The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-02-14
S6O0,000 BANK
FUNDS GONE
Bank Treasurer Has Also
Disappeared
DEPOSlTORS CRY FOR CASH
New Britain, Conn, Institution Has Been
Forced to Close Doors by "Run"-
Treasurer Was a Prominent
Churchman.
DEPOSlTORS CRY FOR CASH

New Britain, Ct, Feb. 14.-That the
shortage at the New Britain Savings
bank maS amount to 100000 was the
fear yesterday afternoon, after the bank
had been forced to close by clamo,iug.
mob Of depositors
The alleged peeulations of the missing
treasurer, William F. Walker, IRE b..
coming more apparent al the examina.
ton by the state bank commissioners
continues.
just before noon yesterday the mob
surrounding the bank ana calling for the
money, which was being paid ont as
fast as it was possible, became SO unruly
that it was feared riot would re-
suit.
Despite assurances to the depositofs
that the bank was all right and that
there was no need Of this wild scramble,
great crowd Of depositors who repre-.
sented hundreds and thousands Of dol
lars and included prominent business
men of the city, crowded the place.
just before noon when the police were
having hard struggle TO preserve order,
Secretary Charles M Oldcrshaw mount.
ed the counter and announced that the
bank had decided TO take advantage Of
the state law requiring notice Of 90
days before withdrawing deposits.
The bank then stopped further pay
ments.
Attorney General Marcus Holcomb is.
sued an order to the bank examiners at
work ON the books to make q quick and
exhaustive examination OF the entire af-
fairs Of the bank and to report at once
to Governor Woodruff.
Aside from the stopping Of payment
there were many developments. A diree-
tor and officer of the bank in an official
bulletin announced that the populations
of Treasurer Walker amounted To $459,-
600, this sum in negotiable securities be-
ing missing.
The statement Is based on the report
Of the banks auditors, who have been
investigating It's affairs since Monday.
over one-half Of the missing securities
are in railroad bonds.
Treasurer Walker had made consider.
able money in large real estate invest
ments in this city, having been instrli.
mental IN opening up new residential see
tons
He Fad never been known, however,
TO be q dabbler IN stocks. but it Is
thought that the bank money has gone
that way.
According to the statements Of those
who are in position 20 know something
Of Treasurer Walker transactions, the
fnae ~ a.. knvts ,t.t- ,.a.,,l, ceoa mn
The last statement Of the bank showed
a surplus 81 S155000, but the current
valuation OF the securities is approx.
mated at 100000
The news that Treasurer Walker is a
defaulter caused CONSERVATION. lie was
the son OF leading clergyman, the Rev.
William q. Walker, and was one Of the
most devoted chnrchmen in New Britain.
For % years he has been clerk Of the
local Baptist church and at present is
a deacon.
He never missed Sunday service aad
was prominent member of every church
committee, superintendent az the Sunday
school for years, and always teacher
in the same He never smoked or drank,
was not frequcuter OF the New Britain
Nihbf gnu idANAN WIN "a hNNdttNA AAtAA
business.
He was Interested in many charitable
and philanthropic institutions, the New
Britain charity organization, the city
mission. the Y N. c. A. and the New
Britain Institute In many Of them be
held office. He was clerk OF the San
Francisco relief committee.
That William i. Walker, the missing
bank treasurer made big inroads into
the $4,000 fund 81 the Connecticut Bap.
fist convention, Of which he was also
treasurer, was positively made known
yesterday as the result Of special audit
of tentative report Of his accounts
instituted little over a week ago.
The committee appointed by the Bap-
list society viii make full report with
in few days
President Thompson Of The society said
yesterday that a large number Of rails
road bonds placed IN Mr., walkers hands
as treasurer arc missing. Their market
value was $1,000 There are other
shortages in the accounts of MFR. Walker
as treasurer Of the society it is al.
legged.