The Washington herald., 1907-08-24
NO TRACE OF POTTS
Police Unable TO Locate Miss.
ing Bank Clerk.
MAY BE BOUND FOR COAST
Fugitive Known to Have Many Let
ters of Introduction fFOm Local
Finaneiers TO Correspondents in
CaIifOrnia-Father Says Son Told
Him lie Was Going to Manitoba.


Neither the police department nor the
officers of the American National Bank
have received any information Of the
present whereabouts Of Z. H. Potts. ac-
cused Of the theft of Erie Railway stock
from the bank. II is thought probable
that owing to the telegraph strike mes
sages between Washington and Tucson,
Ariz.. have been delayed in transmission
or interrupted altogether.
It was learned yesterday that Potts had
announced to his father that he was
going to Winnipeg. Manitoba, 70 engage
in business. He bought q railroad ticket
here to San Francisco, which he showed
20 his father and IN looking over the
coupons the latter saw among others Tue
son. and it was there the letter from Bal
timore to Potts was forwarded.
Speaking of the matter yesterday, r. II.
Lynn, Of the American Bank, said he had
a long conversation with Mr.. Potts. ST.
the night before. The parent was unable
to throw any light upon the probable des-
tination Of his son. Mr.. Lynn said It was
probable that the letter from the Balti-
more bank had been handed to Potts as
he was passing through Tucson, Ariz..
and that he sent his telegraph message
and probably went on TO San Francisco.
Has Letters of Introduction,
Mr.. Lynn stated that Potts had IN his
possession numerous letters from bank
ers and others here to persons in Cal
ifornia, to some Of whom he might make
himself known. In that case ne thought
the fleeing bank clerk might be caught,
as all the persons 90 whom he Is known
TO have letters have been informed OF
the theft Of the stock, and warned to be
on their guard. and have also been re-
quested TO cause Potts apprehension.
Mr. Lynn was in considerable doubt as
70 what direction Potts journey might
take from San Francisco. If he went there
at al. The fact is known here that Potts
had an intimate friend In New Mexico,
who went 70 the Southwest a year or
two ago 20 engage IN mining schemes
there. Mr.. Lynn suggested that Potts
might fail in with his friend and the
two then go TO Mexico. or the Canadian
Northwest. where they would not be
heard from for some time.
Bank Methods Differ.
Bank Examiner Reeves yesterday. in
commenting upon the theft Of the securi-
ties from the American Bank, said tha I
different methods were employed in banks
in caring for securities left with them as
collateral on loans. He said they were
sometimes listed in the banks in a sepa-
rate book and sometimes lot. In cases
where they were listed the securities
vault was generally in the personal
charge Of a clerk or officer OF the bank,
and that no one. other than this clerk
or official, had access to the vault or the
envelopes in which the securities were
deposited.
Examiner Reeves said that when he
went TO examine the securities Of bank
he always had an officer OF the bank
with him 10 observe the sorting and
checking up Of the securities. first to see
that no mistakes were made, and then
10 be sure that all the stocks and papers
were returned 10 their proper receptacles.
Hold One Mnn Responsible,
Mr. Reeves said It was good practice
for banks lot to allow too general hand
ling OF money. securities, or other bank
paper by several persons. IN many insti-
tutiOns. he said, this was reduced TO an
iron-bound system, so that some one was
personally responsible for the security Of
any piece Of paper intrusted to the bank.
Mr.. Reeves said such a system entailed
much labor. and by many banks was
thought 70 be unnecessary. and for that
reason II was not followed
1t was learned yesterday that the loss OF
the securities which Potts took from the
bank was discovered by Mr.. Reeves when
he was making the usual examination of
the collateral securities Of the bank An
gust g The loss was Immediately report
ed TO President Harper, and the condition
Of the depository envelope carefully ex-
amined.
How Theft Was Traced.
The note for which the certificates were
held as security was then looked I'D. and
reference to the books in the Office Of the
person giving the note to the bank re-
vealed the list of the stock securities.
Had il not been for the careful bookkeep-
ing in the Office Of the maker Of the note.
the theft would probably never have been
traced 10 Potts. as up to the time OF hear
ing from the Baltimore bank IN answer to
the circular sent out by the police depart
mont he was not suspected.
Since the failure of communication be-
tween Washington and Arizona, the DO
lice authorities here are less sanguine Of
catching Potts. at least for some months
TO come, unless 1t should happen that
some Of the circulars mailed by the de-
partment to California shall be the means
of bringing the fleeing man to arrest.