The Washington herald., 1908-05-18
PLAY POKER In BANK
jailed Cashier Paid Losses
from Vault.
NOTHING LEFT BUT BUILDING
Officials Order Pittsburs Institution
CIosed-ComgtroIIer of Currency in
Charge-More Losses Said TO Be
scovered-GambIIng Losses said
TO Have Been Paid in 1. o. US.

Pittsburg. May 1.-THE directors Of the
Allegheny National Bank and other finan-
ciers have decided that the bank will be
unable to open for business IN the morn
ing and 1t will be placed In the hands
of the United States Comptroller Of Cur
rency.
A statement was given out tonight. as
follows: "A committee Of representatives
Of some OF the largest banks in the city,
prepared to lend all assistance required,
spent almost all day to-day in making a
thorough examination Of the banks af-
fairs. but finding them in such a state
Of inoxtricable confusion, came to the
conclusion that the wise thing to do
in the interest OF both deposltors ana
stockholders. under the circumstances, is
TO let the affairs Of the bank be closed
up/by the United States authorities.
'The banks deposits are small. not TO
exceed $40,000 outside Of the city and
State accounts, both of which have bonds
men for their security"
Leaves Nothing but Building.
AS the examination Of Examiner VIII
liam L. Folds continues, II is being dis
covered that Cashier Montgomery left
nothing but the bank building. and the
final accounting may prove his defalca-
tons greater than has been named. The
bank depended almost exclusively on It's
deposits Of . political character, and few
outsiders did any business with 1t. When
the clearing house, last Saturday. issued
notice 10 the effect that no clearings
would be received from the Allegheny
National Bank, II was accepted as a
foregone conclusion that 1t would close
its doors
Cashier Montgomery spent his first Sun
day in JAIL II was too late tonight TO
advise him Of the banks failure. as the
statement was issued after the Jail had
been closed. Montgomery gagged AT the
food offered him for breakfast al the jail
but the man who had always enjoyed
good living partook Of the greasy soup
at noon and called for more.
Attends Divine Service.
During the afternoon he attended divine
service in the chapel. presided over by
the Rev. r. c. Woodside, Of the Christian
Church, Northside. Olive stiegert. an
eight-year-old child, sang for the prison.
ers Il Like Home Best OF An Mont
gomery hid his face In his hands and
wept At the close Of the service, Chap
lain Woodside asked the prisoners WHO
wished to be prayed for to raise their
hands and Montgomery's was one OF the
first, followed by John Young, formerly
auditor of the Farmers National Deposit
Bank, and Cashier Reiber, OF the same
institution. who are also prisoners with
Montgomery.
Since the closing OF the bank has been
announced, stories are becoming public
which formerly were not printable. Every
day after banking hours a number Of
stockholders and depositors. friends OF
Montgomery, would gather in the dlrec-
tors room and they would play cards.
usually draw poker. for high stakes.
Montgomery was the banker in the game.
and il is said when he did not have
enough money to pay losses. he would
help himself from the cash in the vault
EIe also took a large number OF / o. L. s
from his friends, and If any Of these fall
into the hands OF the bank examiner, they
VIII be prosecuted.
The players are considered 10 be very
rich men, with nothing but leisure and
money.