The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-04-01
STOLE THOUSANDS
HaIIman Sims, Trusted Bank
EmpIoye, Goes Wrong
CONFESSES TO SHORTAGE
Began to steal When First Connected
With the institution, Eight Years
Ago, and Kept it Up Until
His Detection.

Hallman Sims, in charge of the col
ections of the Capital City bank at
Atlanta, was placed under arrest Fri
day night charged with shortage of
about S94,000 of the banks money, and
will be prosecuted by the government.
Sims has admitted his guilt and
states that his populations have ex-
tended over period of eight years
practically from the first year of his
connection with the bank.
lie is well known in the Atlanta
younger social set, visiting at some of
the most prominent homes in the city
and attending the theatre, usually in
box, with many of Atlanta's most pop
uIar young women Sims is a son Of
Thomas L. Sims, of KirkwOod, Ga, but
occupied rooms at 103 l-2 Pryor strec-.
The shortage was detected Friday
by G. R. DeSaussure, United States
bank examiner, and when he had fully
verified his investigations, the young
man was called into conference with
the bank officials. who were num5-
founded at the charge made by the e..
aminer.
Shortly before midnight it was de-
cided that Sims should be held, and
Deputy United States marshal was
called in to place him under arrest.
OF the amount cmbezZled by Sims,
the bank has already in sight some
thing over $4,000, oneffth of which
is the surety company bond of $4,000
given by the young man when he too'i
I'D his duties as collector. The re-
mainder viii come from the farm and
cattle owned by him in middle Geor-
gia, assets which, it is believed, were
acquired from a portion OF the money
secured from the bank.
When he had found sufficient to war
rant positive statement that young
Sims was short with the bank, Mr.
De Saussure notified President Speer
and Cashier KOntz.
Sims was at once called in, and
while he seemed to divine what to eX
pact, was not even slightly nervous;
in fact, if there were any traces OF
emotion they can be credited to the
president of the bank, the cashier and
the bank examiner.
The young man was called on to ex
plain the changes that had been fOunl
in lis books For moment he was
silent. and then replied coolly and
without a trace Of feeling:
We'll ] guess you've got me-"
Questioned by the officials as to the
length of time over which his short
age had extended, he replied:
about eight years"
That is the length of the young
mans service with the bank. He took
charge of the collection when only IS
years old, and he is now just 26.
what amount have you taken from
the bank?" was the next question.
Neither OF the three officials expected
q reply, and none were prepared for
The answer when it came.
about $4,000" said Sims, without
hesitating an instant.
The farm mentioned in connection
WlJH SlIIS WAS uICudS6u ny MN
about three years ago. 1t was known
at the bank and at the time it was
thought that an uncle, who is we'll
TODD, was back of him. The value Of
the farm, which is located in Greene
county, is estimated at $4,000, and
nearly all was paid in cash or short
time notes. In the meantime the farm
was fully stocked with COWS, horses.
hogs and farming implements and i
manager employed by Sims.
The fact that he talked frequently
Of his farm-his manager visiting him
in Atlanta upon one or two occasions
end mentioned his income from that
source put him well above suspicion.
While the amount would have been
large opc for a bank TO lose ten or
fifteen years ago, the sums taken by
Sims. the dedication extending as it
has over period of years. will not
affect the bank in the slightest.