Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-28
ON TRAIL OF WALKER
Ascending Banker Was Seen
in Portland, Greg.
ARREST is SOON EXPECTED
Recognized by Travelling Salesman
From New York.
DID NOT KNOW OF REWARD
Believed That Defaulter is Trying to
Flee to the orient-Deteetives
Are Closing in on Him.

NEW YORK, February 2s-Announce-
ulent was made last night by the Pinkerton
detective agency that William F. Walker
the absconding treasurer Of the Savings
Bank of New Britain, was positively identi-
fled in a hotel in Portland, Ore, on Febru-
airy IS, and that 1t was probable that he
would soon be in the hands Of the detect
ives.
According to the statements made by the
Pinkertons, Walker appeared at the Hotel
Portland on February 10 and registered as
wv. G. Sefert." He had shaved off his
beard and mustache, but his face was COW
cred with stubbly growth of about week
or ten days. On the morning of February
10 he told the clerk at the hotel desk that
he must catch a train leaving at half-past
o'clock and hurried from the hotel.
On the previous evening he was positively
recognized by a travelling salesman from the
east, who knew him slightly, but who was
not aware at the time that a reward of
$1,000 was offered for his arrest. This
salesman has since come on to New York
and has satisfied the detectives that it was
none other than Walker whom he saw. He
will aid in the search.
Has Completely Vanished.
No trace Of the man has been discovered,
SO far as is known, since he left the hotel.
No train left Portland at half after
o'clock, the hour mentioned by him, but
there were many trains In the day and
night leaving for various points, and it Is
now assumed that he was heading for the
northern Pacific coast, intending to sail for
the orient. 1t Is regarded as possible that
he was seeking to get into South or Central
America or Mexico, and every steamship
and train along the Pacific coast is being
watched.
Loot
February 10, when he left the Cumberland
Hotel before the facts about his defalcaton
had been made public. The directors of
the New Britain Bank are now offering a
reward of 5000 for his arrest and 81 coo
for his body when fully identified. At a
meeting of the directors yesterday E. N.
Stanley, cashier of the New Britain Ma
tional Bank, was elected treasurer in Walk
er's place
Surprise in Portland
PORTLAND, Oreg February 2S-The
fact that William F. Walker, the abscond-
ing New Britain, Conn, banker, had occu-
pied apartments at the Hotel Portland was
unknown to the hotel people until they were
shown the Associated Press report from
New York yesterday. Some three or four
days ago the early arriving employees at
the hotel were questioned by detectives
regarding a man named Sefert. The man
registered at the hotel late at night under
the name of Sefert and left early the next
morning.
1t is believed by the detectives that Walk
er came to Puget sound and for some rea-
son became afraid to take one Of the trans
pacific lines there, and that he came to
Portland in hopes of leaving the country
from this port. Finding that no steamer
would leave here for three or four days.
they think, Walker either returned north
or continued on to San Francisco. They
are confident he Is not in Portland.
Nbo 01i nP
for the fugitive and are watching outgoing
vessels closely.