The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-18
Baron W. Won Meyerinck, For
mer Teller of Union State
Bank, Blows Out Brains
IRREGULARITIES FOUND
IN SUICIDES ACCOUNTS
Request for Explanation of Dis
crepanCy Is Followed by
Self-InfIicted Death
INSTITUTION IN HANDS
OF STATE OFFICIALS

DROUGHT to the threshold Of
disgrace by the discovery of dis
crepancies in his accounts Baron
William Won Meyerinck, up to
three weeks ago teller for the
Union state bank and member of
prominent family in Germany,
retired to his bungalow at Lark
spur Friday afternoon and blew
out his brains. He leaves a widow.
the Baroness Anna Won Meyerinck,
who conducts a conservatory of music
at Sl8 Grove street. and a son. en-
ployed in the Fillmore street agency
OF the Merchants national bank
The suicide upset entirely the Union
state bank Within few hours after
the news Of the baron's death was re-
ceived in the city the bank was closed
and Bank Examiner S. p Young was
in charge At the same time the in
ternal discords were sounded forth
with greater violence than ever and
statements and charges made by w.
c. Hays, late vice president and man
ager of the institution, which accused
its officials Of a system OF fnanciering
which may make them defendants in
criminal prosecutions. Loans, he
said. were made on securities myth
cal.and mysterious. He accused Vice
President Bechtel of borrowing money
from the bank, giving as security his
bank stock.
Tells of Joy Rides
He went into the details of the
pleasures of himself and his banking
associates. pleasures which were along
the line OF automobiles during the
night hours and which often saw the
bankers gathered around the gaming
tables of A Mon Chateau in San Ma
teo county. Hays brought to light
certain transactions tinged with imam.
cial humor Of a severe kind He de-
clared that he lent his bank stock to
Bechtel for the purpose of allowing
the latter to borrow money from the
bank, and that this was no sooner done
than BechteI used the stock in voting
against Hays and ousting him from the
vice presidency
These are Hays views of the hnan-
ciaI futters Bechtei. it is expected.
win reveal more enlightening facts,
and what the investigation Of the bank
examiners viii bring forth can only
be surmised.
I have found discrepancies and ir-
regularities.v said Alden Anderson.
superintendent of banks. after brief
examination OF the books of the In
stitution.
The news of Won Meyerinck's suicide.
together with the closing OF the bank.
struck the financial circles of the city
like a thunderclap. The baron. well
known here, prominent in club life.
quiet, steady. without a single known
extravagant vice. was the last man to
have beenssuspected Of being short in
his accounts Such was his reputa-
ton that. on leaving the Union state
bank three weeks ago. he was imme-
diately offered position by the Mer-
chants national bank In the collecting
department.
Depositors Surround Bank
With the announcement of the news
OF the suicide crowd of angry de-
positors gathered at the doors OF the
Union state bank in the MonadnOck
building and were 50 vehement and
outspoken in their demands that the
bank examiners telephoned to the po-
lice to maintain order.
Close on the heels of the exciting
events OF the morning came repeated
rumors and announcements declaring
that the rapid and preliminary investi-
cation by the bank examiners had
brought to light an exceedingly chaotic
state of affairs in the finances OF the
bank. That this phase of the situation
would. ultimately. be Strengthened out
was the opinion of all the bank officials.
who declared that the depositors had
no need for worry. as they would be
paid dollar for dollar.
Just to what extent Won Meyerinck
was short could not ne definitely ascer-
tanned yesterday. but one item alone.
according to the banks book keepers.
showed that there was discrepancy
of $500 in his accounts.
To heighten the effect Of the tragedy