The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-19

It was just a slight haste and over
sight on Speelman's part Thursday
evening that led to the detection of the
shortage and his subsequent arrest for
embezzlement. Possibly anxiety TO
leave the bank with the $1.5OO which he
had taken from the accounts that day.
caused the teller to leave a bit OF work
undone. On his desk he left a little
heap Of torn papers. +. NJ BOnebrake.
the cashier. entered the cage to pick
UP the papers. While there Bonebral0e
thought he would look at Speelman's
balances. When the cashier emerged
from the little cage a half hour later
he called the Officers Of the bank to-
gether with the positive proof that the
paying teller had taken 81. 500 from the
days accounts.
Late that night Speelman sat in the
offices of the bank. trying to explain
why he had taken the money. To the
officers he related a story Of fast life
of ambitions that could not be realized
on the salary he drew as a teller over
and over again, Speelman declared that
he didn't intend to steal. that he ex-
pected to pay It all back Then a de-
tective was called and the bank clerk
was taken to the police headquarters
An hour later he was removed to the
county jail. where he spent the night.
he was formally arrested by Frank
Flenniken. deputy United States mar
shall The complaint charged only the
taking Of the 81 500 Bond IN this case
was fixed at $1,000.
Speelman's story OF his crooked deal
ing and downfall is disjointed and in
places quite vague. Just how the teller
succeeded in betraying the confidence
OF MS employers month after month rs
matter that Speelman does not ex-
plain II is a question that expert ac-
countantS have yet been unable 10
solve. Possibly Speelman conceived
some new system whereby he v-aa
able to defraud the bank and escape
detection. To the officers of the bank.
1t is only known that he abstracted
credits which passed through mis-
hands Yet. how the young man nut
his shortages past the national bank
examiner and the officers of the insti-
tuition, is a matter which only Spcel-
man seems to know.
''Just Lived Too Fast
Il just lived too fast, that was all,
and there is no one to blame but my
self,' Speelman admitted when con-
fronted with the bank records. II
wish could pay il back. But 1 can't.
It's all gone. took the money TO keep
u my end of the game and I really
didn't intend to steal it. Somehow T
just thought 1 could carry It along
and some day make IL all right I
might have known ! couldn't do IL.
but the ambition to live as well and
dress as well as other people seemed
to strangle my judgment and I took
the money to keep up with my asso-
ciates."
Then Speelman was asked what he
had done with the money. To those
questions he either gave evasive an
swers or said he didn't know.
why. men, you don't know how my
mind has been" declared the bank
clerk. you have no idea OF the mem
tai strain I have suffered. I knew I
shouldn't take the money. Som mellow 7
knew that sooner or later ] would be
caught. But. honest. men. honest.
down in my heart I am not a crimi-
nal"
Then Speelman all but broke down.
He regained his composure and con-
tinued his story Of falsified records
and how his ambitions for money
seemed to strangle him
''It was always money. money.
money" Speelman walled. as he held
his head I'm his hands, "and each time
! I went a little further. First I thought
I could pay it back. Then I realized
\ that sooner or later you would find IL
/ out The fact almost drove me wild. "
| Doesn't Know Where II Went.
Have you been gambling" asked
one of the officers. What did you do
with the money!"
Lord how do I know what I did
with it," walled Speeiman. as he seem
\ ed to make an effort to recall some
J OF the events Of the past ITS JUST
I gone That's all. It's gone. ] did
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