The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-15
$tS CLERK
TOOK S26,2OO
FAreatens to Expose "Some
Other Persons.
HAD ALL VIRTUES BUT HONESTY
Bank Officers Thought Legacy Was Pay
Ing for Automobiles and
Flowers.
HAD ALL VIRTUES BUT HONESTY

New York. May Hilary q. Bell the
receiving teller Of the Riverside bank
Eighth avenue and Fifty-seventh street.
who disappeared on March 2S OF this year
was arrested in Philadelphia by Pinker-
ton Detective Dougherty. who has been
on watch for him ever since the bank
discovered that Bell was defauiter
The amount OF his shortage was $26,2oo'
and the bank charged this to the un-
divided profits and put new man III
as receiving teller at Bells ola salary
of SIS a week.
Bell said 10 the detectives:
II am willing TO 60 back without reaui-
stlcn pantrs, AZ AZ d,reors arens of SI the bank
looking 20 a settlement. friends acting as
when all the facts in connection with
this case are made known there VIII be
some surprises and some persons whom
do not care TO name will not appear IN
the most enviable light
CONDUCT EXEMPLARY,
Bell was member OF the Young Mems
Christian association, an usher I'm car
vary Baptist church, drank mineral water
exclusively seldom smoked and was con-
sidered an exemplary young man. -,
Robbins. at No. &5 West Fifty seventh
street He has one sister. Mrs John c.
wickes. whose husband is in the IRON
business at No. 66 Beekman street
Since Bell absconded from this city ne
has been living near Philadelphia with
Mrs. Ellen l.. Wickes. at No. 1873 Page
street in the suburb of Ellwood.
II III. Bizallion. cashier Of the River
side bank and two detectives from ponce
headquarters went TO Philadelphia last
night 10 arrange for Bells extradition
and TO bring him back He was arrested
as he was coming out of barber shop
by the Pinkerton man and philadelphia
police. on bench warrant sworn out by
the bank six weeks ago.
I1E WAS TTJOROTTGHI.Y TRUSTED
At the time Bells shortage was made
public his relatives and friends said that
he had been made "A scapegoat for some
one else In the hank. who was the real
criminal, but nothing ever occurred sub
sequently to show this.
Henry c. Copeland. president OF the
bank. had trusted Bell implicitly. and
when extraxagant- habits were noticed In
the young man II was recalled that ne
had received legacy OF $4,000 In 1899 and
nothing was suspected.
Bell entered the bank when he was
fourteen years old and worked his way
up TO the responsible position he occu-
pied and its salary Of $500 year.
He was fond OF automobiling and driv-
ing. and his bills for vehicle hire were
lar~~ He gave flowers lavishly to the
young women OF his acquaintance. but all
these things were accounted for by the
Bell was engaged TO be married TO
Miss Matthews, OF No 800 West Fifty
firts street He took no vacation last
summer and thus prevented any one else
from handling his books. He explained
that he intended TO be married I'm the
fall and then take four weeks vacation.
The discovery of his Irregularities was
quite accidental IL was found that
deposit slip for $40 had not been credited.
and President Copeland. thinking Bell
had grown careless, perhaps. ordered the
cashier 10 make an examination OF the
books Bell was highly indignant when
he found the cashier looking over his
ledgers
AFFECTED vIRTUOuS WRATH.
81 have been here good many years.
had my honesty questioned"
He was told that no reflection on his
integrity was meant. but he remained
indignant.
81 don't intend TO stay herer'. he ex-
claimed with great show OF virtuous
wrath Il have a good Job waiting for
me downtown and ] intend to take It,"
Then he walked out of the bank and,
so IL appears now. took the first train
for PHILADELPHIA, where his brother-in-
laws sister sheltered MIN.