office in connection with the Farmers
and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles, made
falcation Of H. ]. Fleishman. cashier of the
Los Angeles bank:
'The fact that 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 cap
ttal OF the concern at all. / am greatly
grieved and disappointed in the man. He
has been In our employ for more than
twenty years, and Of course was looked
upon as one Of the best men in our service
or he would not have held the position so
long. l have made up my mind to prose-
cute 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
I cannot but believe that there is a woman
in the case somewhere. I feel certain that
the defalcation was not made to cover up
private speculation"