Evening star., 1908-01-11

| stated TO a clerk in the bank that he
would be gone for an hour or so on i'm
portant personal business. At 10 o'clock a
message was received at the bank over
the telephone that Mr.. Myers was de-
tanned and would not be able to get back
before closing time. which was at noon.
| The next day, Sunday. was followed by
Decoration day, which Is legal holiday.
| When Tuesday morning found the book
| keeper absent from his desk the bank offf-
cials sent to his home to inquire IL he was
| Ill. There they were confronted by the
| news that he had not been home since go
ing to market early Saturday morning.
Not Suspected Of Crime.
Nothing criminal was suspected at the
time. for 1t was thought Mr.. Myers might
| have joined a party Of friends TO spend
the holiday out OF town. and that his
probable message of advice to his wife had
miscarried in some way. AS a matter Of
precaution. however. the bank began an
| immediate investigation of Mr.. Myers ac-
| counts and of the funds of the insttu-
fion. The examination, a thorough one.
was conducted by four officers Of the in
stitution. All the cash and securities were
| carefully examined and checked UP.
Everything was fully accounted for except
one package of Mergenthaler stock con-
| tanning 100 shares, which had been left
4
| made to him by the bank.
| 1t quickly developed that Mr.. Myers late
| in the week. had called upon the secre-
tary, Mr.: Charles E Nyman, for
legged purpose OF delivering 1t to the Gus
| toner. VINO was about to pay his loan
| Mr. Myers, in addition to being book
| keeper. acted at times as assistant to the
with collateral in the same manner that
secured possession Of the Mergenthaler
package. The loan was not paid of course
The bank officials set to work to trac ce
| the stock through the, local stock ex-
| change. where it was found that Myers
had delivered to a local broker forty
shares for cash sale, which meant imme-
diate delivery Of the stock. A check on
another bank in payment for the stock
was delivered by the broker to Myers. the
| qufry developed that Myers had later
cashed the check in person.
Mr.. Myers was employed at a salary Of
S1.SO0. In addition to this he was a notary
from other business attended to for the
banks customers netted him an additional
income Of approximately 500 a year.
making the total in the neighborhood of
s.. 100 which seemed entirely adequate for
his modest style of living.
His Friends Surprised.
The allegation of dishonesty made
against the bookkeeper came, as has been
stated, in the nature OF q complete sur
prise to his many friends Some OF them
1t is said. knew he had been leading
dual life, but they never suspected him OF
acting dishonesty in financial matters.
Even when it became certain that the
several thousand dollars worth of Mer-
genthaler stock had been taken and some
of it disposed Of there were friends OF
Myers who doubted IL he had really COM
mitted the theft. For several days after
his leavetaking additional evidences OF
and stories were told to his discredit
regarding his treatment Of his family.
Myers was interested in church work
and had frequently taken a prominent
part in religious meetings. 1t was be-
cause OF this outward evidence of a model
life that the shock to his friends was
SO great. Saturday, May %, 1906, he
went away from the bank with $1,000
worth of stock and realized an amount
sufficient to take him a long distance
from here and meet his financial wants
for some time. It was not until the fol-
lowing week that the bank officials called
upon the police and asked for assistance.
The 9Th Of June a descriptive circular,
containing photograph Of Myers. was
sent to all parts of the United States and
to foreign countries. Reports had him
as having started for Norway, where he
had friends. Others thought he had gone
to South America. Capt Boardman was
| careful to see that all foreign ports were
furnished with the circular which con-
tanned an offer of a reward for his ar
rest.
Charge Made by Police.
In the circular sent out by the police
department it was stated that Myers
absconded with about $1,000 in cur
rency. and his description was given as
follows:
White, forty-three years old. five feet
eight or nine. 155 pounds. light brown
hair and mustache (may now be clean
shaven). light pale complexion. light
gray eyes, even white teeth. india Ink
dot between thumb and first finger on
left hand. When he disappeared. wore
black cheviot sack coat and pants, navy
blue vest Clothing custom made and
has tailor's name Brown on hanger
or inside Of pockets), white straw hat.
low collar, white tie. patent-leather
Shoes gold hunting-case watch with
case, gold chain with onyx charm. seal
ring with initial NJ: neat dresser"
1t was explain I'd in the circular that
Myers had been a bookkeeper for the
and reserved disposition, did not use
tobacco or liquor. and apparently a man
Of exemplary habits. and it was beloved
would deposit the money in bank or de-
wherever he might locate.
It was further stated that the reward
Of $3.50 would be paid by the Fidelity
and Deposit Company of Baltimore. In
conclusion Mai. Sylvester asked that the
recipients Of copies of the circular re-
quest the officials Of all banks and de-
posit companies to be on the lookout
for such a described man, who 1t was
expected would open an account. Hotel
|proprietors and their clerks were asked
to cooperate in locating him, and II
found cause his arrest and Immediately
telegraph the department here.
Divorce Granted Wife.
Mrs. Myers entered suit for an absolute
divorce against Mr.. Meyers May q, 1905.
and a decree was granted June II, 1907.
The custody of their sixteen-year-oid
child was awarded to the mother by the
terms of the decree.
Myers was turned over to the custody
of United States Marshal Palmer this
morning and was detained at the city
hall. He sent for Attorney Henry E.
Davis, who, after a consultation with his
client had Justice Barnard fix bail in the
sum of 5000. A brother and four sisters.
Julia NJ. Brown, Harriet ]. Nyman, Vir-
ginia c. Brooke, Emma M. Myer and Ed
win f. Myers, qualified as sureties, and
Myers was released shortly after o'clock
this afternoon.
SURE TO COME.
Storm Delayed, But Is Headed To-
ward Washington.