Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-19
BANK CASHIER EILLSHIMSELF
Official Of Enterprise National At Allegheny
Ends His Life.
,ANs MONEY TO POLITICIANS
Funds Deposited by the state to
the Amount of s7OO.OOO Bor-
rOwed by Omcers and
Friends.

PITTSBURG. Pa, Oct. 1s.-After an in |
vestigation of the Enterprise National bank
of Beaver avenue. Allegheny, which dis
closed that the bank was insolvent. T. |
Lee Clark cashier Of the institution for
years, went to his home. 545 Lincoln ave-
nue., Bellevue. last midnight, spent a sleep |
less, nervous night. and this morning shot
himself through the head. He fingered !
until 2:SO o'clock this afternoon when death
came.
An hour before the announcement OF his
death was received at the bank a telegram
came from the comptroller Of the currency
at Washington to close the doors and APP
pointing Bank Examiner John ]. Cunning
ham as receiver.
Following closely on the exciting events
in lower Allegheny came the announcement
of the president. OF the bank, Fred Gwin-
ner, sr., that Clark had loaned thousands
of dollars to Pennsylvania politicians; that
he himself had endorsed a note for $4,000
yesterday for Clark, concluding with the
statement, THAT If the shortage was only
100000 he would gladly pay 1t himself"
The bank has state deposits which will
amount to about $4,000. of which $Sss,OOO
is in the checking or active account and
the rest is state sinking funds.
Money Loaned to Politicians.
Mr.. Gwinner in his statement said:
Nearly $4,000 of the $4,000 state de-
posts of our bank is out on paper OF state
politicians. w. H. Andrews has borrowed
nearly 100000; Frank ]. Torrance has bor-
rowed considerable. I do not know how
much. But the bank is solvent"
When pressed for specific instances OF
loans made to Andrews and Torrance Mr..
/ ~.
| saying that the books Of the bank do not
show that they personally borrowed money
from 1t, but the money was given to the
! Pennsylvania Development company.
| Mr.. Andrews cannot be located tonight
J He is reported to have gone to Phila-
delphia
| Francis ]. Torrance is quite i'll at his
home in Allegheny and could not be seen.
His personal representative, W. c. Hagan,
said that SO far he knew Mr.. Torrance
has no paper In the Enterprise National
! bank.
Cunningham Examines Books.
Bank Examiner John B. Cunningham
spent most OF yesterday and last night
working on the books of the bank with the
cashier. Shortly before midnight Mr.. Clark
| complained OF not feeling well and started
for home. But earlier in the afternoon the
bank was insolvent and so notified the comp
troller at Washington.
At the bank this morning notices were
sent out TO the directors for special meet
Ing at o'clock this afternoon. An hour
\ before that time -the bank was closed
The meeting of the directors lasted for
about an hour. after which President Fred
erick Gwinner, sr., made the sensational
statements quoted.
! According to the examiners report the re-
sources and liabilities of the Enterprise
bank in the last report, made August 25
were $2,973.169.56 each. The Enterprise bank
cleared through the Bank of Pittsburg. At
that bank this afternoon it was stated that
sufficient deposits we're on hand from the
Allegheny institution to protect the clear
ing house and that all checks had been sent
back to the original banks.
After the meeting one of the directors
stated that the books had been gone over
hurriedly before the meeting, and as far as
they knew they were all right. The direc-
tor said that Bank Examiner Cunningham
would begin Immediately an examination of
all of the books of the bank. This will re-
Guire about FIVE days, he said, before a
statement can be made
Poison and Revolver.
Mr.. Clark took his life while in his bed
room in his home in Bellevue by taking
poison and then shooting himself in the
right temple. He fingered until 2:3O this
afternoon, when. without having regained
consciousness, he died.
Mr. Clark was not feeling we'll this morn
ing and his wife advised him to remain in
bed and he consented to do so. Mrs. Clark
then went downstairs. About s O'Clock she
heard a heavy fall in the room above.
Thinking her husband had tainted she hur-
ried to the bedroom and found him lying
on the floor. with the revolver still In his
hand. Mrs. Clark's screams brought her
two daughters and the servants to the
room Physicians were quickly called but
their services were of no avail
Mr.. Clark had taken an ounce of lauda.
mum and then shot himself. The presence
of the empty laudanum bottle beside Mr
Clark seems to indicate that the attempt al
suicide had been contemplated previously
although he had said nothing that led his
family to believe that he intended to kill
himself.
Mr.. Clark had lived in Bellevue for ffteer
years and had always held positions of the
highest honor and trust in his own com
! munity. He represented the Second ward
In Bellevue councils Clark was member
of the United Presbyterian church of Belle
vue being a member of the official board
, He has always taken an active interest II
the work Of the church and was its larges
contributor.