The sun., 1905-10-19
Had Funds Of State oi Penna.
and Loaned Them 10
Politicians.
CRASH FOLLOWED SUICIDE.
Enterprise National oi Allegheny
Goes 70 the Wall.

Dcll WIN santa Fe Ovrr ". n. Andrews's
Ncw Mcs.csn Railroad. which Fell
through, Put Down as the Immediate
Cause Of the Disaster Cashier Clark
Hi,t Himself whsn Tains, Got Hope.
l,"--Bank Had S5s2 ,OoO state Money y
%, Dep,Jlt ans Carried Worthless
plpc. for Leaders President, who
says HIS Dummy, says IT'S q Drat tn
Blow to Republican Party state
Treasurer Came to Rescue Too Late.
PirTsBuRa, Oct. is.-T Lee Clark, cashier
Of the Enterprise National Bank OF Ale
gheny, killed himself to-day, and the bank
later was ordered closed by the Comp
troer Of ths Currency. The sensation
caused by the suicide and financial crash
is overshadowed by. a political scandal
involving many prominent Republican
politicians.
Cashier Clark shot himself through the
head at his home in Bellevue this morn
ing and died this afternoon. His act was
evidently due to his knowledge that the
Enterprise Bank was on its last financial
legs, and ttat the cause was largely the
Vaccinations Of the Republican State po-
litical machine.
Five hours after the shooting, while
Cashier Clark was breathing his last, the
doors Of the bank, considered one OF the
most reliable in Allegheny county, were
closed and United States Bank Examiner
Cunningham was put In charge as receiver.
The closing of the bank follows quickly
after the charges made against it by Homer
l.. Castle. Prohibition candidate for Superior
Court Judge, who alleged that the bank
was carrying practically worthless stocks
which had been deposited by State poll
ticians for personal loans.
Last week State Banking Commissioner
John A. Berkeley OF Somerset and John W.
Morrison, one Of his deputies, visited the
bank. They knew the condition it was in.
Yesterday, in . desperate effort to save
the bank from ruin, State Treasurer Matthew
sent an additional deposit Of State funds.
amounting to $4,000, which made the total
amount OF State funds In the bank $7s2 900.
This fac. was admitted this afternoon after
the suicide and the closing Of the bank
by Frederick Gwinner the president, who
is we'll along in years. He wr,ing his hands
as he made this admission.
This will break up the Republican party
in the State of Pennsylvania, the president
moaned.
Francis ]. Torrance, head OF the Standard
Manufacturing Company and one Of the
leading Republicans Of Pennsylvania, has
been closely identified with the workings
of the bank. He is lying at the point Of
death. Cashier Clark. with w. r. Andrews,
formerly OF Pittsburg and now Territorial
Representative Of New Mexico in Congress,
and former State Senator Arthur Kennedy
had, it appears, been in several large deals,
one Of which was the selling to the Santa
Fe road of the Santa Fe Central, little
pleted, meant fortune to each Of those
named, but the Santa Fe didn't buy.
BANK BACKED SANTA PE DEAL.
The Enterprise Bank had backed this
deal heavily, and when it did not go through
there was scurrying. Cashier Clark,
who has for years been considered one
Of the most conscientious men in Allegheny
county, shining light and elder in the
United Presbyterian Church Of Bellevue,
appears TO have spelled ruin. The bank
had been carrying, according to the best
information about $7OO, 600 in paper Of
Pennsylvania politicians. Among this was
500 600 for Andrews and others on the Santa
Fe deal.
Last evening Cashier Clark went to the
bank and remained over his books until
long after midnight. About o'clock
President Gwinner dropped In to see him.
He asked il anything was wrong-could he
do anything.
IN give you 500 900, Mr.. Clark. If you
need it for time said the president. Il
am afraid all Is not we'll here.
Thank you, Mr.. Gwinner, but the bank is
all right and am all right, said Mr.. Clark,
as he bowed the president out. Two hours
later Clark went home. He got up early
this morning and took dose Of laudanum,
but it was not OF sufficient size to kill him.
He persuaded his family that 1t had been a
mistake, and drinking cup Of coffee ordered
his carriage brought to the door in order
that he might not be late at the bank.
He kissed his wife and four children good
by and then went out on the back porch
OF his home and shot himself through the
head. He was carried into his house, where
he died at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
The news that Cashier Clark had shot
himself fatally spread rapidly, and some
thing akin to panic seized business men, as
some time ago it had been published that
the Enterprise National Bank people had
been dealing with State funds. At 1870
o'clock this afternoon the United States
authorities stepped in and took charge OF
the bank, closing its doors.
POLITICIANS MPLIcATEn
Homer L. Castle, Prohibition candidate
for State Superior Court Judge. In public
some weeks ago made the declaration that
United States Senator Boies Penrose and
John l. Shaw, a fnancier Of Pittsburg,
had obtained a loan from the Turtle Creek
Bank of Allegheny county and that the
note for the same had later been turned
over to the Enterprise eank. 1t was main
tanned that there was Juggling with funds
IMpurnS CHICAGO,