The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-07-21
Cornell Graduate, Who Is
Confessed Criminal, Loses
Courage in County Jail

II took the prison bars hut half
a day 90 crush the pride and kill
the spirit that was In William G.
Pruyn, son Of wealthy and respect
ed parents, Cornell graduate, pop
ular society man and trusted bank
employe. but not until yesterday an
alleged embezzler and confessed
criminal
IN spite OF difficulties. a mans
pride nearly always forces him 10
don a white collar aud necktie and
coat when receiving friends.
Young Pruyn was coatless and
coliarless when those who would
help him IN his trouble called at
the county jail this morning and
spoke with him IN the jail office.
There we're not enough chairs
20 go around, and as a result his
callers had TO remain standing. al
though conditions had been differ
ent bat yesterday at the Stetson.
where the reception rooms are airy
and spacious.
Spirit Is Broken.
The moment that one spoke to
the man the impression became pre-
dominant that his spirit had been
broken. lie did not even have
enough fight left ia him TO try In
any way to justify his acts in Jug
Cling the accounts 81 Dexter Hor-
ton & Co. where he was book
keeper.
This trouble Is now almost
greater than I can bear. he said
to a reporter for The Star. Il
don't care 10 say anything In add
ton 10 what has been said already.
II wouldn't do any good
Mr.. Whalley says that poker was
the cause Of your downfall ls that
right?" was asked.
who Is heg" and there was a
slight show Of resistance in his
voice.
MIR WhaIley Is a member OF the
firm that went on your bond for
s. 900. was answered
oh" and the word came from
him but weakly. and then he jerked
himself together again. continuing:
My lawyer viii know all about IL.
] don't want TO say anything now"
And with that he was taken back
TO his cell in the south tank OF
The county jail. where collars are
barred aud courage dies out OF the
sonls OF men.
Confessed His Crime"
"PuIyn has practically made a
confession to juggling the accounts
Of the bank" said Prosecuting At
torney Kenneth Macintosh today,
and ! don't see where II viii be
possible for him 10 escape the pen
itentlary"
Pruyn came TO Seattle from Glen
Falls. \. u. two years ago, and at
once entered the employ OF Dexter
Horton g. Co. as bookkeeper.
He kept an inactive account Of
his own az the bank. and when de-
positors' slips were handed him he
would often credit his own aoeount
with the amount. issuing checks
against Il. and frequently checking
against the accounts OF other de-
positors
The amounts were concealed
when the depositors' books were
balanced by transferring the
hypothecated moneys TO the ac-
count of another depositor.
John A. Whalley, OF John w.
Whalley a Co, who went Pruyn's
bond for $4,000, says that Pruyn
has confessed that his accounts are
short. but maintains that the
amount is not in excess OF $500.
Due to Gambling.
The great American game of
poker" said Whalley, was respon-
sihle for the mans downfall We
have been on his bond ever since
he entered the banks employ, and
his recommendations when we look
ed him up were gilt-edged"
Pruyn Is rs years old. His
father r. r. Pruyn. is cashier of the
Merchants National bank. al Glen
Fails. y. Y.
Charles X Poe. a graduate of
Princeton. called at the proseeut-
ing attorneys office today 70 see
II there was anything that could be
done for the young man.
He said that he was well ae.
quaintcd with Pruyn's family, and
seemed to take a great deal Of i'm
terest in the ease. Poe Is a mems
her OF the legal firm Of Poe a
Kellerman. 5e4 Mataal Life haihb
ing.
PruvR was arrested late yester-
day afternoon az the Stetsou, and
Immediately taken TO the county
iail lie said this morning that he
had not vet secured an attorney.