The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-08-29
TRAPPED BY AN AD.
Bank Cashier, Who Stole $4,000,
Caught in New York.

New York, Aug. 23.-Two men
walked up to a third, a we'll dressed
man of about so years, at Third ave-
nue. and Twelfth street, yesterday af-
ternoon and said:
Hello, Mr.. Flack, how are you?"
The man started. 1t was the first
time in two years that any person
but his wife had called him by his
right name. He, John A. Flack, for
mer cashier of the Abilene State
Bank of Abilene, Kan, has been
sought since September, 1910, on
charge of stealing $4,000 from that
institution.
"I'll tell you how 1 feel" he an
swered. "I'm very glad that you've
caught me, and it feels good to get
my old name back again. I'm sick
of this lodging around"
Detective J. J. Allen, of the Ma
tional Surety Company and A. M.
Birdsall, manager of that companys
claim department, had lured their
quarry to the corner by means of an
advertisement. They took him to
police headquarters and then to the
mulberry street police station, where
he was locked up to await eXtradition
to Kansas. Flack said he had been
living at No. 1872 Palisade avenue.
Hoboken.
Flack took his wife with him when
he fled, and they have been together
practically ever since. He does not
smoke or drink, he says, and he ex-
plains that shallow real estate in
vestments-and not gambling or Wall
street-took his money.
Flack was once a probate judge
in Kansas. He entered the Abilene
bank several years ago and worked
up to the position of cashier. He
had a fine home in Abilene and was
REGARDED as a substantial, successful
citizen. He has no children.
In September, 1910, he asked his
wife to accompany him on trip to
New York. At that time she did not
know the reason. They withdrew sud-
denly from Abilene and an examina-
ton of his. books followed the disap-
pearance.
is. Hallam, president of the bank,
was overwhelmed when he learned
that Flack, whom he had trusted,
was short about $4,000. He was,
however, faithful to his former estl-
mate of the cashier, pledging his
property to cover the embezzlement.
The next day he went to Flack's de-
serted home with the fugitive's aunt,
who wanted to pack up the family
| heirlooms. There Mr.. Hallam COL
lapsed. He became unconscious and
died two days later.
The story of that tragedy, printed
in New York newspapers, reached
Flack's attention and he sent his wife
back to Abilene. This was the first
that Mrs. Flack knew of her hus-
bands crime. After a few days in
the Kansas town she decided that no
matter what he had done, it was her
place to be with him.
To the authorities she said frankly
that her husband was in this city,
but when she started back for New
York the police made no effort to
trail her.
in. Dolley, commissioner of banks
of Kansas, asked the National Surety
Company here to look for the man.
Flack said yesterday that he did not
leave New York, but his pursuers
seemed unable to track him down.
Meanwhile he was having hard
time trying to get good job. En-
ployers wanted references. Natural
ly, Flack found it impossible to fur
nish them; he used assumed Names
changing them as he went from one
position to another. He worked as
day laborer, working on the docks.
| The job he had when arrested was
| in sausage factory.
Two weeks ago the detectives
heard Flack was here, but they were
unable to locate his. home or place
of employment, so it was decided to
advertise for him. The appointed
place was Third avenue and Twelfth
street and the hour 4:3O p. m. yester-
day. The scheme worked.
| After his arrest Flack said the
amount. was not $4,000, only $780,
600. He said that before he fed
| from Abilene he turned over his
property to the bank and thought 1t
sufficient to make up for his short
age.