Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-05
WALKER CRAFTY
New Britain Savings Bank Em. beZZler Said 10 Be Trying
 lo Buy Off Directors
WITH STOLEN BONDS

| story relative to William F. Walker and the missing bonds of the New Britain Savings bank:
 In well informed quarters in this city it is believed that William F. I Walker, absconding treasurer of the Savings Bank of New Britain, Conn, who was sentenced recently after Pinkerron detectives lad brought him back from Mexico, will Dc Tn the ful! enjoyment of his liberty again within 2 period of little more than a year. It is expected that the prize he will | pay in consideration of his brief inn prisonment will be information which will enable tte bank he iefraudad tc recover a larga portion of the S470, 900 of listed and negotiable securities which he is charged with having e1l- | bezzled.
 Tt will be recalled that after Wal ker's flight to Mexico the arrest of Charles Gondorf and others in this city was believed to have broken up the machinations of a band of ex- pert wire tappers that had been en gagged in extensive swindling opera tions and was known to the police as ''the vie .aEoers' trust" It was said and was generally believed by detectives who had worked on the Walker embezzlement that this band had been the ultimate beneficiaries of large proportion of the securities stolen by Walker, though it has nev- CT been definitely cleared up whether its members obtained from him sub- stantially the whole of his bank loot or only a large part of it.
 Tt is now known, however, that Walker has definite knowledge of the present whereabouts of something like S400,000 of the stolen securities and he is we'll aware that he is the only person through whom the bank has any chance of recovering this property or any considerable part of 1t. As it is all in listed securities. most of which are high class railway bonds, these cannot be easily disposed of without risking exposure.
 Efforts have been made to per suade Walker to testify against Con dorf, who is now awaiting trial, but be has steadfastly refused thus far all overtures tending in. that direction, The reason for his refusal has now appeared, for he believes he holds. ths cards in his own hands and that by playing them skillfully he can be- come free man again after little more than year.
 Through his counsel Walker has suggested sort of compromise which is to be submitted to the bank officials under the proposed terms of which the absconder Is to place the bank in a position to recover the major part of the stolen bonds, on the condition that the bank will permit him to re- tain for himself fifty per cent of the recovered loot. Whether or not this demand has been actually presented to the savings bank officers yet can- not be ascertained, but it is believed they will refuse to accede to such a proposition, and that in that event Walker would be likely to agree to accept twenty-five per cent or less.
 When the aged cashier pleaded guilty and was sentenced about a week ago some surprise was expressed at the form of the judgment pro- | nounced upon him by Judge Shum- way. The sentence imposed was an indeterminate one, calling for Wal ker's Imprisonment for a period of not less than one year nor more than five years Under such a sentence it is possible for the prisoner to be re- leased after having served a term amounting to one year and four days as minimum and thereafter to be al- lowed his freedom on parole.
 Walker is in excellent health at present. and he is a cool and crafty man who is likely to take advantage of every chance to better his own prospects. One of the primary condi- tions under which his proposal is made to the bank officers looking to the recovery of the stolen bonds is the proviso that they will not oppose his parole at the expiration of the minimum term of his imprisonment.
 The prisoner is wise enough to know that should he regain his lib- erty he will be in need of money and that it would be better for him. If possible. to assure to himself a req sonable competence without further fear of pursuit and prosecution rath- CT than to hold aloof from his former banking associates in the remote hope of retaining or regsining by his own methods the major portion of what he purloined.
 Tt is believed he intends to make definite terms to that end before he will consent to aid in any way either in the prosecution of Gondorf or in the restitution or recovery Of the ab- stracted securities. Should the bank make terms with him 1t is believed he may hecnue more fracfabia