The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-08
Suicide Of BANKERS
President and Cashier, Fearing Arrest,
Die Together.
BOTH MADE A FULL CONFESSION
Had Wrecked q Bank In Vancouver, Wash.
and Posse Of Depositors Was Search
ing For Them-Their Bodies Found on
the Roadside-Used the Same Revolver
"A Shortage of ss1, 900 Discovered.

the Roadside-Used the Same Revolver
"A Shortage of ss1 900 Discovered.
Vancouver, Wash. - Charles Brown
and E. L. Candy, President and Cash
ier respectively of the First National
Bank Of Vancouver, which was closed
by the Controller of the Currency,
committed suicide by shooting them
selves with revolvers. Their bodies
were found lying together in small
clump Of bushes near the city. Both
used the same weapon, and Candy evil
IDENTIFY died first, as the revolver was
found in Browns hand. Each put the
muzzle Of the revolver in his mouth
and blew the top Of his head off. The
fact that Browns bicycle and Canby's
umbrella were found q short distance
out Of town led to the belief that they
had taken their lives. A searching
party started out, and after several
hours search the bodies were found.
Following the arrival Of District-At-
torney Wilson R. Gay a warrant was
issued by Judge Miller. of the Superior
Court, charging Brown and Candy
with the embezzlement Of $4,000 Of
Inc funds Of the bank on January IL.
1901.
The complaint contains charges Of
embezzlement and misapplication Of
the funds of the bank, falsifying the
books of the bank, and issuing false
reports Of the banks condition to the
Controller Of the Currency.
Brown and Candy, when confronted
by Maxwell with false entries in the
books, made a full confession, Candy
remarking: "Well, you have caught me
this time, Maxwell; that is false en-
try" Then, picking up pistol from
the counter, he remarked as he held
the muzzle toward his head, "This is
the only way see out Of the difficult
ty." Maxwell demonstrated with him
against his apparent suicidal intent
when Candy lowered the weapon and
! ct the room by the rear door.
In answer to an inquiry from Max
well If he was implicated in the Grim
fnal entry, Brown replied: "Yes, I am
equally guilty"
Beside Browns body there was
found O package containing S25 and
note saying that the money belonged
to his daughter. Upon Canby's body
the following brief note was found:
my Dear Wife: 1 feel that what I
am about to do is for the best. For
give me If you can, and try to live for
our dear children. God bless you all.
Goodbye, Ned"
Brown, who was ifty-four years Of
age, had lived in Vancouver since 1862.
Candy was fifty-two years Of age, and
was we'll connected. A brother COM
mitted suicide by jumping of the
wharf at Vancouver several years ago.
It is known that the bank has loaned
q large sum Of money on insufficient
security. According to the report to
the Controller of the Currency, there
is O shortage Of $4,000 in the banks
accounts, and it Is understood that
considerable portion of this amount
was loaned to Brown and Candy on
their personal notes. About a year
ago the bank reduced its capital stock
from 100000 to $4,000. At that time
about half of the so-called bad assets
were charged off," and have been car
cied as an asset since that time. Ac-
cording to the last statement, issued
In February, the bank had deposits
amounting to about $230,000.
District-Attorney Gay stated that
there is evidence that the criminal
acts of the two officials cover period
of several years, and only by thor
ough investigation Of the books can
the full extent be known.
Washington, D. C.-The Controller
of the Currency announced that the
First National Bank of Vancouver,
wash, closed it's door by his order.
This action was taken on the recon.
mendation Of ]. W. Maxwell, Natlonal
Bank Examiner, who reports that
anon a recent examination or the
bank he discovered q shortage OF
about $4,000. Examiner MaAWel
has been placed in charge as tempo
rary receiver. The Vancouver BANK
had a capital of $4,000 and deposits
of S230,973. Its surplus and UNDIVIDED
b. C0QT1