Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-27
STILL AFTER BAIL.
Alleged Embezzler Ham Re-
mains in Durance Vile.
Amount Of Shortage Charged Will
Not Reach First Reports.
Prisoners Wife Stands Nobly by Hus.
banG-Trying for Bail.

BOSTON. Feb. 2G.-Wallace II. Ham,
who has been held until March ).
charged with appropriating sl94.cUo
from the American Surety Co. OF New
York. spent the night in Charles street
iaiI because unable to secure bono smen
for $4,000, the amount fixed by the
court, Thursday. Several of Mr.. Hams
friends made new efforts. Friday, 10 ar
range for the bail necessary to bring
about the release of the defcnlent.
At the same time auditing commit
tees Of S. Lukes Home for Gonzales
cents and st. Paurs Episcopal church
from which Ham is alleged to have
emblezzled, procured n further in"es-
tigation of the books of those inititu-
tons.
Later in the day. estimates placed
the alleged shortage in the funds OF
St. Luke's Home at from $4,000 to
$4,000, or nearly two-thrds o. the
vested stock of the institution. With
reference to St. Paurs church IL vas
said that the shortage apparent at this
time would not exceed $1,000 or $4,000.
As treasurer of St. Paul's parish. Ham
had charged only OF the InOucy used
for current expenses. the trust fund.-;
being under the direction of another
official OF the church.
AS the manager of the Boston office
of the American Surety Co. Ham had
the custody Of between 100000 and
100000 in securities. The funds OF
st. Luke's Home were principally in
bonds. mortgages. stocks and other Sc
curitics. The funds of St. I.ukc's
Home were principally in bonds mort
cages, stocks and other securitie; and
they were kept by Ham in II security
vault at 40 State street, not FIR from
the Office of the Surety co. 1t was by
the alleged manipulation of his COM
pany's securities and those of the home
and from one vault to another that
conditions arose which resulted in the
arrest Of Ham.
1t was learned. today. that suspicion
aroused by loans in three Boston banks.
OstenSibly made in connection with the
business affairs of st. Lukc's Home
first led to the investigation which re-
suited in the discovery of Hams al
legged irregularities and i'm His arrest
1t also WAS said. today, that Bishop
William Lawrence of the diocese of
Massachusetts ana president of st.
Luke Rome. nau an important Illiiu-
ence in the Investigations that have
been made. Ey coincidence, at which
the same ;imc it is said the American
Surety Co. began an Investigation of
Hams accounts. and the two lines of
investigation crossed. resulting in tho
disclosures made by. the American
Surety Co. yesterday. that Ham not
only was alleged to be guilty of the
miSapprOpriation of their funds but
also of those OF the hospital ana of
st. Paurs church.
Mrs. Ham Was permitted to SEQ her
husban at the Charles street jail. to-
day. They had not met since HAM
left home. Thursday morning, ana both
were deeply affected. Mrs Ham has
found II necessary to have medical at
tendance since the news of her hus-
bands arrest reached her. During the
day. today. Mrs. Ham has assisted i'm
every possible way in the endeavors
to secure bondsmcn. Up to tho close
of business al efforts in this direction
had failed.