The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-20
WALKER STEALING FOR
 A CONSIDERABLE TIME
FACT REVEALED BY EXAMINA- TION OF BAPTIST SOCIETY
 BOOKS.

Statement Issued by Trustees of State
 Convention Following Meeting Yes-
 terday-Absconding Bank Treasurer
 Had Made False Reports for Long
 PeriOd--Thefts Amount to About $55,-
 GOO as Recently RepOrted-savings
 Bank of New Britain Makes Public
 List of stolen Bonds and Securities.
 Hartford, Feb. 19.-About forty trus- tees of the Connecticut Baptist conven- ton met here to-day in special session to consider the alleged dedication of the funds of the convention by William F. Walker of New Britain, the albscond- ing treasurer of the Savings bank of New Britain, who was also treasurer of the convention as amounting to about $65,0O0. Walker was depused as treas urer and a member of the finance icom- mittee, and Charles Edward Prior of Hartford was elected treasurer.
 The report to the meeting was made by the special committee consisting of E, K. Nicholson of Bridgeport and Charles E. Prior of Hartford, and says:
 After as careful an investigation as possible up to the present time the gross loss to the convention would seem to amount to about $5500O. This consisted of the disposal of all, or near ly all of the conventions negotiable securities, savings bank deposits, liabll- ities or bank notes that have been issued without the knowledge of the conven- ton, and the disposal of collateral se- curities held by the convention to pro- tect certain loans.
 'The books and papers of the con- vention were found to be in mixed and serious condition. The convention s accounts are audited in October of each year by competent men. At the time of the last audit the funds and secur- lities seemed to be intact, at least such as were presented and passed upon.
 MT. Walker has served as treasur- CT for nearly twenty-one years and 1t now transpires that his peculations cover considerable period, during which time he has been rendering false reports, and substituting other secur- ities for those listed nshis report. This was quite possible because of his rela- tons to the Savings bank of New Britain"
 In addition to deposing Walker from the office of treasurer and members of the finance committee and electing MT. Prior to the office of treasurer the trus- tees also appointed committee to in- vestigate and report a suitable place for the future handling of the funds of the convention. The committee consists of F. K. Nicholson, Alfred Spencer, jr, D. A. Stevens, c. 0. Spencer, w A. Crippen, F. H. Devine and c. E. Prior. It was also decided to assume all losses and 10 take immediate measures to meet ali obligations and to restore all trust funds.
 The funds of the convention amount ed to about $7S,0OO so that the amount Walker is charged with taking Is lit tie over two-thirds. It is stated that all that they could find were. envelopes in which the bank deposits had been; there having been found also in the vault of the savings bank bank notes for $4, 7OO walker, 1t is pointed out had general authority to procure small loans to meet conditions which might arise in the ordinary transaction of tht business connected with the convention and 1t is supposed by the convention that acting under this general author ity walker had issued the bank notes referred to in the quoted statement.
 The statement closes by saying that the greatest loss IS that of the mar himself, and asks for the hearty sup port of all friends of the convention ir the present situation.