The Washington herald., 1912-08-07
HUMPHREYS HAD
mo ACCOMP[|CEs
President A. G. Clapham, Of the
Commercial National Bank,
Issues Statement.
EXACT DEFALCATIoH
TOTALS $24.6ss.75
Bank Clerk in His Confession Does
Not Implicate ANY Other
Employees.

The story that John z. Humphries,
self-confessed embezzler of nearly Se5,-
900, was aided In his mastery pecula-
| tions by associates was shattered last
night when A. G. Clapham. president CT
| the Commercial National Bank. at which
the forger was formerly employed, is
sued statement to the effect that there
is absolutely no foundation for the ru-
mors.
Mr.. Clapham stated that Humphries.
in his confession, made no reference to
any accompices, and that a careful ex-
animation of the books of the bank by
officials has failed to reveal that the
young teller was assisted in his wrong
doing.
The president also denied that there
was any tendency on the part of the
bank officials to conceal any of the facts
in the case. He positively denied that
the bank had requested the Department
OF Justice to delay the prosecution Of the
Humphries case.
The statement also made clear for the
first time the exact amount in which the
young teller was bonded. At the time Of
the forgeries Humphries was in the en-
ploy of the National City Bank and was
bonded in the sum of $500. The Com
mercial National Bank succeeded to the
rights of the old National City Bank
under the 5000 bond. but in addition
had the employe bonded in the sum Of
S15, 900, covered by two companies, each
in the amount of $500. This made
total indemnity of $4,000 held by the
bank.
Presidents Statement.
Concerning an article which appeared
in an afternoon paper" said Mr.. Clap
ham last night, 'T wish most en-
phatically to deny the statement that
. hA Aa- Af7 nto1g hava
asked the District Attorneys Ofice for
any delay In the Humphries case
Neither now. or at any other time. has
any such request been made by any
official or representative of this bank,
nor has any similar request been made
by the Department OF Justice
The facts of the case are simple and
plain. and there is not the slightest rea-
son for any concealment. The moment
the forgery was discovered, it was placed
In the hands Of the counsel for the bank.
and was reported to the Comptroller of
the Currency in June, nearly two months
ago. At that time the records and as
sets Of the bank We're thoroughly exam
ined by the National Bank Examiner,
and the defalcation determined to be the
exact amount named in the previous
statement by the officers of the bank
s24. 6ss 75-and no question, or examina-
ton. as to the amount involved has been
made by either the National Bank Ex-
aminer or the Department of Justice.
No accomplices were ever named by
Humphries. nor did he claim any.
The suggestion that any one higher
up is concerned, or implicated in the
forgery, Is entirely without foundation,
so far as any official or empioye OF the
bank is concerned"
An investigation of the books and rec
ords Of the Commercial National Bank
and the old National City Bank, such
as in customary use in all embezzlement
cases, is now being conducted by the Of
fee of the United States District Attor-
ney.
Rumors that several warrants for the
arrest of persons implicated in the case
would be issued yesterday did not ma
terialize. Anson S. Taylor, United States
Commissioner, said yesterday afternoon
that Mr.. Humphries is the only person
who has been arraigned before him so
far in connection with the bank en-
bezzlements