The Washington times., 1904-06-04
MYERS MAY /
GONE TO " K
Police Have Clue Leading
to That Belief.
WAS MENTALLY UNBALANCED
May Have Speculated in Stocks and
Had Some Debts Pressing
Upon Him.

Inc ponce DeleNe tney nave an I'M
portant clue as to the whereabouts Of
Willard II. Myers, the bOOkkeeper Of
the National Safe Deposit. Savings. and
Trust Company. who disappeared Tues
day with $4,000 he obtained by hypoth-
coating a number of shares of the Mer-
genthaler Linotype Company.
One Of these leads TO the belief that
the missing man is or was in New York.
The belief is also growing that he fed
alone. The woman with whom he was
thought to have gone is in Washington.
The detectives working on the case have
developed this fact. The missing book
keeper and the woman were friendly up
to about a year ago. so the reports go.
but since then they have seen nothing
practically OF each other, the woman
having married.
The belief that Myers has gone to
New York with the hope OF get:ini, out
of the country Is based upon remarks
Myers is alleged to have made to ac-
QUaintances within a few weeks. His
friends are of the opinion that he has
become unbalanced mentally through
worry and overwork.
Speculated in Stocks.
These friends state also that there is
no longer any doubt that the missing
man was specializing In stocks. not be-
cause he liked gambling. but because he
is thought to have felt his health break
ing. and tried to make enough money 10
pay off the indebtedness on his house at
12S r Street northwest, and some other
debts which have been worrying him.
His sixteen-y ear-old daughter Is attend
ing a fashionable school. and IT is said
n fc hn
his income, which really never amount.
ed 10 more than s., 600 a year.
The brothers and sisters of the fugi-
tiveS are having an investiga titon made
into the condition OF the John Myers
property. left by their father. the miss
Ing man having been executor since the
death Of his parent. The heirs signed a
petition 70 the court yesterday asking
that another executor be appointed 10
succeed Myers. and the court is expect
ed 10 act Monday or Tuesday.
A representative Of one OF the heirs
stated today that the value of the estat e
has been exaggerated. and that instead
of each of the heirs receiving ten or
fifteen thousand dollars, they are not
likely to get more than that number Of
hundreds OF dollars. He also said that
he did not think a partition can be had
under the win. II is provided that the
whole income from the estate must be
paid the heirs until the marriage Of all
the daughters. There are two daughters
yet unmarried.
The Wife Frustrated.
Mrs. Willard II. Myers. wife of the
missing bookkeeper, has broken down
under the disgrace Of her husbands act.
She is confined to bed today and Will not
see visitors Her mother Is in charge
of affairs.
1t is said today that Myers is going
to lose heavily by his theft, which in
dicates the truth Of the belief that he
went into speculation almost certain
that he would be able TO replace the
money in a little while 1t is said that
the X Street house. which the trust
company Will undoubtedly seize 10 re-
cover part of the money taken. is worth
az least 5000, while the share from his
fathers estate is worth several thoUs-
and. lie also had other property worth
three or four thousand dollars Said an
officer Of the trust company:
We were fortunate in having II turn
out that the man was n fool as well as
a rogue. He has left behind enough
70 pay for his theft. He could have
taken much more than $4,000 had he de-
termined 10 do So Every bank must
At the bank Myers had the reputa-
ton OF being a man of exemplary habits.
| The defaulter left his family with no
means OF support, and when the trust
and fidelity companies seize the prop
erty belonging to him, they will be
penniless.
Friend of Myers.
A gentleman who is intimately &C
quainted with Myers. and who is also
connected with the Myers family. Scouts
the idea Of a woman in the case" and
is firmly convinced that the defaulting
bank clerks mind was affected when ne
took the stock.
1T is not reasonable to suppose. ~ said
this man this morning In discussing the
case. that a man with the exemplary
/ habits OF Myers found time 20 go with
women. He attended strictly 10 his
business. and was always at home in the
evenings He went directly from his
home 10 the bank, and returned to his
family as soon as his work was done.
His act was caused. I am sure. by tenn
pOrary alteration This opinion is hold
by the president Of the bank, Mr. Jones.
who has known Myers for twenty years.
Myers entered the banks service
quite young, and was always a peculiar
sort OF fellog. When he was a child he
had severe attack Of the scarlet fever
When young man he had the typhoid
fever, and later received an injury in a
the brain.
He was at work on parallel bars and
was jumping backW ard. lie mistudged
the distance and missing his hold feU
. head. Injuries ike this sometimes are
not thought much Of az the time but
there have been many cases where the
after effects were quite serious. Many
times mild insanity or weakening Of the
brain develops.
A Peculiar Man.
AT the bank the clerks regarded
Myers as a most peculiar person. lie
was a man of moods and kept 10 him
| self. In all the long years ne remained
with the bank he never had an intimate
friend among his fellow-employcs AZ
/ times he snapped at anyone asking
him question. and Il frequently hap
pcnod that other CLERKS who had 90 get
information from him on business wrote
! their questions on paper and handed
them 10 Myers, who would reply in the
same manner.
That the crime Of Myers was not
! premcduated IS shown by the fact that
| ne had acce 50 70 all sorts Of securities
easily negotiable, and could have gotten
H.