The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-05
CASHIER ABSCONDED
MOTIVE IN BANKER LECHNERs
DISAPPEARANC E.
SHORT AT LEAST $4,000
BANK OF TIMMONs VILE WILL NOT
LOSE.

Missing Man Was Last Heard of In
Savannah on Aug. 19-Had OBJ
taiued Leave of Absence to Visit
His Family in GrifHn-FamiIy and
Friends Believed Him Demented
and Called Police Into Case-Ex-
perts Employed to Examine HIS
Books and Shortage Was Dis
covered - Lechner Thought to
Have Gone to Europe From This
Port-supt. Reilly Has His Photo
graph.
Frank C. Lechner. cashier of the
Bank of Timmonsville. S. c., who sud
denly disappeared in this city on Aug.
10. is at least $4,000 short in his ac-
counts. The experts who were employ
ed to examine his books have discover
ed a shortage TO that amount, and 1t
is feared that as the investigation
continues the amount will grow larger.
All trace of the South Carolina
banker has been lost, although Super
intendent of Police Reilly has made
every effort to discover his where
abouts. The first information of Lech-
ner's sudden dropping out of sight was
received in this city last Saturday
morning by Mr.. NJ. Ed Wilson, who
knows the Lechner family quite well.
Miss Bertha r. LechneT, the bankers
daughter, telegraphed that her father
had mysteriously disappeared while on
his way to visit his place in Griffin.
Mention of the fact was made in the
Morning News at the time.
Miss Lechner knew that her father
j., had reached Savannah and that he was
here Aug. 10. She feared that he had
been taken ill, and expressed the be-
lief that he would be found in one of
the hospitals. Mr.. Wilson made an I'M
successful tour of the hospitals, and
at the request of the family called the
police into the case. Superintendent
Reilly took the matter up at once, AMI
the detectives made every effort to find
some trace of the missing man. While
ii was known that he was in this city
no one could be found who remember
ed having seen him, and the officers
We're unable to find any clue upon
which to work.
attorney Ragsdale, representing the
Bank of Timmonsville, wrote Superin-
teEdent Reilly Tuesday, and asked that
the search for Lechner be pushed. The
theory at that time was that he was
suffering from dementia. He was we'll
thought of at his home. and shortage
was not considered by the bank Of
Gals Experts, however, were employ
ed TO examine the books and the short
age of $1,000 was discovered yester-
day.
Superintendent Reilly did not credit
the statements that Lechner might
have been foully dealt with, and that
dementia theory was treated lightly.
He gave it as his opinion that the CASH
lei had left of his own accord, and
wonld probably never be found. Yes
ter0ay morning photograph of the
missing cashier was received by the
superintendent 1t appeared to have
been snapshot taken in a garden or
park Miss Lechners name appepared
on the back of the photograph. and the
request was made that the picture be
returned as soon as the search should
be abandoned.
Supt. Reilly gathered from this that
the banker was not very fond of hav-
ing his picture taken, possibly with
thoughts of the future in mind. and
that the one sent him was highly priced
by the family. The photograph was
turned over to Detective Stark who
spent the day in looking for Lechner
The officer did not expect to find the
man, but had hoped that he might To-
Gaze some one who saw him when he
was in Savannah.
IN the face of the developments II is
probable that Lechner did not remain
IN savannah very long. He is Ger
man, and plausible theory is that he
shipped on some steamer for Eurone
IL is not believed that he is anywhere
IN TINS locality, or that he will ever be
apprehended. He secured start of
over TWO weeks and may now he or,
foreign soil. The suicide theory is NOT
credited. ''''
Lechner was considered we'll off and
owned vineyards and other real estate
IN Griffin. He secured a leave Of an
sence from the bank and left Timmons-
vilie, ostensibly for Griffin, where his
family was spending the summer
When ne did not show up there his
wffe became worried and returned TO
Timmonsyille. Then it was first dis
covered mat the cashier had disap-
peared No one at that time believed
mat he had absconded, and II was
thought mat he had been taken sick
before reaching Griffin.
Lechner is said 20 have been a Ia
voted father and husband, and his dis
appearance. with the discovery of mis-
shortage, has left his family almost
broken hearted. The cashier was
bonded in a surety company for $1O.-
GOO, and the directors of the bank an
nounce that neither the creditors nor
the Standing of the bank will be I'M
paired. reward will probably be Of
fered for his arrest.