Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-05
Robbed Bank
For % Years
EVIDENCE OF DEFArcATIoMs BY
DEAD TREASURER.
LOSS WILL REACH $4,000
Expert at Windsor Locks Finds Evil
dence of Stealing as Far Beck -
1s7s-NO TriaI Balances Ever Taken.

Windsor Locks Conn. Feo 4-.Tha+
\. ". Converse. treasurer 6f c1e Wind
sor Locks Savings bank from its in-
ception in 1871 to 1911. When he re-
signed on account Of age. had been
stealing constantly from the bank since
1879, has been disclosed by an examiu-
alton Of the books which has been
brought up to 1885 How Iarge the de-
falcation will be cannot be deterSnin-
ed until the books have been exsm-
lned up to the time of his resig1a tioD.
but il is stated that the actual steal
lngs and the interest which that mon
ey would have drawn, and which the
bank has been paying viii amount to
s150,O00 or more.
Trial Balance Never Taken.
Attention to the bank, which is noE
IN the hands of the state banking com
mission, was first brought to the atten
ton Of the commission when a bank
examiner found that there had never
been trial balance Of the books. Even
when c. p. Cleveland. who succeeded
Com erse, took charge, no trial balance.
other than q daily one, was taken. he
stating that as one had never been
taken, and the daily balances proving,
he did not see any reason for making
change in the old order of thing1
This state OF affairs lei to the secur-
ing Of q restraining order by the courts
and the taking in charge of the bank
by the banking commission on Janu-
ary p.
Converse Accidentally Shot Himself.
Not long prior to the discovery Of
the condition of the bookkeeping OF the
bank. Converse. who was postmaster,
shot himself with a revolver which had
been awarded him as the most popular
man in town. At that time he stated
that the shooting was accidental and
| happened while cleaning his K1In.
After an investigation was started IN
| the banks affairs Converses accounts
as postmaster were gone over and
found to be correct in all particulars.
Expert Finds DefaIcations.
As soon as the restraining order was
issued an expert was put on the booars
and call issued for the passbooks.
Nothing was discovered out of the way
in the books, with the exception per
haps Of minor mistakes in bookkeeping
until the accounts for the wear 1879
We're reached, and then signs Of the
stealing We're manifest. From that
/ time on the taking of small amounts OF
/ money We're constant up to 1888, ne
ried, and the investigators state that
| there is every sign that it continued in
| like manner from that time on.
Like Taking Candy from Child.
AS one of the commission stated to-
night 1T was q continuous perform
| ance and was Just like taxing candy
! from children" Although the ar1ounta
/ taken in themselves were small, the
! aggregats viii be large. AS was stated
| tonight, Converse did not benefit in the
fun amount that viii be shown miss
! ing on the books, as the sums he took
bore interest all the time, which Was
being paid by the bank
The examiners say that they expect
to find all or Converse's nlissppropTf
atoms on the books. and that they d
not think that he juggled the mort
/ cages or other securities of the taSd
tuition, il being Unnecessary for him tn
take any such chances when the actual
stealing of the money was 50 easy and
the chance Of detection, under the NoSrn
Of bookkeeping, so remote.
Did Not Speculate or Live hish.
When it was definitely determined
! that there was a shortage an fnveSti-
cation of the life led by Converse WA
( started, with the object of ascertain
ing what he did with the funds mis-
appropriated but up TO che present
| time nothing has been learned excep'
| that he did not lose the money IL
stocks or high living He was not &C
customed TO leave town, and his only
trips outside were two or three ma6'
each year to Boston, where he Inad'
! purchases for his father.
passbooks Sold at Big Discounts.
Up to the present time about half tn
passbooks Of the bank have bean t<1n'
ed in. and the others are expected +
come in rapidly The closing Of tn
bank has brought the greatest hard
ship on the small deposftors, wht
mostly are employed in the local milk
The mill owners are helping those v'e'
need assistance and looking afteg IN
welfare Of their employees. Many pass
books are alleged to have been Sot
for thirty cents to eighty cents ~ ~
dollar.