Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-24
PLUyCER'S METEORIC FALL
Transition Of DstrOits Financial Napoleon
from Palace to Psnitentiary.
CONVICTION AND SENTENCE OF ANDREWS
Features of His Career wa.ch POin
Several Morals for Spectators
Who DE- Not KNOW
when 20 Quit.

Frank @. Andrews. the financial Napol-
con Of Detroit. ~plunger. promoter and bank
vrecker. has been tried and convicted Of
fraud and sentenced to fifteen years in the
penitentiary. The charge on which he was
convicted was unlswfully misapproprlating
the sum Of s 5000. which he drew by check
from the bank on February s. 1902. This
sum Is an Insignificant part OF the money
loss TO the depositors Of the Detroit City
Savings bank which his operation entsiled.
Andrews was vice president OF the City
Savings bank and owned stock In several
other banks. He controlled a leading news
paper, he was treasurer of three electric
railroads. he had investments in various
mining enterprises, he owned q part inter-
est In several Industrial concerns and he
held a number OF valuable pieces OF real
estate. He had established a name as a
hnancier by floating the bonds OF his rail-
road companies, by organizing a trust
company and by helping to reorganize
three banks. He lived in a 800, 900 man
sion. one of the finest on aristocratic
Woodward avenue. He was police commits
sioner OF the city. gave his IS, 900 salary to
charity and dreamed OF the governors
chair ct Lansing.
Eight months ago he was In the zenith
of his glory, outwardly at least. He was
rated as a millionaire and was commonly
believed to possess the magic charm which
turned into gold every enterprise he
touched. But he did not know when he
had enough. The inward craving was for
more. more. The first million only whet-
ted his appetite for another. He proceeded
to get IL by his rule Of speculation. In
eight months he lost his fortune and
swindled others out of nearly 81. 900, 900.
With the connivance of its cashier. Henry
r.. Andrews. he robbed the City Savings
bank OF s913, 900 within twenty days. With
the help Of the same tool he swindled six
other Detroit banks OF 1862 900 in a single
day. On the 10th OF February last he was
arrested and the bank placed In the hands
of a receiver. His trial began July IA and
ended August 16. with a verdict Of guilty.
A smooth one.
The Detroit plunger is a man Of notable
qualities, which 'would have insured
him a comfortable fortune in Iegiti-
mate business. He was born near Romeo,
a few miles from Detroit. He was 10 years
old when he left a country store in 1890 to
come to Detroit. His early training was
in real estate Offices. where talent was
brought into play. In two years he had
earned a fortune OF s25, 900. AS he pros
pered he became q member Of several
clubs, but he was not much Of a club man.
He was not a rounder. nor given to ex-
travagance. He was not addicted to drink. /
to fast horses or to other dissips.:ons. His
habits we're altogether exemplary. and he
enjoyed the respect of his acquaintances.
He has boosted that his living expenses
have not exceeded $500 a month.
Andrews began TO dabele in stocks about
1895. He believed the country was on the
eve Of, an era Of prosperity and he began
to put his theory of speculation to the
test: He operated cautiously, contenting
himself with small profits and making
quick turns. He really believed himself a
fayorite Of destiny. a Napoleon OF nnance.
but forgot Waterloo. Here is his view Of
money getting. and It reflects his opinion
Of himself:
money making requires personal fitness.
After nature. give thanks to your mother.
! look on II as l do on other talents. Take
singing. Will even money buy me a throat?
1t is absurd. A born money getter does not
think that he is doing any great thing. AS
a rule be doesn't like to be told Of his
success. He is simply living out his rou-
tine existence, as a duck takes to water.
II Is not half so wonderful to the actor
as TO the spectator. for he is merely carry
ing out his bent. People talk endlessly
about money, as though there were some
thing sacred or mysterious about it. The
fact is the money faculty is an instinct,
the same as our other instincts.
"Can a man make his opportunities7 To
a certain extent; usually he cannot. There
is destiny. Nature makes no mistakes. We
look around and see perfect order, but when
we come to man so many Of us believe that
we are in wrong places, that we have never
had an opportunity. that we cannot be
useful In our present work. This Is a mis-
take. That man is fulfilling his mission who
realizes his work and follows his task. Be-
yond that no values count"
A Political Plunge.
During the campaign Of 1900 Homer War
rem. who was treasurer Of the Michigan
state republican committee, made a tour of
the state to size up the political situation,
and on his way home called on Senator
Hanna and Henry G. Payne at republican
headquarters in Chicago. They assured
him there was no doubt OF the reelection
OF President Mckinley. On his return to
Detroit Mr.. Warren was QuizEed by An